Special Uses Individual Placement – AmeriCorps (1 opening)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office (2324 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85006)

Term of Service:

Start Date: 1/12/2026 (anticipated)

End Date: 12/11/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours                                                                                   

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at the Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for the Tonto National Forest.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson. 

Tonto National Forest:

At over 2.9 million acres, the Tonto National Forest is the largest National Forest in Arizona, and the seventh largest National Forest among 154 USDA National Forests.  The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. Sonoran Desert cacti and flat lands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude -- from 1,300 to 7,900 feet -- offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it's lake beaches or cool pine forest.

Special Uses Program:

The main objective of the U.S. Forest Service’s Special Uses program is to protect natural resources by issuing recreation and lands special use authorizations that align with Forest Service management plans and federal rules and regulations, holding permit holders accountable for all uses on public lands.

Special use authorizations are issued when the proposed activities support the Forest Service mission, meet demonstrated public needs, and are consistent with the desired conditions for the use area.

The most common authorized activities on the Tonto National Forest include recreation events, non-commercial group uses, marinas, resorts, organization camps, recreation residences, commercial filming, and outfitting and guiding. Outfitting and guiding authorizations can be issued for a variety of activities including, but not limited to, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and packing, off-highway vehicle use, motorized and non-motorized boating, tubing, mountain biking, canyoneering, bird watching, fishing, hunting, and educational wilderness experiences.

Issuing recreation special use authorizations enables the Forest Service and its partners to serve visitors and local communities by providing a variety of quality outdoor recreation experiences that promote the responsible use and enjoyment of outdoor lands and waters.

Lands special use authorizations are issued for infrastructure-related uses, such as communication sites, utilities (e.g., electrical, communication, and internet lines), pipelines (e.g., natural gas, water), road access, sanitation, and alternative energy development that cannot be reasonably accommodated on private lands. Activities, such as research and monitoring are also authorized uses. Communication sites are critical to ensuring public and private user communications are operational across Arizona and contributing to national infrastructure systems. Lands Special Uses are generally longer-term commitments of National Forest System lands.

Description of Duties:

Tonto National Forest is seeking to mentor a temporary, full-time Special Uses Individual Placement who will undertake tasks like drafting letters, going on inspections, re-issuing annual recreation permits, and other activities.  With the help of this individual, Tonto National Forest can more successfully accomplish its goal of managing the current recreational resource in ways that are beneficial to both people and the natural environment. The forest as a whole will benefit from their presence.

The selected Individual Placement member can expect to be involved with conducting permit inspections, processing permit reissuance, general filing, scanning, and database maintenance.

They will also have the opportunity to experience all facets of the forest level operations, with opportunities to interact with resource scientists (hydrologists, archologists, biologists), administration staff, engineers, GIS specialists, district staff, and recreation specialists. 

Training will be provided in GIS, Basic Special Use Database System (SUDS), General Special Uses, and basic map & field skills.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Search electronic and/or hard files to view old maps and begin to determine routes to locations of inspections if possible.
• Take photos and make notes about what is being inspected and conditions.
• Record findings and enter the required information into the Special Uses Database (SUDS).
• Conduct permit inspections.
• Research current permits and history of their use.
• Process reissuance of permits.
• Correspond with district specialists about what is being reissued and why.
• Produce new documents and then submit them for review.
• Update file system.
• Collect required documents.
• Assist with general filing, scanning, and database maintenance.
• Determine most efficient processes to complete tasks.
• Complete tasks and return documents to original locations.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• 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.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation, Environmental Studies, Planning, Geography, Political Science, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. The selected individual may be subjected to uneven terrain, hiking off- trail or on unmarked paths, and inclement weather. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. The 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 Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 with successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150 per week.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Healthcare Coverage provided by The Corps Network and Cigna.
• Childcare Coverage.
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

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:

This position reports to Mark McEntarffer, Realty Specialist, Tonto National Forest.