Community Volunteer Ambassador - Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Program Details:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train a diverse group of emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to local communities.
Community Volunteer Ambassadors (CVAs) support Volunteer-in-Parks programs at National Park Service sites nationwide. This ranges from National Park, National Monuments, National Battlefields, National Historic Sites, National Recreation Areas, and more. The Community Volunteer Ambassador Program was developed to support NPS sites in connecting with their local communities through service and to provide young adults with a professional development opportunity within the National Park Service. CVAs provide capacity for NPS sites to establish community partnerships, develop new volunteer opportunities, and build volunteer program resources.
Site Information
The park has two Volunteer Coordinators and some park partners have Volunteer Coordinators as well. There are volunteer positions within each park program area and park partner groups at differing scales: small groups, large groups, individuals, and/or volunteer groups assembled for one-time projects with defined outcomes and durations. In total the park has nearly 150 people working in regularly occurring VIP positions and/or limited time project positions.
Position Summary
The CVA member will assist the park in the creation and implementation of a redesigned volunteer program to be used by park staff and park partners to recruit, orient, train and recognize volunteers active in programs across three units of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site units.
Position Responsibilities:
- Creating a central place that introduces the VIP program and to directs potential candidates to opportunities with park and park partner programs have available.
- Creating a process for all volunteers to participate in when they are applying to opportunities available in the park.
- Creating an orientation program for every new volunteer that explains the mission of the National Park Service, the VIP program, and the park along with expectations for participants who join the program.
- Creating a centralized reporting mechanism to maintain a current list of program participants, reporting of hours, and reminders for the annual resigning of paperwork requirements.
- Creating a unified rewards/recognition process for all volunteers with the park and working with park partners.
- Develop a plan of action to recruit and welcome underserved communities into VIP opportunities at the parks.
- Develop a plan of action to recruit and welcome underserved communities into VIP opportunities at the parks.
- Organize and implement a public outreach program for National Volunteer Week in a collaborative manner that includes all park divisions and interested park partners, VIPs, and outside organizations. This program should at once publicly celebrate volunteers and their accomplishments, highlight the VIP program, and encourage participation by others in the community.
CVA Minimum Requirements:
- Detail-oriented and well-organized
- Outgoing and able to create new points of contact with potential collaborators, manage large and small groups of people to accomplish a goal
- Possess the ability to identify project milestones and the actions required to accomplish them
- Excellent communication skills.
- Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in early April 2023
- Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Be 18-30 years old at time of service (veterans up to 35 years old)
- High School Diploma/GED
- Pass fingerprint-based FBI, state criminal, and a national sex offender checks.
- Be able to provide proof of a driver’s license and complete a MVR check
- Must be over 21 years old or have had license for at least 3 years to be insured in this position
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated project development, management, and assessment skills are recommended.
Benefits:
- CVA will receive a weekly stipend of $500 (additional $65/week, if housing is not provided)
- Limited health care/childcare benefits
- The position is eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award $6,495.00 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of the program
- Professional development funds
- Networking opportunities within the National Park Service and partnering organizations
- Public Land Corps Hiring Authority
- Week-long in-person training at NPS site with travel/meal expenses covered.
Additional Information
Park housing is available but may be shared with other staff. A park vehicle may be available but the applicant will need a private vehicle on occasion to travel between sites and for personal errands as well.
How to Apply
Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.
The CVA position will start on Monday, February 6th, 2023, and run for 50 weeks until Friday, January 19th 2024. Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application. Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.
Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with diverse populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.
Applications Deadline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. First review will occur in early November. Final deadline is Friday, December 9th.
For Application Questions:
Please contact Geoff Elliot, Program Director at gelliot@conservationlegacy.org
Stewards Individual Placements Program does not and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.