Conservation Photographer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description
Position Title: Visitor Services Specialist Individual Placement - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico
Site Location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
1 Wildlife Circle
Austwell, TX, 77950
Terms of Service:
Start Date: 9/23/26
End Date: 1/22/27
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours
COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION
First review of applications will take place by 6/18. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.
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 Texas/Oklahoma that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.
Mentorship
These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services provides facilities, programs, and experiences that support the National Wildlife Refuge System's six wildlife-dependent recreation activities: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, interpretation, and environmental education. Using these guiding principles, Visitor Services offers meaningful opportunities for visitors to learn about the refuge's wildlife and habitats through education, interpretation, and high-quality recreational experiences.
The selected candidate will support the refuge with several key operations including assisting staff with visitor outreach, helping administer refuge hunts, delivering interpretive and education programs, and supporting daily visitor center tasks. In addition to mentorship provided by Visitor Services, the participant will have the opportunity to shadow other departments such as the Biology and Maintenance teams, attend staff meetings, and participate in community and partner-based events. These activities will provide real-world exposure to agency operations, professional networking, and mentorship in support of the participants' growth in the conservation field.
Description of Duties:
• Rove Public-Use Trails and Visitor Areas
o Monitor designated trails and public-use areas for visitor safety, wildlife disturbances, and trail conditions.
o Provide visitor assistance, directional support, and refuge information while roving.
o Document maintenance needs, hazards, and public compliance issues; report to supervisor.
o Take note of wildlife sightings, trail obstructions, and resource concerns for entry into appropriate logs.
• Support Environmental Education and Interpretive Programs
o Assist staff with preparing and presenting educational programs to school groups, scouts, and visitors.
o Set up program materials, greet participants, and help facilitate activities.
o Assist with Junior Ranger program distribution and engagement.
o Record program statistics and help evaluate visitor feedback.
• Visitor Center Operations and Guest Services
o Manage the front desk, greet visitors, answer questions, and provide refuge orientation.
o Distribute maps and regulations.
o Maintain cleanliness of public areas and restock materials and brochures.
o Track visitor counts and document notable questions or issues.
• Support Outreach and Community Engagement Events
o Assist staff with planning, setting up, and running refuge outreach events or off-site programs.
o Represent the refuge at community booths, career fairs, and partner events.
o Distribute materials, answer questions, and support activity stations.
o Help with event load-in/out and tracking participation numbers.
• Help Administer Refuge Hunts
o Support staff with preparing for scheduled refuge hunts, including assisting with hunter check-ins, distributing maps, and verifying permits and regulations.
o Observe staff during permit processing and hunter communication tasks.
o Provide on-the-ground assistance during active hunts such as answering questions, helping direct hunters, and documenting visitor interactions or issues.
o Assist in tracking hunter participation and keeping records of harvest data.
• Support Habitat and Stewardship Tasks
o Support basic stewardship tasks such as lawn care, removing litter, reporting invasive species, and documenting resource issues.
o Help biology or maintenance staff with simple field tasks as available (non-technical).
o Record and submit observations to supervisor or relevant staff.
• Create Interpretive Social Media Content and Website Stories
o Develop interpretive Facebook posts highlighting wildlife, refuge habitats, seasonal changes, visitor opportunities, and conservation messages.
o Draft longer-form stories or spotlight articles for potential addition to the refuge website.
o Select and edit photos for use in posts; ensure availability and accuracy in all public-facing content.
• Assist Supervisor with Volunteer Coordination
o Support the supervisor with daily volunteer program operations, including communicating with volunteers, helping schedule shifts, and maintaining updated contact lists and assignments.
o Assist staff with onboarding tasks such as preparing orientation materials, reviewing volunteer agreements, and helping ensure training requirements are completed.
o Help track volunteer hours, maintain logs and databases, and compile summaries for reporting needs.
o Contribute to planning and coordinating volunteer appreciation efforts, workdays, and special events.
Conditions: Uneven terrain, sun exposure/heat, weather exposure, wildlife encounters, insects, remote-area travel; large group management, working around children; repetitive motion at desk, minor risk from unexpected visitor interactions; lifting equipment, proximity to active hunters, early-morning or low-visibility field conditions; handling tools.
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.
• Valid U.S Driver's License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in customer service and working with children of all ages.
• College-level coursework in natural resources, environmental science, education, communications, or similar fields.
• Comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions.
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, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• 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.
Background Check:
A Department of Interior background clearance may be required before the selected candidate reports for service. The FWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant's exact start date.
Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.
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 Wednesday - Sunday, 40 hours per week, 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.
• Interpretation techniques, public speaking skills, and program delivery.
• Customer service guidance, refuge policies, front desk and standard operating procedures.
• Event logistics, messaging guidance, community engagement skills.
• Hunt program overview, refuge-specific hunting regulations, visitor management during hunts, radio communication, safety procedures, and emergency protocols.
• Equipment basics, safety protocols, invasive species identification.
• Social media best practices, photography basics, branding and communication guidelines, and website content submission procedures.
• Volunteer management systems, scheduling procedures, FWS volunteer policies, communication best practices.
Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14.
• Living Allowance of $640 per week.
• Free housing available onsite; more information will be shared during the interview process.
• Healthcare Coverage.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.
• Eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).
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.
CCNM Program Contact information:
SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org