Planning Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Planning Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, Utah

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 03/23/2026

End Date: 09/21/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Relocation Allowance of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
  • Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 60 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Planning Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will contribute to the establishment of natural resource indicators and standards in relation to visitor impacts to inform the development of CARE's Visitor Use Management Plan and future park planning efforts. This project focuses on Pleasant Creek and Halls Creek Valleys, which are priority wilderness regions; however, results may inform management in additional areas of the park. While the focus is on natural resources, the project will also inform cultural resource management. This project will also recommend both short term and long-term mitigations for areas of high impact.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The participant, in cooperation with NPS at Capitol Reef National Park, will support the Capitol Reef National Park Division of Resource Management & Science and serve as team members of the natural resources program. Position will be paired with the Outdoor Recreation Planner. The position will be focused on conducting surveys of natural resources impacted by visitor use including vegetation, soils, wildlife, and riparian ecosystems. The position will also include data management, quality assurance and control, data summary and reporting, and maintenance of monitoring field equipment and tools.

Primary responsibilities for field projects will include surveys of general vegetation, measurement and classifying soil disturbance, mapping of disturbed areas, identification of areas of high use, and development of indicators and standards related to visitor impacts.

Tasks include detailed surveys that requires attention to detail, conducting line-point intercept transects, collecting photo points on tablet from both start and end of transect, hiking off trail for long hours in the field in remote areas of the park, data review, and integrating knowledge gained from field projects into operational standards and indicators.

KEYWORDS: Visitor Use, Natural Resources, Social Trails, Field projects, Wilderness, Planning

DELIVERABLES

Specific projects, goals, and materials to be produced will be individualized for each participant but will include the following:

1) Maps of disturbance and data metrics of social trail and route networks.

2) Collection and analysis of comparison data of trail, route, soil compaction, and cover classes, such as rare and invasive plants, between disturbance transects near trails and transects with less disturbance.

3) Development of indicators and standards including SOPs for managing visitor impacts.

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 AmeriCorps 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 eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the NPS site location.
• The applicant must be available to participate for 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's Degree in Outdoor Recreation Planning, Biology, Botany, Ecology, or other related field, or combination of related coursework.

• Familiarity with plants of the Colorado Plateau, including endemic, threatened and endangered plants; knowledge of soils is also highly desirable;

• Familiarity with, or proven ability and desire to learn, specific State and Federal laws and National Park Service policies related to outdoor recreation planning and natural resources;

• Experience (one year) conducting field surveys or vegetation monitoring (e.g., repeat photography, or transect and quadrat systematic sampling) in wilderness is desirable;

• Experience working with hand-held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection;

• Knowledge of GIS software (highly desirable, but not required);

• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project/grant reports;

• Experience using digital cameras and computer software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Access, Excel);

• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; Experience driving four-wheel drive vehicles on high clearance, dirt roads would be beneficial but is not essential;

• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

The project setting will be divided between office and field setting. Field projects will take place in remote areas of the park. Capitol Reef National Park is located near Torrey, UT. The location is remote. The nearest gas station is 10 miles away and the nearest grocery store is approximately 35 miles away. A personal vehicle is required for travel/transport outside of daily position duties. There is currently no cell service in housing or near the duty station and it is spotty in other locations. Reliable cellular service is usually only found when nearing Torrey. The SIP participant should find living in a remote location desirable. Located in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef NP is filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges. In addition to unique geological resources, the park also has a rich cultural history.

VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Furnished private room located in shared housing (shared communal areas) within walking distance of park headquarters. Participant will need to bring all personal items, toiletries, linens, and pillows. Housing does include wi-fi.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.

Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

• This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

• Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
• Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.

EVALUATION AND REPORTING

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Capitol Reef National Park will host a Planning Assistant.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”