You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Community Volunteer Ambassador – Joshua Tree National Park

Length:  Term of positions is 50 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk 
Location: Twentynine Palms, CA 
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 CVA at Joshua Tree National Park will support parkwide volunteer program management, volunteer engagement, community outreach, and specific volunteer team operations. They will be involved in all volunteer opportunities offered by the park including projects and positions in natural resources, cultural resources, protection, fees, interpretation, trails, roads, and campgrounds. 
 
The CVA will work 1-2 days a week on projects and tasks that apply to the parkwide volunteer program and the other 3-4 days will be spent working directly with a branch-specific volunteer program. These assignments will rotate each 2-3 months between specific volunteer project operations, which provides the opportunity to intensely embed in a program and make a significant impact. The CVA will likely work closely with preventative search and rescue (PSAR), vegetation monitoring, fee operations, and interpretive operations. They will have cross-training opportunities with other NPS sites in the summer which may last a few days to a few weeks, depending on the site’s needs and CVA’s interest. 
 
The CVA will work at the office with their supervisor and project managers, in the field with volunteers, and in the community with partners. Though the work with other branches will be collaborative with a variety of staff, partners, volunteers, and interns; CVA will be assigned to a single project lead for their time with each branch and have a single primary supervisor throughout the internship. 
 
Site Description: 
Joshua Tree National Park was protected for its diversity of plants and animals, first as a National Monument in 1936 and then as a National Park in 1994. However, humans have occupied this area for at least 5,000 years. The area’s traditionally associated communities include the Cahuilla, the Chemehuevi, the Mojave, and the Serrano. 
 
The park’s 800,000+ acres protect the unique assembly of natural resources brought together by the junction of three of California’s ecosystems: the Colorado Desert, Mojave Desert, and Little San Bernardino Mountains. The Colorado Desert, a western extension of the vast Sonoran Desert, occupies the southern and eastern parts of the park and is characterized by stands of spike-like ocotillo plants and cholla cactus. The southern boundary of the Mojave Desert reaches across the northern part of the park and is the habitat of the park’s namesake Joshua tree. The Little San Bernardino Mountains are in the westernmost part of the park, above 4,000 feet elevation, and provide habitat for a community of California juniper and pinyon pine. 
 
The plant diversity of these three ecosystems is matched by the animal diversity, including healthy herds of desert bighorn and six species of rattlesnakes. Joshua Tree National Park lies within the Pacific flyway for migratory birds and is a rest stop for many.  
 
The park also encompasses some of the most interesting geologic features found in California’s desert areas. Exposed monzogranite monoliths and rugged canyons testify to the tectonic and erosional forces that shaped this land. Washes, playas, alluvial fans, bajadas, desert varnish, and igneous and metamorphic rocks interact to form a pattern of stark beauty and ever-changing complexity. 
 
The park’s volunteers help protect these resources and support our visitors. Our program includes volunteers that support operations in the interpretation, maintenance, resources, and protection divisions. The program reports about 27,000 hours annually. We have approximately 100 position-based volunteers, 18 recurring volunteer positions, and about 100 event volunteers. Most of the park’s volunteerism is position-based, with volunteers serving in roles like preventative search and rescue, vegetation monitoring, trail brushing, and visitor services. 
 
Position Responsibilities: 
  • Respond to volunteer inquiries 
  • Collect and enter volunteer data including service agreements, hours, and inquiries 
  • Help park staff onboard new volunteers 
  • Lead volunteer policy orientations for volunteers and park staff 
  • Develop, participate in, and lead volunteer field projects 
  • Work with project leads to identify park needs that can be met by volunteers and help develop those programs and/or positions 
  • Create new or leverage existing community partnerships through outreach 
  • Facilitate volunteer appreciation and engagement, including annual volunteer appreciation event and volunteer newsletter 
  • Create written (both physical and digital) resources for volunteers and volunteer supervisors 
  • Support overall volunteer program operations 
 
CVA Minimum Requirements: 
  • Some college experience, but no degree required 
  • Ability to work at least 1 weekend day 
  • Honest and dependable 
  • Organized and detail-oriented 
  • Enjoys teamwork and collaboration 
  • Values diversity, equity, and inclusion 
  • Comfortable presenting in a formal setting, even if it is a growth area 
  • Comfortable asking questions when clarification is needed, rather than guessing 
  • 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: 
  • Local applicants from the Morongo Basin or Coachella Valley 
  • Professional writing and communication skills 
  • Experience in community outreach and/or customer service is preferred 
  • Creative thinker 
 
Additional Information: 
  • Position requires a current driver’s license, safe driving record, and reliable personal vehicle 
  • 1-2 days of weekend work (Fri, Sat, Sun) are required but days are negotiable 
  • Park housing is 60 minutes from main duty station, so local applicants preferred 
  • Cross-training opportunities with other NPS sites in the summer 
  • Some telework flexibility 
  • The CVA will gain diverse experience with all aspects of NPS operations due to the diversity of our volunteer program. 
 
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.