Invasive Plant Management Individual Placement

Job Overview

Title: Invasive Plant Management Individual Placement

Positions: 2

Service Site: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area; Dingmans Ferry, PA

Dates of Service: 6/1/2026 – 12/11/2026 (28 weeks)

Pay: $750/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $150 additional member benefit)

Status: This is a full-time, temporary AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact [email protected] 

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. Applications will be accepted until April 15th.

Appalachian Conservation Corps:

Our Individual Placement (IP) 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:

The National Park Service, in collaboration with Appalachian Conservation Corps, are seeking two Invasive Plant Management IPs to serve with the North Atlantic-Appalachian Invasive Plant Management Team on projects within the Delaware Water Gap NRA and other nearby National Park units. These members will focus on control of invasive plant species using mechanical and chemical control methods which may include but are not limited to herbicide application via backpack sprayers and gas operated tank sprayers, chainsaws, brush cutters, hand saws, pruners and loppers. In addition, the IPs will be trained on overall resource management, encouraged to attend NPS-sponsored trainings, and to take part in the activities of other resource programs. While this position is primarily field-based there may be some office-based responsibilities involving the use of GIS and paper and electronic files to conduct invasive plant ranking, evaluate tools for mobile data collection, collect data and/or perform data analysis, contribute to the development of reports, and assist in the development of communication materials.

During their terms, IPs will receive training and certifications to be able to identify and treat a variety of invasive plant species. This position is heavily field based and involves frequent travel and daily physical activity. Low-cost park housing may be available for this position, but local candidates are preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implements established natural resource management projects.

• Follows instructions and standardized procedures, collects and organizes field data.

• Ensures adequate quality control of data collected.

• Records all data collected and provides preliminary assessment and classification of the information.

• Works with crews managing invasive plants and restoring native vegetation.

• Makes field observations of natural resource conditions.

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

• Physically capable of strenuous field activities (hiking, monitoring, survey, testing, etc) for 10 hours in adverse conditions (high heat, high humidity, biting insects, rough terrain, inclement weather)

• Comfortable working in a field and office environment

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Two or four year college degree in a biology-related subject area or related experience

• Familiarity with local plant identification

• A minimum of 3 years of driving experience

• Experience in a field environment

 Time Requirements:

• These positions are full-time, 40 hour/week.

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 10 hour days, Monday to Thursday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Benefits:

• $750/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $150 additional member benefit)

• $3,697.50 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 900 hour minimum service term (award can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)

• $1,000 fund for professional development and gear reimbursements

• 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 (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. 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.