Community Volunteer Ambassador – Alaska Public Lands Information Center
Length: Term of positions is 50 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk
Location: Anchorage, AK
Compensation: $565/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.
2022 showed a loss in our connections with our communities and the volunteerism on our public lands. The CVA will help rejuvenate our program by gathering volunteers again for our Public lands day events, National Park Service week, our diversity recruitment in our many diverse communities, working with our partners to continue to establish volunteer opportunities with BSA, GSA, 4H, Boys & Girls club, Camp Fire, YMCA, YWCA, etc, help find assistance to maintain visitor center operations, be the lead in finding volunteer speakers for the summer weekly scientist programs, find volunteers for the spring watershed program, find volunteers for the winter Fur Rondy & dog musher program, find volunteer assistants for the Fall-winter-spring after school programs, continue our social media campaigns to engage volunteers & build interest, and find volunteer assistants for the summer refuge bird watching program.
Our hope is to reconnect with the communities and programs that our past CVAs established but also to gain greater connections with our diverse communities in hope to have them volunteer with our staff within their own community.
Site Description:
The Alaska Public Lands Information Center (APLIC) is one of four located within the state's main ports of entry. Anchorage APLIC is in the largest community within the state. Run by the National Park Service the AAPLIC provides visitor services, safety programming, educational programs, outreach throughout the many communities within the city, and numerous tours, talks, and presentations within our theater and/or the visitor center. Currently volunteers take part in our activities at the visitor center through customer service functions, web work, education programs, and special events. With over 100 languages spoken within the Anchorage school district the AAPLIC has the best opportunity to ensure a vastly diverse population get to experience their public lands.
Position Responsibilities:
- Leadership in the volunteer program
- Recruitment of volunteers
- Coordination of special events and activities to enhance volunteerism
- Community engagement in diverse communities, military bases, and communities that boarder our public lands.
- Work closely with the Park's management team to help with building volunteer cohorts for their programs.
- Help spread best practices in volunteer recruitment and retainment.
CVA Minimum Requirements:
- Intern must be self-motivated
- Have the ability to work indoors & outdoor
- Have good public speaking skills
- Be organized & professional
- Have a strong work ethic
- Be willing to work in a team setting
- Have a desire to share ideas
- Be outgoing and able to have fun on the job
- 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:
- Professional skills in public speaking
- Good community engagement skills
- Strong project leadership skills
- Excellent self-starter
Additional Information:
The Park site is located in the largest city in the state of Alaska, with one of the most diverse communities in the nation. Anchorage is a mild weather city in the summer with a little more than 300,000 people. Winters can be cold and snowy. All standard amenities are available including hospitals, daycare, schools, 2 universities, multiple rentals, shopping malls, restaurants, golf courses, ski resorts, museums, and an international airport. Indoor and outdoor activities abound.
Anchorage is the jumping off point to most of the state and its recreational possibilities. Anchorage is between the mountains and the ocean with tons of recreational possibilities at our doorstep. This is a nontraditional city due to the wildlife in and around the city. We have bears and moose that have wandered right in our downtown area while city buses and taxis flow by. It is easy to look at Anchorage as a regular large city due to our amenities and large buildings, but between the spectacular views of mountains and ocean and the surprise of moose on the city streets, Anchorage reminds us that we are still in the last frontier.
Benefits:
- CVA will receive a weekly stipend of $565
- 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.