Job Opportunities in United States

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/Stewards IPP/cva-member-application-winter-2025 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.
Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador – Denali National Park and Preserve - Ameri Corps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Denali Park, AK
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

• Ameri Corps 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 Denali Kennels aims to improve and grow our current volunteer coordination within our existing programs, as well as develop new community partnerships with the villages around Denali, using the historic and cultural connections of dogsledding that traditional tied all of these communities within the Denali region.

Site Description
The Denali sled dog kennels is the oldest and most beloved operation within Denali National Park. The kennels primary role is to maintain and promote the cultural heritage of dogsledding - this is done through an active winter patrol operation and in the summer season hosting up to 80,000 visitors in the summer for education and interpretation. The Kennels regularly hosts over 120 volunteers in the summer, hosts visiting Alaskan youth school groups, and facilitates season-long apprenticeships for up to 7 interns each year.

Description of Duties:

• Manage and improve the dogwalking program

• Manage and improve the outreach efforts with school groups.

• Manage and improve the kennels hosting of volunteer work groups.

• Develop the network of community partnerships with traditional dogsledding communities and kennels.

• Assist with the education and interpretation of the historic operation to the visiting public and school groups.

• Become an integral part of the Kennels team, including participation in dogsled patrol operations and dog care.

Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills

• Outgoing relationship-building skills

• Strong organization-coordination skills

• Strong computer skills

• Love of the outdoors and winter activities

• 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 Ameri Corps 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:

• Experience/comfortability with large animal (or willingness to learn and work with them.)

• Local hire (within 30 mile radius).

• Experience working in a park setting.

• Willingness to work with large crowds.

• Able to drive a UTV or similar vehicle (training provided).

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 Ameri Corps 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 Ameri Corps 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:
This position will be in remote Alaska. A car is not necessary yet a valid drivers license will be beneficial. Housing is provided inside the park, within walking distance of the work site. Some travel to surrounding communities will take place. Participating in the dogsled winter patrols will expose the position to the beautiful and sometimes physically challenging conditions. The summer public demonstrations and outreach will provide the position with significant experience with visitor services and education. The position will gain experience working with several other divisions of the national park service, including the cultural resource team.
Benefits:

• Segal Ameri Corps 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 Ameri Corps 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/Stewards IPP/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 Ameri Corps 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.