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Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant - AmeriCorps - 900 Hour

Position Title: Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO, 80517
Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by 03/15/2025

Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Continental Divide Research Learning Center in Rocky Mountain National Park will host a Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant.
This Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant is an AmeriCorps position in the Continental Divide Research Learning Center (CDRLC) at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The CDRLC promotes resource stewardship through research and science literacy. This is accomplished by facilitating the use of parks for scientific inquiry, supporting adaptive management and science-informed decision making, communicating the relevance of and providing access to knowledge gained through scientific research, increasing the effectiveness and communication of research, and integrating current scientific research into educational and outreach programs.
The Continental Divide Research Learning Center’s Visitor Use Management (VUM) Program is a critical part of science-informed, adaptive management in Rocky Mountain National Park. The VUM Program monitors eight metrics of visitor use that helps managers understand visitor and staff safety, operational capacity, resource impacts, and visitor experience under the park’s long-term Day Use Visitor Access Plan. The Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant will support these efforts by managing one of eight monitoring protocols with assistance and oversight from VUM Program and Field Lead staff. By collecting and analyzing visitor use data, the Assistant will be supporting desired conditions for visitor, resources, and staff in RMNP.

Description of Duties:
In this role, the Visitor Use Monitoring Assistant will manage one VUM monitoring protocol with assistance and oversight from other VUM Program staff. Managing a monitoring protocol includes collecting visitor use data in the field, managing and adapting the field data collection schedule to accomplish stratified sampling, performing data QA/QC in a field and office setting, and executing standard procedures for data management and record keeping. While the Assistant will manage their own protocol, they will also assist with data collection on other monitoring protocols assigned to other team members. Expected products include high-quality datasets for each monitoring location within a protocol and end of season report that documents field efforts and results for the season.

Qualifications:
• A bachelor’s degree in a science-related area, such as social science, environmental science, geography (GIS specific) or related.
• Ability to maintain high levels of responsibility and initiative.
• Ability to work efficiently, work independently, be detail oriented and organized.
• Ability to lead co-workers or volunteers on a project.
• Experience with basic data management and ArcGIS platforms.
• Must be comfortable in isolated environments and be able to carry a 50-pound backpack.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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.
• A valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Coursework or Bachelor’s degree in ecology, GIS, recreation management, natural resources, and/or human dimensions;
• Good communication and basic leadership skills; to organize and implement volunteer opportunities to collect data;
• Experience with managing datasets and ensuring high quality data collection and quality control
• Experience collecting data using GPS and mapping/analyzing spatial data in ArcGIS;
• Ability to write a scientific report including basic data display and analysis;
• Backcountry/off-trail hiking skills, attentiveness to safety in mountainous terrain with adverse weather conditions, and roadside conditions;
• Experience in mountainous terrain with adverse weather conditions;

Additional Position and Community Information
• Housing will be provided at Rocky Mountain National Park. The Assistant will have a shared room with a shared bathroom within a house, cabin, or dormitory. The Assistant needs to provide their own bedding/linens. Shared kitchen space is stocked with basic cookware (pots, pans, etc.) and basic tableware (plates, cups, cutlery). All park housing is located adjacent to the town of Estes Park. Specific details will be available after a candidate is selected.
• Rocky Mountain National Park embraces 415 square miles of pristine, uninhabited mountains in north-central Colorado and, as such, is one of the most spectacular, yet easily accessible high mountain areas. The park encompasses glacier-sculptured valleys, rugged gorges, alpine lakes, and vast areas of alpine tundra. Summer weather is generally sunny with frequent afternoon lightening showers. Recreational activities in the park include scenic drives, 355 miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, climbing, fishing, and wildlife watching.
• The gateway community of Estes Park is located at 7,500 feet and located ~5 miles from park headquarters. The town has several grocery stores, a library, restaurants, a hospital, and several clinics, doctor and dentist offices. Recreational and educational opportunities in town include educational classes through the library and adult education learning program, a running club, walking trails and bike paths, and trivia, events, seasonal festivals, and activities that many park staff attend as groups. The Denver metropolitan area is a 2-hour drive and provides a spectrum of amenities and an international airport.
• Work will involve both office and field work. Field work includes hiking on and off trail in steep, mountainous terrain up to 12,000 feet elevation with possible exposure to inclement weather (hot or cold temperatures, wind, rain, snow, and lightning). The Assistant could encounter wildlife such as elk, moose, and black bear. Shared office space will be provided and will include a varied desk platform allowing for sitting and standing, computer, phone line, and close access to a shared printer.
• Applicant must have a valid driver license and a good driving record. The Assistant will be responsible for getting themselves to the office and driving a government field vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position. Provided housing may not be within walking distance of the office and public transportation is not available in the area where park housing is located.

Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

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 Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by March 15, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will close on April 4, 2025.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
• Program Contact information: Sam Rush at srush@conservationlegacy.org
• Service Site Contact information: Paige Lambert at Paige_Lambert@nps.gov

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Additional Details
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 40 hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• 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.
• Park staff and supervisors will provide Safety and Vehicle trainings, Backcountry Travel training, First Aid/CPR training, and specific training related to visitor use monitoring protocols, data collection, and data management.

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.