BIG SKY WATERSHED CORPS

GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORE CAREERS IN NATURAL RESOURCES!

Who We Are

At Montana Conservation Corps, we focus on the growth of our participants; positively impacting our lands, environment, and communities; and building transferable job skills.

The BSWC - AmeriCorps Member Opportunity

The Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) Program and its participants are passionate about the land and water and work hard to make sure it’s healthy and available for future generations. BSWC is designed to meet these goals by placing young professionals with partners (known as Host Sites) throughout Montana. Host Sites include federal/state agencies, Tribal Nations, Conservation Districts, nonprofits, and other community-based conservation organizations to create community-based initiatives to protect, preserve and restore local watersheds. At its core, Big Sky Watershed Corps is an AmeriCorps program that assists Montana’s watershed communities to make a measurable difference in local conservation efforts while strengthening the experience of young professionals.

The BSWC program is seeking passionate individuals who are looking to gain experience in the natural resources while making a measurable impact in communities throughout Montana. If you are interested in project design and implementation, community outreach and education, organization development, volunteer generation and/or management: we want to hear from you!

See a StoryMap about the impact of the BSWC program here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/38c9d47974e84d6d99510c88c164d355

PROGRAM BENEFITS:

• Biweekly Living Stipend: $1,200 biweekly before taxes
• AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395 upon successful completion of the program.
• Health Insurance: provided at no cost to you.
• Public Lands Service Corps Hiring Preference: Members serving with federal land management agencies may be eligible to receive hiring preference for future federal job placement
• Member Assistance Program: Free access to mental health counseling, medical advocacy, financial assistance, legal assistance, and life coaching.
• Multiple program trainings in topics such as an online course in GIS, community outreach & education, surface water collection and monitoring, irrigation structures, mesic restoration, data management and grant writing/management, federal and non-federal resume and skill building, and more.
• Opportunities to network with and shadow experts in the natural resource profession.
• Supportive coaching staff invested in your success.
• Community and connection with other program participants.
• Community Spaces: Access to community spaces to build community, connection, and support during the season.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

• Location: Host site placement locations vary across Montana in town size, organization type and size, project work, and more.
• Term Dates: 1/5/2026 – 11/13/2026

PLACEMENT TO MATCH YOUR INTERESTS:

The BSWC experience can vary widely from member to member, host site to host site. Members are matched with one Host Site for the entirety of their term based on interests, skills, and goals. Past project work includes, but is not limited to: stream and wetland restoration, drought resiliency, habitat restoration, wildlife surveys, science communications, nonprofit operations, rangeland science, soil monitoring, invasive species treatment, GIS mapping, education and outreach, agriculture and food systems, zero waste and sustainability, volunteer management and more. Our staff work with candidates through their application, interview, and more to find the best fit for each individual. After an initial interview, candidates are matched with a host site for a second interview, in which the host site has the ultimate decision in who they would like to hire from that interview and member applications. Candidates are only matched with one host site at a time, and multiple second interviews are not guaranteed, so we work diligently during the initial interview to get to know each candidate and their goals.

PRIMARY DUTIES OF THE BSWC MEMBER CAN INCLUDE, BUT CERTAINLY IS NOT LIMITED TO (Varies depending on position):

• Support local conservation efforts through a wide array of tasks, both in the field and the office.
• Work closely and collaboratively with a range of professionals, learning from and contributing to interdisciplinary teams on natural resource projects.
• Assist host site staff in the development and implementation of watershed-related plans and reports.
• Perform watershed-related field collections, monitoring, and restoration.
• Input, analyze, and manage data to ensure quality and enhance watershed-related information, systems, and projects.
• Communicate conservation goals and scientific information effectively to many audiences, including community members, landowners, and agency partners.
• Recruit and manage volunteers on field and service projects; ensure participant safety on all projects.
• Develop materials (brochures, posters, PowerPoint slides, StoryMaps, videos) to use in community presentations.
• Conduct educational community outreach.
• Coordinate with schools and/or youth groups to develop educational class and/or field projects.
• Support with grant applications and reporting.
• Develop sustainable systems and resources that build long-term capacity for host sites and watershed communities beyond the service term.
• Engage in ongoing professional development by participating in trainings, seeking mentorship, and applying new skills to real-world conservation work.
• Complete and submit required program reports in a timely manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien.
• College degree (B.A./B.S.), natural resources, environmental studies, education, and similar fields encouraged to apply.
• Valid driver’s license, ability to pass a motor vehicle records check, and ability to provide personal transportation to worksites, personal residence, and trainings.
• Committed to completing full term length: 1/5/2026 – 11/13/2026.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Ability to work with and build consensus among various stakeholders.
• Open and adaptable to new environments, different perspectives and rural communities.
• Previous watershed-related experience, including fieldwork, data collection and analysis, or plan development.
• Previous teaching or volunteer management experience.

APPLICATION & MORE INFO AT: https://www.mtcorps.org/joinmcc/individual-placement-programs/big-sky-watershed-corps.html

The BSWC program term dates are January 5 – November 13, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, however applications submitted by September 30 will be given priority. Position interviews will begin the first week of September.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to ipprograms@mtcorps.org.

MCC is committed to being welcoming to all and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

While this position description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position, it is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All Montana Conservation Corps positions may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities.