Position Title: Gateway Community & Partnerships Engagement Fellow – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: DOI Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 10/05/26
• End Date: 10/01/27
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700-Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the NPS Partnerships & Civic Engagement (PCE) Directorate will host a Gateway Community & Partnerships Engagement Fellow.

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Secretary’s Order 3434 – Strengthening Coordination with Gateway Communities – establishes the Department of the Interior’s policy to enhance coordination and strengthen partnerships with gateway communities. It directs the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct ongoing gateway community engagement at every NPS unit, including national scenic and historic trails, through an identified Gateway Community Coordinator. The Gateway Community Fellow will provide essential capacity by developing tools and resources and offering direct support to NPS units in implementing SO 3434 and other national strategic priorities.

This AmeriCorps position will assist the NPS PCE directorate with the development and sharing of tools, resources, communications, and training opportunities for NPS staff and partners, and will engage in projects that build capacity, expand expertise, and enhance relationships between park units and nearby communities. The member in this role will work with national offices and Federal sister agencies to develop case studies, best practices, and tools for parks. This fellowship directly supports implementation of Secretary’s Order 3434 – Strengthening Coordination with Gateway Communities and Section 131 of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act, and may include direct support to individual parks as well as contributions to additional national strategic priorities. Through this fellowship, the fellow will gain practical skills in partnerships and community engagement while creating a pathway toward future careers with the NPS and the Federal government.

Description of Duties:

The AmeriCorps position will work with senior staff to:

• Support the NPS in implementing Secretary’s Order 3434 and Section 131 of the EXPLORE Act by assisting with national assessments, reporting, and technical assistance that helps parks strengthen relationships with their gateway communities.
• Develop case studies, best practices, and practical tools and resources to help NPS park managers advance skills in partnership development, community outreach, stakeholder mapping, needs assessments, and partner engagement strategies.
• Contribute to projects that build capacity and expand expertise across park units and their surrounding communities, including identifying potential funding sources, trainings, resources, and other support opportunities for parks and partners.
• Assist with interagency coordination on gateway community engagement, including participation at interagency meetings, taking notes, and contributing to strategic planning efforts.
• Assist in identifying potential local partners, relevant non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and other Federal, state, or local entities that parks can collaborate with to improve visitor access to outdoor recreation opportunities in the park and local community.
• Aid in strategic planning and organizational support for a pilot cohort of gateway community interns stationed at national parks nationwide.
• Support additional national strategic priorities, including interagency outdoor recreation coordination and national partnership initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be 20 years or older
• 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
• All candidates should have demonstrable interest in public lands access and adaptive recreation, parks, outdoor recreation, conservation, urban planning, public/community engagement, rivers, trails, or a closely related field.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to think critically and creatively
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Ability to initiate and carry out independent research
• Strong literature review and analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people and develop strong partner networks
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Comfortable working outdoors, on trails, and in the field; ability to lift and carry trail measuring equipment
• Coursework or experience in public engagement, community planning, outdoor recreation, law, engineering, landscape architecture, environmental education, environmental studies, or a related field

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:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 9AM to 5:30PM, but exact service 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.
• Professional Development Fund of $5000 for travel and training
• Hands-on mentored work experience; individual training available to meet specific interests and needs.
• NPS cohort experience, with peer sessions, trainings, mentorship and support.
• Any additional NPS Trainings

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Additional Benefit of $400 per week
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• 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:

Stewards Individual Placements Contact Information: Emma Nehan-Springstead, enehan@conservationlegacy.org NPS Contact information: Stephanie Tepperberg, stephanie_tepperberg@nps.gov

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.