Community Volunteer Ambassador - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-winter-2025 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references. 

Position Title:  Community Volunteer Ambassador – Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements 

Site Location:  Mountainair, NM 

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. First review will occur in early November. Final deadline is Sunday, December 8, 2024. 

Terms of Service: 

Start Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 

End Date: Friday, December 19, 2025 

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour  

 Purpose: 

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, 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 will work in partnership with the Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services to brainstorm, develop and implement volunteer opportunities for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The anticipated role of the CVA will focus on the following:  

Leading the process to create innovative and diverse strategies to recruit volunteers;  

Creating new, and leveraging existing, community partnerships; and,   

Implementing procedures for sustaining new and existing volunteer opportunities and partnerships.   

The CVA will also work closely with park divisions and provide insights into improving park operations for recruiting volunteers and expanding community partnerships.  

Site Description  

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is a small park located in rural, central New Mexico, about an hour and fifteen minutes away from Albuquerque (driving time). Salinas Pueblo Missions protects the archaeological and historical significance and values of the Salinas province by preserving the ruins and artifacts of indigenous pueblos, associated 17th century Spanish Franciscan missions’ architecture, and 19th century Spanish rancheros. Salinas consists of three discontinuous units – Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira – that stand as reminders of the Spanish and Pueblo peoples’ early encounters and prompt exploration of today’s interactions among different people.   

The Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program at Salinas Pueblo Missions is a growing program that is looking to better engage with the local community. The VIP program consists of long-term volunteers that support various divisions, – Interpretation and Visitor Services, Cultural and Natural Resources, and Administration and Information Technology – as well as short-term residential volunteers that support the winter/spring seasons and those that support one or two programs/events throughout the year. The park’s Friends group, a volunteer-based organization, also provides invaluable support to help the park supplement programming and funding needs.  

Description of Duties: 

Expand volunteer opportunities, with a focus on engaging local youth.   

Develop and lead innovative strategies for volunteer recruitment.  

Create new or leverage existing community partnerships at Salinas Pueblo Missions.  

Finalize and implement Partnerships Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Salinas Pueblo Missions.  

Support with creation of innovative communication with the park’s tribal partners, particularly with tribal youth.  

Work closely with Interpretation and Visitor Services team and other park Divisions by openly sharing ideas to improve park operations. 

Qualifications: 

Willing and able to represent Salinas Pueblo Missions in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.  

Be resourceful, adaptable, and able to work in a team setting and independently.  

Open to learning new things and working outside comfort zone.  

Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency, and inclusivity.  

Outgoing and openminded.  

Innovative thinker.  

United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien 

Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award  

Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.  

Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in March 2025 (date TBD) 

Be 18-30 years old at time of service (veterans up to 35 years old) 

Must be over 21 years old or have had license for at least 3 years to be insured in this position 

Be able to provide proof of a driver’s license and complete a MVR check 

 Preferred Qualifications:  

Comfortable with meeting and engaging people from diverse backgrounds and different viewpoints.  

Ability to work independently and complete work without direct supervision.  

Can multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines.  

Can work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.  

Physical Requirements: 

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. 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. 

 Time Requirements: 

This position is expected to serve a 40-hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary and will be set by host site.  

Lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.  

Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 

Orientation and Training: 

Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. 

Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills. 

Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development 

$1,200 in Professional Development Funds   

Additional Information: 

Salinas Pueblo Missions is in a rural area in Central New Mexico, about an hour and fifteen minutes away from Albuquerque (driving time). The Town of Mountainair, where Salinas Pueblo Missions is located, has housing available; albeit limited.   

The position will have office space at the Headquarters Building in Mountainair and will require the need to drive to the three sites that are part of the park. The CVA will participate and support park and community events that may happen on-site and off-site on weekends and evenings. The CVA will also participate in field visits and other activities, including trainings, conferences, and meetings with fellow parks in the area, such as Petroglyph National Monument.  

Benefits:  

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395 

Living Allowance of $600 per week. 

Additional Benefit of $150 per week, if housing is not provided. 

Healthcare Coverage  

Childcare Coverage  

Loan forbearance  

Interest Payments  

$1,200 in Professional Development funds for training, networking, conferences, and/or travel.  

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. 

Evaluation and Reporting: 

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service. 

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking. 

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 Tuesday, January 21, and run for 48 weeks until Friday, December 19, 2025.  

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-winter-2025 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 November. Final deadline is Sunday, December 8, 2024. 

For Application Questions: 

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@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. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps 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.