Natural Resource Management Assistant AmeriCorps

Position Details

Position (s): 4370

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant – Ameri Corps

Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements

Site

Location:

Northern Great Plains Network, Rapid City, South Dakota

Number of positions available: 1

Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible

Start Date:

Yes

Start Date: 05/04/2026

End Date: 11/02/2026

Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 900 hours – this is the minimum number of hours the candidate must serve.

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award: $3,697.50 upon successful completion
• Weekly Living Allowance: $700.00 per week, fixed rate
• Relocation Allowance: $450.00 (one‑time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance: if applicable (administered by My Ameri Corps , directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments: if applicable (administered through My Ameri Corps , directly)

Preference given to applicants who submit before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications or on February 15, 2026, whichever comes first.

Field‑survey, data collection, plant‑, resource management, restoration biology

This natural resource management assistant position is part of the Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT) and Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN). The role documents status and trends of resource conditions in National Park Service units and seeks efficient, ecologically sustainable methods of controlling the noxious weed Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle). Activities will support the development and expansion of biocontrol protocols across the northern Great Plains region.

The assistant will split duties between office work in Rapid City and field trips to 4‑5 National Park Service units. Core activities include:

• Learning local plant species by name and code
• Using specific sampling protocols
• Collecting data at field locations
• Transferring paper data into a shared database with quality control oversight
• Assisting with data analysis
• Presenting findings to regional natural resource staff
• Gaining experience in inventory and monitoring network roles

Key products include continuous data creation, entry, and maintenance for NGPN, and an individual product or presentation focused on the application or value of the collected data for parks, management, and society. Examples of applied topics are:

• Refining protocols and standard operating procedures
• Invasive plant mapping for treatment and control
• Associations of vegetation composition with wildlife habitats
• Response of ecosystems after management actions
• Communication of findings to park staff and the public

Participants may pursue a personal project aligned with NGPN purposes, supporting individual ingenuity.

• United States citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien
• High school diploma or equivalency certificate; if not, must obtain a diploma before using the education award
• Completes background checks, including a National Service Criminal History Check and a host‑site security background check
• Availability for the entire 26‑week term

Interest and ability in plant and insect identification and vegetation management. Experience or coursework in ecology, botany, grass systematics, rangeland management, GIS data, GPS navigation, and data management is beneficial.

The office has fewer than 20 people. Assigned space with a computer and supplies is provided. The candidate will assist with data management, equipment maintenance, time and project record keeping, communications, training, and collaboration with invasive management and restoration teams.

Work involves field data collection and office analysis. Field travel includes 4‑5 parks in Nebraska (Scottsbluff & NM), Wyoming (Devils Tower & NM), and South Dakota (Wind, Jewel Cave NPs). Physical demands include walking over uneven terrain, carrying a 40‑lb backpack, and operating in hot‑dry to cool‑wet conditions.

• Valid driver’s license required to drive a…