Visitor Use Management Assistant AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position (s): 4436

Position Title:

Visitor Use Management Assistant - Ameri Corps
Conservation Legacy Program:
Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site

Location:

Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah
Number of positions available: 1

Duration: 36 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible

Start Date:

Yes

Start Date:

5/3/2026
End Date: 1/10/2027
Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 1200 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award
  : $5,176.50 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance
  : $600.00 per week, fixed rate
• Relocation Allowance
  : $450.00 (distributed as a 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 applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the Final date to receive applications passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications
, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.

Research coordination, data analysis, visitor use management, social science, planning, outdoor recreation

This Visitor Use Management Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. As visitors explore and enjoy the National Park Service units, their presence and actions can have both intended and unintended consequences to park resources. Visitor‑caused impacts such as vegetation trampling and soil erosion due to social trails, graffiti on rock faces, or crowded conditions along a trail or scenic overlook, can influence both the resources the park serves to protect and the experiences it seeks to provide.

Visitor use management seeks to understand and find ways to balance visitor experiences and resource conditions. The study of bicycle use in the parks is particularly salient and important as use patterns have significantly changed in the past 4 years. Through baseline monitoring, the amount of bicycle use is known in the park. However, much more is needed to be understood as the parks are actively pursuing and analyzing potential strategies to mitigate risk.

This position will focus on understanding this use and how it relates to other visitor uses. Related data can only be used to understand conditions and inform decisions if it is collected and analyzed in rigorous methods and reported out in meaningful ways. Having a dedicated position to help facilitate this research and lead some portions of data collection will help ensure that the parks are using the best available data during future decision making.

This position will serve with Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. At times, projects will include involvement from the park’s non‑profit partner Zion Forever Project and other local stakeholders. Generally, this position will aid the parks in understanding the trends and characteristics (use levels, timing, and type) of visitor use. More specifically, the position will aid both park units in two vital ways.

First, it will assist park staff with monitoring schedules and data collection logistics for summer participants. Selected SIP participants will serve alongside other NPS staff and VUM participants and will serve as field lead while conducting field collection projects. Second, it will serve as the point person on research focused on understanding bicycle and pedestrian use in the parks on multi‑use pathways and roadways.

E‑bicycles and bicycle use in both parks has significantly changed in the last 4 years and understanding use patterns and visitor perceptions is viewed as a critical need at the park.

Tasks include creating monitoring protocols and arranging volunteer or staff data collection sessions as well as tracking, organizing, and assuring quality of incoming monitoring data. Data is likely to be collected via hand‑held GPS units that will be temporarily given to visitors during their visit, as…