NPS Academy Social Science Member - Grand Teton National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, is seeking one Visitor Experience Social Science member as part of the 2024 National Park Service Academy cohort. During this 16-week position and additional one week March Experience, the member will learn how to apply social science techniques to visitor use and experience while simultaneously learning about the National Park Service (NPS) as a career path.

For more information about NPS Academy, please visit: npsacademy.org. For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

About NPS Academy: National Park Service Academy aims to support the development of a more representative NPS workforce by connecting dynamic, young adults through an experiential program designed around three themes - Connections, Diversity, Legacy. Through participation, members build their conservation ethic, intercultural awareness, and career readiness skills and competencies. NPS Academy introduces participants to the NPS Universal Competencies that are foundational to all NPS career paths within a cohort of like minded peers.

Program Goals:The main goals of NPS Academy are:

• Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
• Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationships
• Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
• Create a more inclusive and representative future for public lands

Start Date: June 3, 2024

Estimated End Date: September 20, 2024

Start and end dates are potentially flexible for the right candidate and are dependent on the Park needs. If your availability falls mostly within these dates, please apply. More information regarding specific dates will be shared in the interview process.

*the weekly minimum commitment and participation in the orientation (March 4th-8th, 2024) are required for each position*

For more information about Grand Teton National Park please visit nps.gov/grte.

Position Description: The social science member will assist the park social scientist in interdisciplinary projects focused on understanding visitor experience and use patterns in Grand Teton National Park. Duties will include surveying visitors in face-to-face interviews, resource impact and trail use monitoring, data management, conducting analysis on preliminary results, and draft report writing. The member will work both inside and outside, with the majority of the work being in an outdoor setting, sometimes in inclement weather. Longer hikes (4 miles one-way) with more than 2,000 feet elevation gain will sometimes be necessary to access backcountry sampling sites.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: Members are expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week (less any applicable taxes) to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. NPS Academy allowances are designed to prepare members for similar allowance structure at entry level positions at their service site and some variation exists due to local cost of living differences.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Housing: NPS Academy members will be accommodated in provided park service housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing varies by park site. Accommodations are generally shared housing and include a full kitchen. Housing may be a house, apartment, or dormitory depending on what is available.

Scheduling: The Academy member is expected to contribute ~40 hours a week. This is typically 8 hour days, 5 days a week. Work may occur on weekends, and the member will have two consecutive days off every week. There is the possibility of some early morning or evening research.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $1,824.07 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 450 hrs.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Qualifying Child Care Coverage: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects are subject to specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the PLC, you are still eligible to apply for the NPS Academy position with ACE. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility.

Outdoor Perks: As an ACE EPIC member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.

Preferred Skills and Experience

An important reminder, all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job. A good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success.

Essential skills: Ability to work alone and in a group; Clear communication both written and verbal; Willingness to hike long distances and be outside all day; Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Additional skills and experience that are helpful: Familiarity with GIS/mapping and statistics; being flexible and adaptable to changes in tasks for the day (i.e. sometimes we have to quickly address equipment failures and rearrange our day).

Skills that members will gain from this position: An understanding of the importance of social science in National Parks and other public lands; surveying and monitoring techniques and protocols, how social science data fits into decision making, data management practices. ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

ACE Requirements:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement or as defined by AmeriCorps
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Driving is not required for this position.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical Demands: Work requires some physical effort and can involve extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines outdoors, and carrying backpacks or other loads up to 50 pounds.

Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Moving up to 50 pounds

Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

Environmental: Work takes place both in indoor and outdoor settings. Work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g., exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and insects.)Travel: no overnight travel, travel within the park will occur regularly

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and the NPS Academy program, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/?keywords=academy. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time but will close by January 6th at the latest. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Academy Member Manager, Deja Charles at dcharles@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for NPS Academy Social Science Member Grand Teton National Park Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC