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Physical Science Technician

Stewards Individual Placement Program
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GEOSCIENTISTS IN FORESTS PROGRAM

 

 

Stewards Individual Placements and the US Forest Service will host an Applicant Webinar for all interested candidates on Thursday, January 8 at 3 PM ET / 1 PM MT. Please register to attend or review the recording here: Geoscientists in Forests | Stewards Individual Placement Program

 

Position Title:  Physical Science Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: 1055 9th Street, Del Norte, CO 81132

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by February 6, 2026.

Terms of Service:

•                  Start Date: June 1, 2026

•                  End Date: September 18, 2026

•                  AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour

GEOSCIENTISTS IN FORESTS PROGRAM:

The USDA Forest Service Washington Office Lands, Minerals and Geology (WO-LMG) in partnership with the Conservation Legacy is pleased to announce the 2026 Geoscientists in Forests (GSF) Program offering paid professional development opportunities to emerging geoscientists that leverage Agency capacity to conduct critical geologic work in alignment with the administration’s priorities (see Executive Orders and Secretarial Memos listed below).

The GSF Program specializes in individual placements that address geoscience-related needs and management priorities. The program is designed for individuals aged 18-30, and veterans up to age 35. Projects involve predominantly field-oriented research, inventory and monitoring, and geoscience interpretation for agency staff and the public. GSF programs support Forest Service responsibilities under Executive Orders on American energy (EOs 14154, 14156, 14241), Secretarial Memo 1078-005, and the Public Land Corps Act’s workforce development focus.  

The primary purposes of the Geoscientists in Forests Program are to:

•                  Address critical geoscience needs on National Forest System lands;

•                  Foster geoscience career growth to support mineral and energy development in alignment with the administration’s priorities;

•                  Provide on-the-ground geoscience training and immersive paid developmental experience for emerging geoscience professionals under Forest Service mentorship

 

POSITION:

The Geoscientists in Forests Program is seeking geoscience professionals to address critical needs on National Forest System lands. 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. The USDA Forest Service - Lands, Minerals, and Geology in partnership with Stewards will host a Physical Science Technician at the Rio Grande National Forest.

 

The Watershed/Minerals program on the Rio Grande National Forest is looking to collect reference stream data to build a database, thereby increasing efficiency. Watershed is in need of assistance identifying and collecting data for reference stream reaches classified by Rosgen stream types needed for stream health assessments in the beautiful mountains of southern Colorado. The program is compiling a GIS database to speed stream health assessments used for project analysis which would support both timber and minerals programs. This project would be the main focus of the participant. The project would entail identifying reference reaches in Arc GIS Pro, field verification of the reach,  field collection of reference reach data, and then transcription/interpretation/uploading of collected data with the assistance of watershed staff. In addition, the participant would have the opportunity to perform groundwater dependent ecosystem surveys, assist in mapping watershed resources, perform soil surveys in support of timber, and perform site inspections in support of minerals administration. The resulting experience would be one of a broad overview of physical resource work in the Forest Service.

 

The candidate will end the season with a geodatabase and map containing existing reference stream reaches and new references reaches with associated attribute tables and data. This database will be used for watershed analysis for years to come on the Rio Grande National Forest. The candidate will have the opportunity to learn to identify groundwater dependent ecosystems, differentiate among perennial, seasonal, and ephemeral stream reaches, determine stream health, and learn how to perform soil surveys. The Watershed/Minerals program will benefit through increased capacity for the season and subsequently moving priority projects efficiently through the NEPA process.

Description of Duties:

  • ·        Hiking in steep, rocky or wooded terrain, up 3-4 miles in a day, on or off trail, under varying weather conditions, carrying up to 25 pounds of equipment.
  • ·        Using mobile device applications like Avenza Maps, Field Maps, and Survey 123 in the field (training and mobile device provided by the Forest).
  • ·        Using a radio and/or SPOT device when needed (training and radio/SPOT device provided).
  • ·        Wearing personal protective equipment like hard hats when needed, and muck boots/waders (provided by the Forest) while collecting in-stream data like percent fine sediment and bankfull widths/heights.
  • ·        Interpreting stream assessment data to classify each reference reach with its Rosgen stream type (training/oversight provided by the Forest).
  • ·        Transcribing and mapping collected data into Excel and Arc GIS Pro.
  • ·        Optional pre or post-harvest soil transects/survey describing compaction and/or other soil attributes (training provided)
  • ·        Optional groundwater dependent ecosystem inventory/survey in the field (training provided)
  • ·        Optional minerals operations site inspections (with Forest Staff)

 

Qualifications:

·        Valid Driver’s License

·        Experience/comfort driving on mountain logging roads.

·        General aptitude for hiking and being outdoors.

·        Coursework:

o   Intro to GIS

o   Intro to Geology (not required, but helpful)

o   Intro to Geomorphology (not required, but helpful)

o   Intro to Hydrogeology or Hydrology (not required, but helpful)

  • United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
  • Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
  • 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.
  • Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

·        Able to pass a federal background check for Forest Service credentialing and technology access.

·        Over 21 and possess a valid driver's license (or have had a valid driver’s license for 3 or more years) and a good driving record if needed to drive a government vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

·        Experience working with Arc GIS Pro, Field Maps, and/or Avenza Maps (both downloading/uploading data and working with attribute tables). Familiarity with MS Excel.

·        Experience with Rosgen stream type classification (coursework or applied).

·        Experience collecting stream longitudinal data, like identifying pools/riffles, bankfull indicators, flood-prone area, and familiarity with pebble counts/percent fines measurements.

 

Additional Position and Community Information

·        Work will occur in the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges on the Rio Grande National Forest in the headwaters of the Rio Grande. The San Luis Valley is a large subalpine valley (7,600 ft elevation)  desert shrubland environment which lies between the two mountain ranges and receives approximately 7 inches of precipitation a year with the surrounding mountains receiving upwards of 40 inches. Temperatures for the field season range from the mid 40’s (Fahrenheit) at night to the mid 80’s during the day. Monsoonal rains occur in mountains and can be sudden. 

·        The San Luis Valley is ringed by the San Juans in the West and Sangre de Cristo’s in the east. Current topography is an expression of the Rio Grande Rift which resulted in the formation of the valley and uplift of the surrounding mountains. Elevations range from approximately 7,600 feet (valley floor) to 14,345 feet (Blanca Peak) above sea level. Generally speaking, the San Juans are uplifted volcanic deposits from the  San Juan Volcanic field dating back to the Oligocene epoch including the La Garita Caldera (supervolcano). The Sangre de Cristo’s are made of older metamorphic and sedimentary rock dating back to the Precambrian and are rain shadowed by the San Juans. Stream type and character directly reflect the geology beneath. For example, cascading step pool streams with relatively straight stable channels occur with beds of resistant lava flows and breccias on steep gradients with banks and uplands made of poorly welded ash flow deposits prone to debris flow. Waterfalls occur on resistant cliff forming rhyolitic and andesitic lava flows and tuffs.  Both ranges bear the scars of Pleistocene glaciation with deep u-shaped valleys, glacial moraines, aretes, cirques, and erratics. Even the valley’s topography has been influenced by glaciers with sandur remnants and ancient Lake Alamosa deposits and its legacy aquifers.

·        Sedentary office and computer work will be needed to do initial preparation for field work. Reference stream locations will be identified using Arc GIS Pro on a computer. Sites will then be verified and data collected in the field. The field environment will range from riparian areas in meandering meadow streams, sometimes thick with willows, to wooded steep mountain streams. Access to these environments will require driving a pickup on mountain logging roads with the potential for 1 to 2 mile hike carrying lunch and field gear. Data collection will require wading in cold water streams. Field days are typically 10 hour days.

·        The San Luis Valley is an agricultural community. The valley is filled with farms and ranches. The largest town in the Valley is Alamosa with a population of approximately 9,800 residents. Other prominent towns near Rio Grande National Forest offices are Del Norte (1,400 residents) and Monte Vista (4,000 residents). The Supervisors Office is located in the town of Del Norte. Alamosa is a college town with most of the usual amenities like a Walmart, movie theater, hotels, restaurants, and a small airport that connects with Denver and Albuquerque airports. Popular activities in the area consist of bird watching (crane festival), hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and skiing.

·        The participant will gain an understanding of public service through the lense of the Forest Service by collaborating with a variety of staff to complete the project, everyday tasks, attending meetings, and shadowing specialists within the program and outside as well. 

·        Working on the project itself will provide a general knowledge of how NEPA drives specialists’ work in the Forest Service. Being involved in the Watershed/Minerals program will provide opportunities for learning outside of the project. This will look like shadowing on minerals work (inspections and meetings). This can provide a view into the customer service aspect of public service as well as seeing meeting etiquette. Technical skills will be gained both in the field an the office. GIS work associated with identifying reference reaches will improve GIS skills. Field data collection will provide technical skills for measuring stream health, stream type identification, and stream morphology and its relationship to larger system processes and underlying geology.

 

Housing Description:

·        Dormitory style housing is available at no cost to the participant. Housing is air conditioned but does not have internet access.

 

Is a personal vehicle required:

·        A personal vehicle is required. The service site (Supervisor’s Office) is 25-36 miles from housing provided to the participant.

Benefits:

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35
  • Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
  • Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week.
  • Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
  • Childcare Coverage if Eligible
  • Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
  • Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly

How to Apply
Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

 

 

Application Timeline: Position will close on February 6, 2026.

 

 

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

·        Program Contact information: Sam Rush at srush@conservationlegacy.org

·        Service Site Contact information: DarylKohut at daryl.kohut@usda.gov

 

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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager. 

 

 

Additional Details

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

  • This position is expected to serve 40 hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
  • Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
  • Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

 

 

Orientation and Training:

  • Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

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.