Each year, the Sierra Nevada Alliance places 20+ AmeriCorps members with partner conservation organizations throughout the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. During their terms of service, members restore and monitor impaired Sierra watersheds, educate local residents and visitors on environmental issues, and recruit and manage volunteers for a variety of programs. SNAP members gain skills and technical training, are mentored by outstanding environmental leaders, and provide a meaningful contribution to the communities of the Sierra Nevada.

To apply visit https://sierranevadaalliance.org/join-snap/ 

Application submitted through Indeed only will not be considered.

Service Commitment:

Service Commitment: November 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027. Members make an 11-month, full-time commitment to serve a nonprofit organization or public agency in the Sierra Nevada. OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Compensation and Benefits

Monthly stipend of $2,773 per month

$10,000 Education Award
Standard health and dental insurance
Up to 340 hours of technical, ecological, and skills-development training with a $500 stipend
Child Care Reimbursement Options

Full and additional position descriptions are available on our website:

https://sierranevadaalliance.org/snap-position-descriptions-2/ 

Positions Include:

Host Site: Mariposa County Resource Conservation District

Position Title: Community Engagement Assistant

In 2019, a collaborative group worked to update the Mariposa County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and the Board of Supervisors established the Mariposa County Fire Advisory Committee (MCFAC) to implement and maintain the CWPP. The RCD’s Home Hardening Community Retrofit Program (HHCRP) is one pillar of that plan. The HHCRP is a public education program that provides technical assistance to help residents harden their homes against wildfire and improve their defensible space free of charge. The program launched in March 2023, and includes a team of technical experts to perform an on-site assessment and create a list of recommendations specific to the home and private property. It prioritizes assisting the most vulnerable members of the community first, including properties located in High and Very High Fire Severity Zones, residents who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, and communities who have come together to seek FireWise status.

Our technical assistance team is trained by CAL FIRE and UC Cooperative Extension, ensuring that recommendations reflect the latest wildfire science to help protect homes, property, and communities. We recruit, assess, report, and upgrade residences countywide, with an emphasis on the most at-risk and least-resourced community members.

Organizational/Program Goals:

The MCRCD seeks to increase the utilization of its flagship Home Hardening and Community Retrofit Program to help residents strengthen their homes to withstand wildfire. The HHCRP crew is seeking improved capacity to educate community members about resources available and assist when residents request assessments. With a shift toward more Zone 0 (i.e. the walls and ground directly next to the structure) protective practices, more homes need to be treated and previously treated homes likely need to be revisited. Current goals include assessing and treating 10 homes per month; increasing that number is highly desirable.

The MCRCD also values watershed restoration projects. Staff assists with a Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Restoration program created and managed by the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. The program relies on volunteers to collect seed, plant, and irrigate culturally significant native plants in regional burn scars. Enhancing the scale of this project across Mariposa is a priority.

Enhanced website and outreach capacity is necessary to more effectively educate Mariposa residents. The RCD exists to assist community members through programs and to get them involved in volunteer opportunities, yet lacks the staff and digital resources to do so effectively.

Member Service Plan Overview and Outcomes:

The member will increase the RCDs capacity by enhancing our fuels reduction/home hardening program processes, environmental education, volunteer recruitment, and community engagement via social media management and scientific storytelling. The member will enhance the RCD’s technological skills (e.g., updating the website, creating content and expanding social media presence, and building GIS mapping and storytelling resources), as well as leading on outreach enhancement by attending and possibly tabling at community events, assisting with strategic planning/community needs identification, attending local and regional collaboration meetings. This position will require regional travel to participate in and even coordinate collaboration opportunities.

In addition to home hardening activities with RCD staff, the member will support collaborative restoration projects with the Southern Sierra Miwuk. Once rapport is built and the member is trained, they will assist in burn scar restoration utilizing culturally significant native species, seed collection and propagation processes. The Member will also help recruit volunteers to collect native seeds, propagate plants, and plant. They will also assist with recruiting landowners willing to have crews collect seeds and/or plant on their private property. The member may also have an opportunity to assist Tribal and crews working in the Yosemite Valley to prepare for Cultural Burning fuels reduction to protect the Giant Sequoia groves.

Priority Projects/Service includes:

• Support and enhance resident engagement with the Home Hardening and Community Retrofit Program. Coordinate scheduling with Program Manager and program participants to ensure that the two-person team meets all scheduled appointments for onsite assessments. Attend public meetings and events to recruit participants to the program. Create digital and printed content to educate the public and increase program utilization. Focus may be more on community education and/or home assessments and retrofits.
• Expand and enhance environmental education and outreach efforts: create meaningful and interesting science-based digital content, tabling, possibly community environmental engagement talks/walks, and create social media posts.
• Assist with coordination of the volunteer program, engaging community in learning opportunities related to watershed stewardship and native plant restoration. Assist in leading planting, clean-up, and restoration events,
• Assess and possibly redesign the RCD’s website to enhance education, intervention, and volunteer engagement. Create digital content via social media including GIS tools and story maps. Secure training for RCD staff in better utilizing these digital resources.

Things to Note:

• LOCATION. Mariposa County is a small rural community with few public transportation options (and no Uber or Lyft). . Round-trip bus transportation is available via the which has daily service from the city of Merced (and the Merced Amtrak station) to Mariposa and on to Yosemite Valley.
• Mariposa has a local supermarket, health food store/café, various eateries, little or no fast food, and an art park with summer concerts. It's a small town with a population of about 2,500 where the nearest movie theater and Costco is nearly an hour away. As a gateway community to Yosemite National Park, Mariposa experiences bursts of tourism during the late spring through fall months. At about 2,500 feet in elevation, winters can see rain and snow; depending on your location, snow levels are enough to be charming but not a lifestyle. Cell coverage can be spotty in the mountains, but there is ample wifi in the several local coffee joints.
• HOUSING. Service sites will be all over the County, so housing does not need to be secured in Mariposa City.Like many communities located near major destination areas, housing options can be challenging. While there are lots of vacation rental options, long-term rentals can be difficult to find. Many people within Mariposa County live anywhere from in Mariposa proper to a 30-45 minute radius around town. We will attempt to help identify opportunities, including shared housing within reasonable proximity to the community.
• SERVICE CONDITIONS. The MCRCD has no office, so all service will be conducted from the member’s home office, at designated meeting locations, or outdoors in the watershed. The candidate will regularly engage the public in outdoor settings, so the ability to be outside for up to 8 hours at a time—standing, sitting, bending down, and walking on uneven terrain—is essential to perform the duties of the position. This position will need to occasionally carry up to 40 pounds of supplies or gear outdoors over uneven terrain. Mariposa County has hot summers and wet winters, the ability to be outside during both heat (~90-95 degrees) and rain events is also desirable. This position will also require office duties and the ability to sit or stand at a desk for up to 8 hours a day.
• This is a remote position. The SNAP member will be expected to report to scheduled onsite home assessments as arranged in coordination with the Program Manager. They may be asked to attend monthly in-person meetings with the MCRCD board of directors at the Mariposa County Ag Building at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, and other public meetings as required. Weekly staff meetings may be held by either phone or Zoom. Services are provided throughout Mariposa County, so travel is required.
• With all that said, as home to Yosemite National Park, there are endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, including rafting, biking, and hiking in one of the world’s most beautiful places. We recommend exploring historic downtown Mariposa with its gold rush heritage and numerous restaurants, cafes, and galleries, visiting local museums, and taking a scenic drive through the County’s rolling hills and vineyards. Use the following links to the Mariposa County Tourism Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce to discover all that Mariposa County has to offer.
• Chamber of Commerce Listings
• Tourism Bureau Listings

Position Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and ability to drive long distances.
• Ability to hike several miles carrying equipment (up to 50 lbs).
• Ability to serve long days in variable weather conditions.
• Ability to serve independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to serve occasional weekends and non-standard hours.
• Ability to complete consecutive multi-day field trips with overnight stays.

Required Qualifications:

• Driver’s license, proof of insurance, printout of DMV record, a reliable vehicle, and willingness to drive it for projects that are off-site, sometimes for long distances (mileage is reimbursed ​by Host at the federal rate) Ability to walk on uneven terrain, carry moderately heavy loads of 40 lbs, serve outdoors, perform strenuous labor with hand tools, and withstand high (over 100°) temperatures. Poison oak is common in many of our field sites.
• Willingness to serve long days in the field on occasion (up to 10 hours) and use hand tools and motorized equipment
• Ability to serve independently and as part of a team
• Must be reliable, able to follow directions, maintain a positive and professional attitude at all times, dress appropriately for office and field service
• Must be well organized, efficient, and good time management skills
• Must be creative, resourceful, and possess the ability to adapt to changing circumstances quickly
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and willingness to respectfully engage with community members and partner organizations
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Google Suite, Gmail, and Google Calendar,

The full position descriptions for this and other positions are available on our website: www.sierranevadaalliance.org

Questions? Find answers in our SNAP pages at sierranevadaalliance.org

The application period is open until positions are filled!

Program information: More information about the program can be found at sierranevadaalliance.org/join-snap. Full position descriptions are available at: https://sierranevadaalliance.org/snap-position-descriptions-2/

Application Instructions are available at: sierranevadaalliance.org/join-snap.

Application period is open until positions are filled!

Job Types: Temporary, Contract, Full-time

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance