Scientists in Parks
Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps (Approaching 60 Applicants)
Scientists in Parks, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title:
Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program:
Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location:
Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Can this position be fully remote : No
Number of positions available : 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration : 26 Weeks
(not flexible)
Flexible Start Date : Yes
Start Date : 02/09/2026
End Date : 08/10/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification : 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.
BENEFITS Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of position. Living Allowance
of $600.00 per week. Relocation Allowance
of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) Student Loan Forbearance
if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
Student Loan Interest Payments
if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).
APPLICATION TIMELINE
The position will close after receiving
60
applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will serve directly with a team to conduct critical monitoring and research in a variety high priority freshwater and coastal resources, as well as contribute to essential data analysis and science communication activities. The priority projects for this position are some of the highest management priorities for CACO, and the monitoring and research conducted directly informs managers' decision making at CACO and surrounding municipalities. In FY23, the aquatic program has received additional funding to undertake several critical scientific projects to address the impacts of environmental change, harmful algal blooms, and critical ecosystems on several key aquatic resource areas. This position will focus on many aspects of these projects.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Aquatic Ecology: Water Quality, Biota, Hydrology, Science Communication, Habitat Improvement and Rehabilitation Tasks
Background: The Aquatic Ecology Program at CACO works in coastal and freshwater environments, with a focus on
coastal water quality, tidally restricted waters and wetlands, and submerged resource mapping. This position will
conduct monitoring and research in the field and laboratory. In addition, they will assist with data analysis. They will
also contribute to important science communication products to promote stewardship and science literacy, and will
make a presentation to CACO staff.
The SIP participant will be involved with field and lab projects for natural resource projects, including NPS Inventory and
Monitoring program and applied research to inform natural resource management.
Projects include horseshoe crab surveys, seagrass and salt marsh monitoring, pond and estuary water quality
sampling, and hydrologic monitoring. The SIP participant will gain experience in many coastal environments, on a
range of monitoring to management-oriented projects, with a variety of field and laboratory methods and equipment.
Tasks: • Collect and process shallow water and benthic samples for sediments, plants and invertebrates. • Assist with lab analyses including using analytical instrumentation for water and sediments by standard laboratory
methods. • Assist with benthic mapping, process data and create maps, with biological, physical, and chemical data. • Maintain, calibrate and deploy instruments for water quality monitoring • Collect water samples, process long-term data. • Assist with hydrological data collection - groundwater and surface water levels and tidal data. • Assist with pond shoreline rehabilitation projects. • Science communication activities to promote natural resource stewardship. • Perform in-depth data analysis and present to CACO staff.
KEYWORDS : coastal, ecology, water quality, freshwater resources
DELIVERABLES • Field data and results of lab analyses (chlorophyll, color, grain size, etc.); • Geospatial data sets and mapping products; • Completion reports based on these tasks; • Presentations of findings to CACO staff.
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 NPS site location. The applicant must be available to participate for 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Preferred: • Experience in water quality monitoring and instrumentation • Experience in laboratory analysis • Knowledge of marine vegetation, and invertebrates, and fish • Previous experience, or willingness to learn how operate small water craft in these settings is desired • Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine ecosystems, dune and barrier beach ecosystems, coastal geologic processes, freshwater ecosystems, marine biology • Physically able to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain and in water • Must know how to swim and demonstrate proficiency onsite
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Physical/Natural Environment: Cape Cod is a relatively mild coastal environment with summer season between May and September. Winter weather brings storms, winds and freezing temperatures with little snow accumulation. Beaches, ponds, forests and hiking trails abound. Supermarkets are in Provincetown (8 miles from the Lab) and Orleans (20 miles). Local amenities include many restaurants and small specialty markets. Nearest Mall stores are in Hyannis (45 miles). The summer tourist season brings bustling activity from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Position Detail: A rough breakdown of the member's time is 40% field, 30% lab, 20% data entry/management and 10% other duties as assigned. Project conditions include walking on soft sand and in marsh muds in moderate topography, swimming, boating, and snorkeling. Driving on unpaved roads is common and occasionally on off-road tracks and beach sand. Field projects will require boat work via skiff, canoe or kayak. Hazards include exposure to sun,
poison ivy, ticks and mosquitos. Safety training and gear is provided for all activities.
VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle. A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position. HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Cape Cod National Seashore offers housing within 10 miles of the North Atlantic Coastal Lab site. Housing is typically a shared furnished house. Bedrooms and bathrooms will likely be shared with housemates. Residents bring their own linens. Kitchens are furnished with basics. Parking is available at the houses. Houses will be shared with several other residents that are also seasonal employees, SIP participants, or research technicians. Residents are responsible for cleaning, properly disposing of trash and utilities such as SIP participantet/cable/phone which are not otherwise provided. Heating and electricity are included.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. 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.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary. Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service. Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.
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.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore will host a Ecology Assistant.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under "Questions? Contact us!"
Position Title:
Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program:
Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location:
Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Can this position be fully remote : No
Number of positions available : 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration : 26 Weeks
(not flexible)
Flexible Start Date : Yes
Start Date : 02/09/2026
End Date : 08/10/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification : 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.
BENEFITS Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of position. Living Allowance
of $600.00 per week. Relocation Allowance
of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) Student Loan Forbearance
if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
Student Loan Interest Payments
if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).
APPLICATION TIMELINE
The position will close after receiving
60
applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will serve directly with a team to conduct critical monitoring and research in a variety high priority freshwater and coastal resources, as well as contribute to essential data analysis and science communication activities. The priority projects for this position are some of the highest management priorities for CACO, and the monitoring and research conducted directly informs managers' decision making at CACO and surrounding municipalities. In FY23, the aquatic program has received additional funding to undertake several critical scientific projects to address the impacts of environmental change, harmful algal blooms, and critical ecosystems on several key aquatic resource areas. This position will focus on many aspects of these projects.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Aquatic Ecology: Water Quality, Biota, Hydrology, Science Communication, Habitat Improvement and Rehabilitation Tasks
Background: The Aquatic Ecology Program at CACO works in coastal and freshwater environments, with a focus on
coastal water quality, tidally restricted waters and wetlands, and submerged resource mapping. This position will
conduct monitoring and research in the field and laboratory. In addition, they will assist with data analysis. They will
also contribute to important science communication products to promote stewardship and science literacy, and will
make a presentation to CACO staff.
The SIP participant will be involved with field and lab projects for natural resource projects, including NPS Inventory and
Monitoring program and applied research to inform natural resource management.
Projects include horseshoe crab surveys, seagrass and salt marsh monitoring, pond and estuary water quality
sampling, and hydrologic monitoring. The SIP participant will gain experience in many coastal environments, on a
range of monitoring to management-oriented projects, with a variety of field and laboratory methods and equipment.
Tasks: • Collect and process shallow water and benthic samples for sediments, plants and invertebrates. • Assist with lab analyses including using analytical instrumentation for water and sediments by standard laboratory
methods. • Assist with benthic mapping, process data and create maps, with biological, physical, and chemical data. • Maintain, calibrate and deploy instruments for water quality monitoring • Collect water samples, process long-term data. • Assist with hydrological data collection - groundwater and surface water levels and tidal data. • Assist with pond shoreline rehabilitation projects. • Science communication activities to promote natural resource stewardship. • Perform in-depth data analysis and present to CACO staff.
KEYWORDS : coastal, ecology, water quality, freshwater resources
DELIVERABLES • Field data and results of lab analyses (chlorophyll, color, grain size, etc.); • Geospatial data sets and mapping products; • Completion reports based on these tasks; • Presentations of findings to CACO staff.
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 NPS site location. The applicant must be available to participate for 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Preferred: • Experience in water quality monitoring and instrumentation • Experience in laboratory analysis • Knowledge of marine vegetation, and invertebrates, and fish • Previous experience, or willingness to learn how operate small water craft in these settings is desired • Knowledge of the natural history and scientific processes of the Northeastern United States; for example: ecology of marine ecosystems, dune and barrier beach ecosystems, coastal geologic processes, freshwater ecosystems, marine biology • Physically able to conduct field surveys under demanding weather in rough terrain and in water • Must know how to swim and demonstrate proficiency onsite
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Physical/Natural Environment: Cape Cod is a relatively mild coastal environment with summer season between May and September. Winter weather brings storms, winds and freezing temperatures with little snow accumulation. Beaches, ponds, forests and hiking trails abound. Supermarkets are in Provincetown (8 miles from the Lab) and Orleans (20 miles). Local amenities include many restaurants and small specialty markets. Nearest Mall stores are in Hyannis (45 miles). The summer tourist season brings bustling activity from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Position Detail: A rough breakdown of the member's time is 40% field, 30% lab, 20% data entry/management and 10% other duties as assigned. Project conditions include walking on soft sand and in marsh muds in moderate topography, swimming, boating, and snorkeling. Driving on unpaved roads is common and occasionally on off-road tracks and beach sand. Field projects will require boat work via skiff, canoe or kayak. Hazards include exposure to sun,
poison ivy, ticks and mosquitos. Safety training and gear is provided for all activities.
VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle. A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position. HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Cape Cod National Seashore offers housing within 10 miles of the North Atlantic Coastal Lab site. Housing is typically a shared furnished house. Bedrooms and bathrooms will likely be shared with housemates. Residents bring their own linens. Kitchens are furnished with basics. Parking is available at the houses. Houses will be shared with several other residents that are also seasonal employees, SIP participants, or research technicians. Residents are responsible for cleaning, properly disposing of trash and utilities such as SIP participantet/cable/phone which are not otherwise provided. Heating and electricity are included.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. 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.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary. Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service. Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.
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.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore will host a Ecology Assistant.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under "Questions? Contact us!"