Community Planner Fellow

Length:  Term of positions is 12 months (52 weeks), 40 hrs/week

Location:  240 W 5th Ave Anchorage, AK 99501

Living Allowance:  $634/week, plus professional development funding

Start Date:  Desired: May 13, 2024

Application Due Date:  Applications will be reviewed as they are received.  Final due date: March 10, 2024

Title of Position:  Community Planner Fellow

National Park Service Mission:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.  The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

NPS – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Overview:

The NPS operates programs in communities throughout the nation to connect people across the country to their parks, trails, rivers, and other special places. The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) is the public assistance branch of the National Park Service. RTCA brings the values of the NPS to local communities across Alaska. RTCA is invited into communities across the state to help people identify how to improve recreation and conservation where they live. 

RTCA staff coach, lead, mentor, and support our partners so that they can accomplish their goals and do that good work where it matters the most. Much of our work involves helping communities create new parks and trails, protect sensitive resources, strengthen community organizations, and build coalitions and networks of like-minded, dedicated people. We offer support to the public for recreation and conservation projects at a grassroots level.

Position Overview

The Community Planner Fellow (fellow) will assist in the facilitation, mapping, design, public outreach and writing of a Community Outdoor Recreation Plan for the Denali Borough. They will also assist in facilitation, site mapping, and public outreach for the City of Pelican Tsunami Trail and other similar projects in rural Alaska that will have been recently accepted by RTCA by the time the intern reports for work. Additionally, Alaska RTCA will be developing a public outreach plan of our own, on which the intern would have the opportunity to work.

Position Responsibilities will include: 

Provide support to active RTCA Alaska projects.

• Gather initial data for trail and park planning.
• Review the administrative and planning histories of all assigned projects.
• Assist in creating documents to guide our active planning projects towards completion.

Conduct RTCA social media and outreach.

• DOI and NPS training and monthly meeting attendance.
• Create original content about outdoor recreation and conservation for posting to the Alaska Regional social media accounts and national RTCA account.
• Create strategies to engage potential applicants through social media.

Help create strategies to increase park and trail development capacity in rural Alaska by building connections between relevant partners in Anchorage and around the state. 

• General support of other ongoing projects mostly through research.
• Attend meetings with other project partners and program manager.
• Develop ideas to improve conservation and outdoor recreation in Alaska.

Minimum Requirements: 

• 18-30 years old as of start date (up to 35 for veterans)
• US citizenship or permanent residency. Interns must undergo a government background check if selected.
• Available to work full-time (40 hours per week)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Undergraduate degree (eg BA, BS, etc.) that is somehow related to conservation, outdoor recreation, natural resources, landscape architecture, or community planning.

Benefits:

• $634/week living allowance
• Professional Development and Training fund.
• On-the-job training from NPS staff, plus additional self-paced training opportunities on policy.
• $6,895 AmeriCorps Education Award, upon successful completion of the service term.
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority, upon successful completion of the service term.
• Eligible for health insurance beginning on first day of service.

Stewards Individual Placements 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.