Community Volunteer Ambassador - Natchez Trace Parkway
Community Volunteer Ambassador – Natchez Trace Parkway
Length: Term of positions is 50 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk
Location: Tupelo, MS
Compensation: $500/week living allowance, additional $65/week housing allowance, if housing is not provided.
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 Community Volunteer Ambassador for the Natchez Trace Parkway would seek to recruit volunteers for all divisions of the Natchez Trace Parkway interested in hiring volunteers as well as planning volunteer events for the volunteer service days throughout the year. The individual in this position would also help to reach more communities along the Natchez Trace Parkway and coordinate with Parkway employees to plan volunteer programs in areas away from HQ. This position is a part of the Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers Division of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Site Description:
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile road through the history of the Old Southwest. We reach communities from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. We have three visitor centers in our Interpretation Division where we host RV volunteers and local volunteers. On special days of service throughout the year, we manage volunteer events to take care of the Parkway. Our goal for this upcoming year is to expand our volunteer program across the Parkway and actively reach out to more communities.
Position Responsibilities:
- Recruit volunteers for the Natchez Trace Parkway.
- Update NATR volunteer program documents as needed.
- Support volunteer supervisors in all divisions at NATR.
- Manage NATR account on Volunteer.gov
- Plan and carry out volunteer events and social media posts throughout the year.
- Support the NATR Interpretation Division.
CVA Minimum Requirements:
- Excited to work in a National Park
- Friendly
- Organized
- Creative
- Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in early November 2023
- Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- High School Diploma/GED
- 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:
- Curious about working at a 444-mile-long parkway.
- Interested in learning the skills needed to manage volunteers and communicate with community partners to recruit volunteers.
- Willing to drive sections of the Natchez Trace Parkway to determine the best locations for volunteer service projects.
- Comfortable with answering phone calls and emails in a professional manner.
- Experience engaging with the general public.
Additional Information:
Working at NATR is always busy. This is an opportunity to try new things with us as we continue to rebuild our volunteer program. We encourage trainings to develop professional skills related to working with the National Park Service. Work will normally include weekends to allow you to lead your own volunteer programs with support from park staff. There will be occasional work in the Visitor Center to support the interpretation staff.
Benefits:
- CVA will receive a weekly stipend of $500/week living allowance, additional $65/week housing allowance, 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.
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.