Science Education Steward

National Park Service - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Length:

Term of positions is 34 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk

Location:

54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091

Compensation:

$600/week living allowance, $150/week housing stipend, plus $3000 in professional development funds

Start Date:

Desired: July 2025

Application Due Date:

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Position Title

Science Education Steward

 How to Apply
Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Position Details

Stewards Individual Placement Program (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

Stewards is excited to partner with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park to host a Science Education Steward (member). The member will contribute to the natural resource management of two parks and provide important monitoring and educational resources for parks within NETNs network. The focus area of this position is climate change and how it potentially impacts both plant phenology and forest amphibians. In addition to contributions at the local and regional level, the educational component of these projects will further resource stewardship objectives in the local community and beyond. The following project descriptions contain excerpts from the related draft protocols and addition documents and citations can be made available upon request.

Position Responsibilities will include:

·        Citizen Science Curriculum Implementation, including:

o   Develop and pilot two existing scientific protocols and one new protocol to use citizen scientists for data collection.

o    Conduct public outreach to identify volunteers and school groups to conduct data collection in the appropriate timeframes.

o    Coordinate and implement data collection. 

o    Manage, analyze and publish data for use by the public, educators, students, and natural resource managers.

o   Creating training material and instructing volunteers, teachers, and students in data collection protocols.

o   Maintain tablets, GPS receivers and other scientific equipment

·        Teacher Professional Development, including:

o   Assist with the planning and implementation of three teacher professional development workshops focused on place-based education, citizen science, and climate change.

o     Assist with the development of resources for educators to support park- based learning.

o   Present at least one workshop session for educators on citizen science protocols and curriculum.

·        Science Communication, Outreach, and Education, including:

o   Assist with coordinating “Working Woodlands” a science communication workshop designed to connect nature enthusiast and landowners with natural resource professional to provide skills and knowledge to promote land stewardship.

o    Work with the Parks Natural Resources Lead and Consulting Forester to create science communication products around the park’s silvicultural inventories.

o   Work with the WUHS CRAFT program to help develop and deliver place-based learning experiences in the park, at the school, and at partner sites. The CRAFT program focuses on themes of Community and Climate Resilience, Agriculture, Forestry, and Technology.

o   Assist the Education Lead with developing and delivering science- based education opportunities.

o   Develop science communication content for the park website and social media.

o    Assist with the development and implementation of the Forest Discovery Center and other public programs focused on science communication.

·        Natural Resource Management Assistance, including:

o   Assist with GIS data collection around various park monitoring needs. 

o   Serve as a forestry safety ambassador tasked with interacting with, the public during timber harvesting activities as part of the parks Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

o    Assist with invasive species control

o    Assist with inventory and monitoring activities.

Minimum Requirements:

·        A Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Ecology, Forestry or Environmental Science or a related natural resource field is preferred. 

·        Experience working in the field of formal or informal learning.

·        Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

·        Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by Conservation Legacy (over 21 years old or drivers license for at least three years).

Preferred Requirements:

·        Key strengths and experience that will contribute to project success include:

·        The best candidate will be self-driven with the ability to facilitate project goals independently

·        Excellent verbal and written communication skills

·        A commitment to practicing conservation through a lens of equity, inclusion, and access

·        Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

·        Experience with natural systems and identifying plant and wildlife species.

·        The ability to work with a diverse set of volunteers and students to achieve stated goals

Benefits:

·        $3000 in professional development and training funds.

·        Eligible for Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of service.

·        Eligible for AmeriCorps Education Award ($4,826.50) upon successful completing of service. 

·        On-the-job training related to position responsibilities.

How to Apply
Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Questions: Please contact James Gasaway at Jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org for any questions.

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.