United States Forest Service – Vegetation Management Stewards at El Yunque National Forest – AmeriCorps

Job Overview

Position Title: United States Forest Service – Vegetation Management Stewards at El Yunque National Forest – AmeriCorps

Number of Openings: Two

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: El Yunque National Forest

Road 191 km 4.4 Bo. Barcelona, Rio Grande, P.R. 00745

Terms of Service:

• Anticipated Start Date: 4/27/26
• Anticipated End Date: 9/25/26 (22 weeks)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements is an AmeriCorps Program which provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and protect our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting the conservation of natural areas. Located in Puerto Rico’s Northeast Region, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest within the national forest system. It extends through eight municipalities: Río Grande, Luquillo, Canóvanas, Fajardo, Naguabo, Ceiba, Las Piedras and Juncos. At nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest national forests in size, yet one of the most biologically varied. Stewards, in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and El Yunque National Forest, is seeking two members who will serve alongside Forest Service staff, gaining hands-on experience in a silvicultural evaluation of Caribbean montane wet and rain forests, through the Forest Service’s Common Stand Exam (CSE) procedure.

The Vegetation Management Steward is an AmeriCorps position which will provide support to the USFS and El Yunque National Forest by conducting stand exams and collecting data to inform the agency’s decisions on effective forest management strategies aimed at producing forest products. The AmeriCorps members will serve alongside Forest Service staff and gain hands-on experience by assisting with surveys across approximately 250 acres of project areas and contributing to an initial goal of completing 50 CSE plots. These projects will provide members with hands-on conservation experience to help gain field techniques, encourage future land stewardship, and opportunities to build and advance professional skills.

If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling journey with the USFS and El Yunque National Forest, apply now at conservationlegacy:Career Search by uploading your resume and cover letter, and take the first step towards a rewarding career with the United States Forest Service!

To learn more about Stewards, please visit: Homepage | Stewards Individual Placement Program

To learn more about the USFS and El Yunque National Forest, please visit: Home | El Yunque National Forest | Forest Service, https://research.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/visitor-guide-lef-sfrs.pdf

Description of Duties:

As an AmeriCorps Member serving with the USFS at El Yunque National Forest, your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting Common Stand Exams and assisting Forest Service staff with forest stand surveys by recording data, identifying species, measuring tree diameter, and height.
• Supporting greenhouse operations by planting, monitoring, and maintaining tropical hardwood seedlings at the El Portal Greenhouse.

• Assisting with additional opportunities such as seed collection, tree planting, planting monitoring, stand improvement, timber cruising, botany surveys, aquatic organism surveys, and boundary line maintenance.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Between the ages of 18 – 30, or up to age 35 with Veteran status.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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.
• Proficiency in conversational Spanish.
• Familiarity or experience with tropical plant and tree identification.
• Degree or previous experience in Natural Resource Management is preferred.

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. 

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours a week Monday – Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Serving on weekends and federal holidays may be required.
• The member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• The member will serve in-person on-site.

Orientation and Training:

• The member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• The member will receive local training in field service safety, Forest Service Common Stand Exam procedure (including measurement tool instruction), and Tree ID.

• The member will receive field safety training on walking through forests and uneven terrain, identifying hazardous plants and insects, and following accident procedures.

• The member will have opportunities to learn about and gain experience in other program areas, such as wildlife management, land surveying, special use permitting, office administration, engineering, contracting, GIS, public services, and cultural resources.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14.
• Living Allowance of $630 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• One-time Relocation Stipend of $500.
• Approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) funds of $250.
• On-Site housing (dormitories/bunks) available at Sabana Field Research Station. https://evfs.ites.upr.edu/facilities
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible.
• Interest Payments if Eligible.

• Eligible for Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority upon successful completion of term.
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities.

• Employee Wellness Program (connect with a licensed professional counselor and 24/7 support).

• Networking and Mentorship.

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.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:

Meaghan Hall

Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator

[email protected]

681-666-3266

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.