Abandoned Mine Land AmeriCorps Member

Job Overview

Position Title: Abandoned Mine Land AmeriCorps Member

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: NPS – New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

104 Main Street, Glen Jean, West Virginia 25846

APPLY HERE: conservationlegacy:Career Search

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 07/14/2025
• End Date: 12/26/2025 (24 weeks)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and protect our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting natural area health. Stewards, in partnership with NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, are seeking two service members to assist NPS staff with the implementation of the Abandoned Mine Lands Program at New River Gorge National Park and Gauley River National Recreation Area.

The Abandoned Mine Land AmeriCorps members will support by assisting the park’s Natural Resource Management staff with planning, field work, data management, and reporting for a variety of Abandoned Mine Lands projects.

Description of Duties:

• Locate, monitor, and characterize conditions of known mine sites and features.
• Delineate wetlands, streams, and sensitive habitats in legacy strip mines planned for future restoration.
• Monitor the success of recent forest restoration and catchment area improvement projects on legacy strip mines, including the use of these sites by bats, birds, and other pollinators.
• Work as a part of a team to perform field work, collect data, and enter collected data into databases.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• 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.
• Candidate pursuing a bachelor’s degree
• Candidate with bachelor’s degree in geology, environmental science, natural resources, or related preferred
• Experience collecting field data using mobile devices
• Comfort working outdoors for long periods of time
• Ability and willingness to learn, effectively work as part of a team, maintain a positive attitude, and remain flexible to meet project needs.
• Willing and able to represent the NPS in a professional and positive manner.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to hike over rough terrain and navigate field conditions including steep slopes, rocks and slippery conditions.

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:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve a 35-to-40-hour workday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Members can expect to be supervised and mentored by the park’s Abandoned Mine Lands Coordinator and the Biologist, Aquatic Ecologist, Wildlife Biologist, and Chief of Resource Management.
• On-site training will include First aid and CPR, Operational Leadership, Mobile Data Collection, and GIS.
• NPS staff will provide all necessary training to complete the expected project work.
• Cross training opportunities are encouraged and could include wildlife monitoring, invasive species management, rare plant conservation, native seed collection, GIS, trail maintenance, interpretation, and public education.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2817.14
• Living Allowance of $592 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• On-site housing available
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

STE Program Staff:

Kahla Stewart

Program Coordinator

Stewards Individual Placements

(423) 402-6004

[email protected]

Service Site Staff:

Cheyney Halldin

Physical Scientist (Abandoned Mine Lands Coordinator)

National Park Service, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

[email protected]  

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.