Scientists In Parks Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4486
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Middlesborro, Kentucky
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 10/19/2026
End Date: 10/18/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 7,395.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
• Weekly Living Allowance: $ 775.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
• Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre-tax)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• For 52-week positions only:
  • Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
  • Childcare Coverage (opt in)

APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Wilderness, Wilderness Character, Monitoring, Stewardship, Preservation, Resource Management
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The deliverables of this project are directly related to the NPS mission and Organic Act mandate to preserve natural and cultural resources, as well as the statutory mandate of the Wilderness Act to preserve wilderness character. With over 80% of all NPS acreage managed as wilderness, wilderness character monitoring serves an important purpose for the majority of NPS lands and waters. This monitoring establishes a baseline condition from which changes and trends in wilderness character can be tracked over time. Wilderness character preservation is directly associated with the NPS mission to 'conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.' This mission statement is remarkably similar to the policy statement in the Wilderness Act which states that wilderness areas 'shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness.' This position's contributions to wilderness character preservation in two wilderness parks will benefit the parks' wilderness areas, broader natural and cultural resources, and the people who connect to these places.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This 52-week position will support wilderness character monitoring and broader wilderness stewardship at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA) and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI). The participant is expected to spend approximately six months at each park, starting at CUGA.
Over 80 percent of all National Park Service (NPS) lands are managed as federal wilderness per the Wilderness Act and NPS wilderness policy. The concept of wilderness character, which is referenced in the Wilderness Act, is one of the most prominent attributes that distinguishes federal wilderness from other federal public lands. Wilderness character is defined as a holistic concept based on the interaction of (1) biophysical environments primarily free from modern human manipulation and impacts, (2) personal experiences in natural environments relatively free from the encumbrances of modern society, and (3) symbolic meanings of humility, restraint, and interdependence that inspire human connection with nature.
Service at CUGA will center on developing their Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report, which includes the Wilderness Basics and the baseline assessment for monitoring wilderness character in the park. These building blocks provide managers with the foundation for effectively integrating wilderness character into planning, management, and monitoring. The Wilderness Basics succinctly describes fundamental information about a specific wilderness area, like the recommended wilderness in CUGA, consolidating key reference information in one location. The Wilderness Basics include 1) background information; 2) wilderness character narrative; and 3) issues for future wilderness stewardship planning. The wilderness character baseline assessment, and accompanying monitoring framework, establishes a pathway to track change in wilderness character over time. This gives managers a tangible means of answering the question, 'Are we preserving wilderness character?'
Service at ORPI will center on conducting the park's first five-year monitoring interval for wilderness character in the Congressionally designated Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness, informed by their previously completed baseline assessment (and some updates to this original assessment may also be needed). Monitoring involves 1) revisiting every measure originally selected in the park's baseline assessment, ensuring these measures and the overall framework are in compliance with current NPS wilderness policy and continue to reflect high priority wilderness stewardship issues for the park; 2) determining a current reported measure value for every measure in the monitoring framework. This monitoring may include data collection, collation, and/or analysis. Monitoring will be documented to compare baseline assessment measure values to the current reported measure values, noting changes or trends in overall wilderness character. This position may provide other support to wilderness stewardship as time affords.
In both parks, this position will involve extensive collaboration and coordination with park staff to identify interdisciplinary priorities for wilderness stewardship that help to preserve wilderness character and address high priority needs and concerns of each park.
NOTE: This is primarily an indoor, office-based position, with potential for occasional outdoor field activities.
DELIVERABLES
The participant will be responsible for completing the following deliverables:
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA): 1) Develop a wilderness character narrative describing the attributes of the park's wilderness; 2) Develop a wilderness character monitoring framework and related baseline assessment, including measures and associated data, to help identify changes and trends in wilderness character over time. These components will be documented in the Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report, with baseline measures values entered in the national wilderness character monitoring database.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI): 1) Update ORPI's Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report to ensure compliance with current NPS wilderness character monitoring policy and that monitoring reflects high priority wilderness stewardship needs for ORPI; 2) Complete the first five-year monitoring interval for wilderness character, following the monitoring framework described in the park's Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report (and any updates made); 3) Document the current reported measure values in the Wilderness Character Monitoring Five-Year Reporting Summary and make note of observed changes and trends relative to the baseline assessment. This reporting will also be entered in the national wilderness character monitoring database.
All deliverables will be developed in accordance with the NPS Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide (2023) and Keeping It Wild 2: An Updated Interagency Strategy to Monitor Trends in Wilderness Character Across the National Wilderness Preservation System (2015).
QUALIFICATIONS

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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.
• Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the host site.
• The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor's degree is preferred but not required, and a master's degree would be most welcomed. Two years of college level academic classes may be considered. Preferred academic fields include but are not limited to wilderness management; natural resources management; parks and outdoor recreation management; natural, biological, and/or physical sciences; environmental science; and political or social science. Preferred skills include technical writing, data management, verbal and written communication skills, fluency in Microsoft Office applications, and comfort with self-initiated work. A strong acumen in GIS applications, resource monitoring concepts, and digital and physical records management is also preferred. This position will require close collaboration with interdisciplinary staff specialists at the park. Interpersonal communication and collaboration skills will enhance the participant's ability to successfully achieve their deliverables. Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Cumberland Gap: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located at the corners of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the Appalachian Mountain chain which provided a path for Daniel Boone and nearly 300,000 settlers into Kentucky during the late 18th century to early 19th century. Stretching for 26 miles along Cumberland Mountain and ranging from one to four miles in width, the park contains 24,547 acres of which 14,091 acres are recommended wilderness. The natural beauty of Appalachian mountain country, lush with vegetation, supports varied flora and fauna. The Park has 70 miles of hiking trails, mountains, streams, and caves. The park is located next to Middlesboro, Kentucky. Middlesboro is large enough to accommodate three grocery stores, fast food, several restaurants, and a movie theater. Middlesboro is approximately 2 miles from the park housing unit. Knoxville, Tennessee is approximately 1.5 hours away and has all of the amenities of a larger city.
Organ Pipe Cactus: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a 330,000-acre park in the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. It is 95% designated wilderness and contains a number of trails, but off-trail travel is common. One highway runs through the park but there are over 100 miles of dirt roads used to get to park sites and hiking trails. The park shares a 30-mile border with Mexico. The southern border of the park contains a border wall and associated infrastructure. Illegal border crossings are a common occurrence but not considered a significant safety risk to park staff. Border Patrol officers are commonly encountered in the park. The park is approximately 40 minutes from Ajo, AZ. Ajo has about 3000 residents with a grocery store, library, health clinic, gas stations, art galleries, and a handful of restaurants. The park is about 2.5 hours from both Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. This position will occur over the summer months; daytime highs are often in the low 100s and overnight lowers in the upper 70s. The weather is primarily hot and dry and heat can become intense. From mid-July to mid-September monsoon moisture can produce intense rainstorms and flash flooding. Very few visitors come to the park in the summer but there are a number of full-time staff. Permanent staff range from 25-35 depending on the time of year. About half of the park staff live in the park, the remainder live in Ajo.
HOUSING
Park housing is available.
Cumberland Gap: Park housing IS available at no cost to the participant. Housing at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a fully furnished duplex with 3 bedrooms (single occupant only - no shared bedrooms) on each side. Residents share common spaces, kitchen, and bathroom. Laundry facilities are on site. Occupants are responsible for personal items, bedding, etc. Wi-fi is available for resident use. Cell coverage in the duplex can be spotty depending on the carrier. The position will report to the Resource Stewardship and Science building which is a 3-minute walk from park housing.
Organ Pipe Cactus: Park housing IS available at no cost to the participant. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has 18 homes and all are fitted with furniture, kitchen items, high speed wifi, and a television. The park also has a workout facility on site. The park is relatively remote but has cell phone connections and boosters. Verizon is primarily the best option.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.

OUR COMMITMENT
Stewards Individual Placements and Conservation Legacy are 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...