Position Title: Education Specialist Individual Placement – AmeriCorps (5 Openings)

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Bureau of Land Management – Las Cruces District Office

1800 Marquess St, Las Cruces, NM 88005

COVER LETTER AND RESUME MUST BE ATTACHED TO BE CONSIDERED

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 6/15/26 

End Date: 10/30/26 

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

These individual placement positions will be part of an exciting project funded by the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The purpose of YCC is to provide New Mexico youth with opportunities to participate in public projects that conserve natural resources and provide meaningful benefits to communities. These are unique positions with a major focus on training and career development. Corps members will be supported by 2 Leads, who will be in the field alongside members and provide on-the-ground guidance.

CCNM, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces District Office (LCDO) and Public Lands Interpretative Association (PLIA), seeks 5 passionate candidates to support a two-phased public land stewardship initiative. The first phase will focus on BLM LCDO projects such as environmental education, community outreach, habitat restoration, and trail/recreation site maintenance with the goal of helping to protect sensitive desert and riparian ecosystems while improving public access to public lands. For the second phase, individual placements will assist PLIA with engaging local 7th and 8th graders by providing classroom lessons and field trips, focused on hiking and learning on public lands. As a culmination of the Whiptail Trails Program, some individual placements will assist PLIA with hosting a free, weeklong Girls Camp for 10-15 seventh and eighth grade girls to include an overnight camping trip, offering introductory immersive experiences on public lands.

The individual placements will participate in a structured workforce development schedule. At the beginning of their term, individual placements will receive valuable training to prepare for the various projects including First Aid, Leave No Trace, Certified Interpretive Guide, Mental Health First Aid, and Defensive Driving.  Individual placements will conduct BLM projects under the guidance of experienced land management specialists, providing individual placements with meaningful exposure to public land stewardship and career pathways in natural and cultural resource management. While supporting PLIA with the Whiptail Trails Program, individual placements will gain leadership and educator skills as well as experience mentoring middle schoolers from the Las Cruces community. Individual placements will also participate in leadership training in preparation for the weeklong Girls Camp. At the end of the term, individual placements will participate in a two-day CCNM workshop to include resume, cover letter, and interview preparation, how to apply for jobs/networking, and provide an end of term presentation to peers and project staff on a topic of their choice related to their term.

Description of Duties:

• Work and be mentored by BLM staff on public land recreation and outreach projects.
  • Participate in BLM projects including monitoring wilderness, maintaining recreation sites, and working on conservation related projects.
  • Support BLM departments with outreach, public land education, recreation, visitor services, monitoring and maintaining public land sites.
  •  Support BLM staff with data collection, field surveying, and Wilderness Study Area (WSA) monitoring as needed.
•  Support conservation education and stewardship programming (Whiptail Program and Girls Camp)
  • Assist YCC Leads with facilitation of classroom visits and field trip implementation by preparing materials, presenting lesson plans, supporting youth engagement, and reinforcing Leave No Trace / responsible public lands use.
  • Support PLIA staff with conservation-focused Girls Camp activities, by serving as a direct mentor of youth participants, including lesson support, facilitation, and group leadership (as camp counselor) that builds environmental literacy and stewardship behaviors.
  • Serve as a community-rooted representative by sharing personal experiences of growth to encourage participation, building a sense of belonging outdoors, and inspiring interest in conservation pathways for future stewards.
•  Assist PLIA with logistics and partner coordination for field-based conservation learning.
  • Assist PLIA with scheduling and readiness for camps/field trips (materials staging, equipment checks, site communications, teacher/parent coordination) to ensure safe and efficient delivery.
  • Support on-site setup/breakdown and activity flow (sign-in/rosters, supply management, small-group rotations).
  • Maintain data collection and basic records (supply inventories, trip checklists, participation counts) and communicate needs to staff to strengthen program operations and continuity across sessions.
  • Participate in public land partner, teacher, and parent planning meetings (working with parents for girl’s camp only) to support PLIA staff in crafting program implementation plans, address any questions or concerns, and act as a point of contact for specific partners or parents.

Conditions:

General hazards associated with driving and being outside; driving on uneven terrain; hiking off trail; exposure to rattlesnakes, insects, extreme heat, and rain; possible camping in inclement weather; lifting up to 50lbs at one time; managing youth in active outdoor settings; mitigated through PPE, hydration plans, staff supervision, and established safety procedures.

 
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Per grant requirements, these positions are for young adults between the ages of 18-25.
• Must be a New Mexico Resident at time of application submission.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm for working in a team and engaging the public in service to the community.
• Interest in working with young people.

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, BLM, PLIA and AmeriCorps to the public and partners always.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
•  If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.  

Time Requirements:

• This position is expected to work five, eight hour days which will include regular weekend work, but exact schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Leave No Trace, Certified Interpretive Guide, Defensive Driving
• PLIA mission/program:
  • Whiptail program orientation; lesson-plan review; youth engagement & group management; culturally responsive and inclusive facilitation; environmental interpretation basics; outdoor safety and risk management protocols, incident escalation and reporting
  • Program logistics and planning; equipment handling and safe lifting; communication protocols with schools/partners/parents; documentation practices

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14.
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $215.20 per week.
• Gear fund of $500.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.
• Healthcare Coverage.
• 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:

Program Coordinator Contact information:

SamJean Simmons

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org 

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.