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 – Rock Creek Park - Ameri Corps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Washington, DC
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 CVA at Rock Creek Park will help support volunteer programs, work with community partners, and exercise strategic outreach.

The CVA will help with our current volunteer programs such as Weed Warrior, Roving Rangers, and Stream Team leaders. They will aim to engage volunteers in service opportunities that include invasive plant removal, native plant restoration, and litter cleanups.

Additionally, the CVA will be tasked with helping us address emerging opportunities. One opportunity will include assisting with a strategic recruitment plan for the volunteer program, aimed at reaching new, younger, and more diverse volunteers. Another is helping to facilitate the park’s adoption of volunteer.gov, allowing our program administration to be more effective and efficient. Other opportunities include developing local policies for the volunteer program and exploring ways to better engage volunteers and staff in the future of the program.

Rock Creek Park’s Community Volunteer Ambassador will have a passion for community outreach, help think of new ideas, build capacity for our volunteer programs.

Site Description
Rock Creek Park itself was first established in 1890 to protect the natural historical landscape of the Rock Creek Valley in Washington, DC. The Park was one of the first designated federal park units and is unique due to its proximity to an urban center. The Park protects more than 2,000 acres of the Rock Creek watershed which provide habitat for many plant and animal species. While being embedded in a metropolitan city poses many environmental challenges, one benefit is the desire of the community to come out and volunteer in their neighborhood park. Last year ROCR reported hosting over 6,000 volunteers who totaled over 30,000 hours of volunteer service. The park along with its partners run a number of volunteer programs that include SOLVE, Weed Warrior, Roving Rangers, and the Stream Team Leader program. Rock Creek Park also coordinates many service day events such as MLK day and National Public Lands Day.
Description of Duties:

• Develop a strategic recruitment plan to bring on volunteers from diverse backgrounds, specifically youth volunteers.

• Identify and engage with new community members and organizations, expanding the park’s reach and awareness of our own community.

• Lead and coordinate volunteer service events.

• Develop trainings and orientation materials to allow for a smoother onboarding into our volunteer programs and positions.

• Help facilitate the adoption of Volunteer.gov across all park volunteer programs.

• Develop volunteer communications materials, including social media campaigns, newsletters, etc.

• Continue to develop the park’s local policies governing its volunteer programs, ensuring compliance with national standards and guidelines.

Qualifications:

• Willing and able to commit to a year of full-time work 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:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Outgoing and open-minded attitude, with a willingness to engage with community members from diverse backgrounds

• Strong communication and written skills

• Excellent time management skills

• Local candidates preferred

• Ability to represent an organization with professionalism

• Ability to work independently

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:
The site is located in Washington, DC, providing access to a variety of educational, cultural, and historical opportunities that are associated with a metropolitan city. Rock Creek Park does not have on-site housing available however, DC has an expansive public transportation system that connects all four quadrants of DC with suburban Virginia and Maryland. The office the CVA will report to is accessible by both metro and bus. The bus stop is located on the street adjacent to the office and the metro is within a 10-minute walk.

The CVA should expect to work 40-hour weeks. The weekly schedule is generally Monday- Friday, but many volunteer events fall on weekends and evenings, especially during the summer months. Some of the CVA’s time will be spend indoors planning and strategizing community outreach, while other times will be spent outside leading or participating at events. Additionally, to allow greater flexibility, telework options may be available.

The CVA will have the opportunity to connect with staff, volunteers, and interns who work in interpretation and education, natural resources, partnerships, administration, and historic preservation. As a member of the ROCR team, they will have the chance to connect with staff by participating in meetings, planning, and other activities. Also, because of Rock Creek Park’s proximity to both regional and national offices, the CVA will benefit from networking opportunities and the various trainings offered at those sites. They will have the opportunity to shadow National Park staff both at ROCR and in the surrounding National Capital Region and gain additional knowledge they might not be exposed to through their position.

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.