I&M Field Ecology Individual Placements

Title:  I&M Field Ecology Individual Placements 

Service Site: National Park Service Center for Urban Ecology, Washington, D.C. 

Dates of Service: April 6th, 2026 – December 18th, 2026 (37 weeks)  

Pay: $800/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $200 additional member benefit)  

Status: This is a full-time, 40 hour/week temporary AmeriCorps National Service position.  

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org  

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. Applications will be accepted until January 31st. 

Appalachian Conservation Corps:   

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.   

As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.  

Position Summary:  

Long-term forest vegetation and water quality monitoring across all National Capital Region (NCR) parks are core components of the Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) program. Data collected from these efforts provide essential, science-based insights into ecosystem health, and help park managers make informed decisions that protect and sustain park resources.  

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service are seeking two Field Ecology Individual Placements to serve with Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) staff on a variety of monitoring projects across National Parks in the National Capital Region (NCR). This is primarily a field-based position with some occasional office-based work. As a member of the I&M field crew, the candidate will focus on forest vegetation monitoring and periodically assist with water quality monitoring. 

Roles and responsibilities include:  

• Collect forest vegetation data using established quantitative monitoring protocols, including installing and maintaining permanent forest plots; measuring trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, ferns, sedges, and grasses; describing forest and habitat characteristics; and collecting GPS and photo-point data.
• Identify vascular plant species of the mid-Atlantic region and collect and prepare plant specimens as needed to support inventories and monitoring work.
• Navigate to remote field sites using GPS, maps, and compass; work safely in both remote and urban field settings; travel long distances on foot while carrying heavy equipment; and work comfortably in wetland and other challenging environments.
• Assist with data management, including data entry, basic data manipulation, and quality control checks.
• Support other I&M monitoring protocols (e.g. water quality monitoring) and assist with broader program needs, including contributing to reports, newsletters, and educational or outreach presentations.

Members will receive training in plant identification and in forest and water monitoring techniques. Protocols will be learned by shadowing experienced field crew members and through independent study of program materials and herbarium specimens. Throughout the field season, field crew meetings will provide opportunities to think critically about field operations, reinforce safety, and troubleshoot challenges that arise during fieldwork and data collection. 

Housing is NOT provided for this position. We are seeking candidates who are local or prepared to relocate to the Washington DC metropolitan area.  

General Qualifications:  

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. In addition, applicants must:  

• Possess a valid driver’s license

Desired Skills/Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree, ideally in ecology, biology, botany or relevant field of study.
• Experience with botanical research, forest vegetation monitoring, and/or invasive plant management.
• Comfort and willingness to work in challenging field conditions (hot, humid weather; biting insects; noxious plants).
• Skills related to successful teamwork (clear communication, situational awareness, reliability, respectfulness); attention to detail; and strong commitment to safety and NPS operational leadership principles.

Benefits:   

• $800/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $200 additional member benefit)
• $5,176.50 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 900-hour service term (Award can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)
• $1,322 professional development fund for training, certs, or gear.
• Option to enroll in health, vision and dental insurance
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
• Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff
• Member Assistance Program– 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Additional subject-specific certifications and trainings may be offered (Wildland Fire Incident Qualifications (Red Card), Chainsaw training, pesticides, etc.)
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths

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. 

Our Commitment: 

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager. 

Our Promise:   

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.