Community Volunteer Ambassador - Gateway National Recreation Area
Community Volunteer Ambassador – Gateway National Recreation Area
Length: Term of positions is 50 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk
Location: Broad Channel, NY
Compensation: $500/week living allowance
Start Date: September 11, 2023
Application Review: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with first review beginning on June 5th.
Application deadline is Friday, July 21st.
Position Title Community Volunteer Ambassador
Position 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 communities.
The primary responsibility of the CVA will be to help manage the Hartzog Award winning Shorebird Ecology Ambassador volunteer program (SEA-VIP), which started in 2021 in Jamaica Bay with park partner NYC Plover Project, whose goal is to inspire positive plover experiences, to educate and engage beach goers about piping plovers, and to help protect birds facing overwhelming odds.
The CVA will work with NYC Plover Project and other park partners to recruit, train, coordinate, and schedule volunteers who educate the public about threatened and endangered piping plovers and other nesting shorebirds at Gateway’s beaches.
Site Description:
Gateway’s Jamaica Bay is comprised of a ring of parks surrounding the bay and includes prominent sites like Floyd Bennett Field (New York’s first municipal airport), Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and Jacob Riis Beach and Fort Tilden along the Rockaway peninsula. Some of New York’s premier recreational opportunities exist in the Jamaica Bay Unit, including parasailing, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, camping, and swimming. Division staff are located primarily at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and the Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field, while Park Headquarters is located in the Staten Island Unit of Gateway.
Gateway's dynamic, vibrant volunteer program reflects the diversity of New York City and broad array of resources at the park.
Position Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with park partner NYC Plover Project in management of Shorebird Ecology Ambassador Volunteer program.
- Recruit, train, schedule, and coordinate volunteers in educational programming related to threatened and endangered piping plovers and other nesting shorebirds at Gateway.
- Engage local communities in public and educational programming related to Gateway resources.
- Assist park rangers in wide range of interpretation and education responsibilities.
CVA Minimum Requirements:
- Public communication skills
- Outgoing, friendly attitude a must!
- Organizational skills
- Ability to work weekends and holidays
- Volunteer experience a plus!
- Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in early November 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)
- 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:
- Public speaking
- Volunteer program management
- Ornithology interest/educational background
Additional Information:
- Park housing in Jamaica Bay is available from position start through May, 2024.
- Weekend and holiday work will be required during summer season.
Benefits:
- CVA will receive a weekly stipend of $500
- 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.
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, September 11th, 2023, and run for 50 weeks until Friday, August 23rd, 2024. Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/sept-23-cva-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 June. Final deadline is Friday, July 21st, 2023.
For Application Questions:
Please contact Geoff Elliot, Program Director at gelliot@conservationlegacy.org
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, 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 application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.