Ecology Assistant AmeriCorps

Ecology Assistant (52 Weeks) - Ameri Corps

POSITION DETAILS

• Position (s): 4473
• Position Title: Ecology Assistant - Ameri Corps
• Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
• Site
  
  Location:
  
  Heartland Network, Republic, Missouri
• Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

• Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
• Flexible
  
  Start Date:
  
  Yes
• Start Date: 02/08/2027
• End Date: 02/07/2028
• Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

BENEFITS

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award: $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
• Weekly Living Allowance: $775.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
• Relocation Allowance: $450.00 (distributed as a one‑time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre-tax)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by My Ameri Corps , directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through My Ameri Corps , directly)
• For 52-week positions only:
  • Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
  • Childcare Coverage (opt in)

APPLICATION TIMELINE

Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the Final date to receive applications passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.

PURPOSE

This Ecology Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. This position will support critical core monitoring projects both in the field and during data processing and analysis. The SIP member will also contribute to unique analyses to support management questions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN) is a subunit of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program, responsible for monitoring ecological ‘vital signs’ in 15 National Parks located in the Midwest region. ‘Vital signs’ are environmental indicators that help us determine if the ecosystems within our National Parks are healthy. HTLN has been monitoring terrestrial and aquatic vital signs since 2000.

The parks we serve focus on natural features as well as historical events and people, but vital signs play an important role in telling the stories of all these unique places. Through hiring a ‘Scientist in Parks’ (SIP) participant, we hope to leverage the knowledge and skills of a developing scientist to complete our vital signs field data collection. As a SIP participant, you will collaborate with NPS staff to apply your expertise in aquatic ecology, plants, data processing, analysis, and scientific writing.

This position will help you further develop your field biology, laboratory, data processing, and analytical skills. Day to day tasks during the field season will involve following detailed protocols, carrying a pack, and walking long distances. Office days include using databases, spreadsheets, and other software and tools to process and understand patterns in biological data. You will collaborate closely with HTLN scientists to accomplish those goals.

Ultimately, the effort will be an opportunity to make lasting and meaningful contributions to natural resource management in parks served by HTLN.

DELIVERABLES

You will contribute to a growing long‑term record of natural resource data for each park. That data is critical for understanding change in those resources and providing a data‑driven foundation for developing management strategies. Without the long‑term data, managers must make educated guesses as to the results of past efforts or what future actions to take. You will assist with aquatic invertebrate sorting, R coding analyses, or other project support in addition to the field data collection.

QUALIFICATIONS

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an Ameri Corps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish…