Position TypeFull-Time/Regular

Title: Indigenous Communities Project Fellow

Stipend: $600.00 Weekly Living Stipend

Dates:   Starting date negotiable between April and May 2023

Term: 47 weeks, full time

Reports To:  National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

Location: 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Status:  1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term 

Benefits:  Health benefit eligible, AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,345.00, eligible for Public Land Corps Hiring Authority after successful completion of term.

**Deadline to apply: February 15, 2023**

NPS Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Fellowship Overview:

This fellowship is a meaningful endeavor to help the National Park Service better engage and collaborate with indigenous and underrepresented communities in New Mexico. Specifically, these target efforts are part of NPS' mission statement to "extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country." The NPS-Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program is tasked with accomplishing this portion of the NPS mission.

It is NPS-RTCA's goal to ensure that our program is supporting access to conservation and outdoor recreation for all communities and work along with communities where historical disparities and lack of representation exist. Representation and being reflective of the communities we are serving is a component to how we can better serve communities that historically have been marginalized. RTCA is striving to work closely with indigenous and underrepresented communities, this fellowship can reconcile, and build bridges for indigenous communities through outdoor recreation, conservation and stewardship projects by providing a voice and engaging in the planning and development process of multiple projects. Therefore, the focus of this internship will be coordinating outdoor, conservation and stewardship projects in New Mexico in various communities.

The diverse set of projects support the fellow through opportunities such as: building and developing collaboration and partnerships, outdoor recreation and conservation planning, community outreach and civic engagement, management and leaderships skills, and other technical skills such as facilitation, creative design, and communication. The fellow will have an opportunity to work on projects where a diverse set of skill sets can be applied such as leading teams, meetings, groups, on-site or in a virtual setting.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

With the support of an RTCA site supervisor and RTCA project teams the fellow will assist with the following project elements:

Community Outreach and Civic Engagement

•  Perform inventory assessments and analysis, conduct demographic study & research strategic outreach and developing planning documents.
• Provide cultural awareness by demonstrating culturally sensitive knowledge about working with different groups, identify key community groups, cultural leaders and social networks. Conduct research to learn more about partners and understand the history, cultural norms, and contexts of the community.
• Use tools and techniques to collect data and community input. Use tools to represent and collected data.

Facilitation

• Support with facilitation of meetings and workshops for in-person and virtual settings.
• Evaluate meetings and workshops.
• Communicate appropriately with a variety of audiences.
• Engage participants in conversation, meetings, workshops.

Plan Projects

• Participate and work on different stages of planning cycles and report on the project status and/or site visits.
• Support multiple projects.
• Support defining scope, vision, goals, outcomes and determine capacity.
• Recognize ways to help the project team accomplish objectives.

Required Skills:

• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people.
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Possession of a current valid driver’s license
• Must be 21 years or older.
• Must be a US Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States. Fellows must undergo a government background check if selected

Required Experience

A combination of work (lived experience) and education (equivalent of bachelor's degree) with a strong background in community engagement, partnership development, written communication, team building, and problem-solving skills will be used to evaluate qualified applicants.

It is not expected that prospective candidates have experience in all these areas. An interest in developing these skills and some experience through work and/or education in at least one of these areas is required. 

• Comfort in working with diverse audiences and groups.
• Confidence in meeting and interviewing people
• Skills in interviewing and collecting qualitative data.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Ability and interest in research and documenting findings
• Ability to work independently and with teams: responsible, resourceful, detail-oriented, motivated, good communication and writing skills, proactive, insightful, collaborative, great at time management and project management.
• Enjoys working as part of a team and engaging people

Other Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Indigenous communities and tribes in New Mexico
• Knowledge of underrepresented communities in New Mexico
• Experience working with underrepresented communities.
• Experience working with Indigenous or Tribal communities.
• Willingness to identify and reach out to community members, champions, and other leaders.
• Traditional indigenous knowledge or affiliation with Indigenous nation/tribe/group

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.