Volunteer And Service Specialist Resource Assistant

Prescott National Forest

Length:

Term of positions is 32 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk

Location:

300 E. State 260 Camp Verde, AZ 86322

Compensation:

$15/hour, plus $1000 monthly housing allowance (equivalent to $20.77/hr over 40 hr workweek).

Start Date:

Desired: February 19, 2024

Application Due Date:

Preference given to application submitted by December 22nd, 2023

Position Title

Volunteer and Service Specialist Resource Assistant

Position Details

Stewards Individual Placement Program (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

Stewards in partnership with the Prescott National Forest is seeking an intern who will support the volunteer program. The volunteer program provides support to employees and other programs within the Prescott National Forest for Volunteer and Service program guidance, technical support, and outreach.  Though housed in the Forest’s recreation program where much of the work occurs, support is available to all other programs and includes some elements of workforce development such as the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Resource Assistants Program (RAP), and other Corps as needed.

The RA will primarily assist in planning, coordinating, and implementing outreach, work projects, data collection, and records management for the Volunteer and Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) programs.  This work requires the intern to learn basic skills for field work in recreation facility maintenance, trail maintenance, trash removal, fence building/deconstruction, and similar tasks.  It also requires the intern to learn agency expectations, directives, and regulations related to safety procedures, project planning, project leadership, data collection, communications, ethics, conduct, and civil rights.  Intern will also have exposure to workforce development programs, agency partnerships, partnership agreements, and the broader array of job/career opportunities in the Forest Service outside of the volunteer program.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• Work Plan Activity: Assist with all aspects of volunteer coordination.
  1. Work with supervisor and other employees to recruit and outreach for volunteers within local communities and beyond and seek projects for volunteers on Prescott National Forest lands.
  2. Assist supervisor to draft and process individual and group volunteer agreements. Also collect and file agreements and related documents in accordance with agency records management policy.
  3. Shadow supervisor/other employees leading volunteers in the field, building up to the leader role.
  4. Assist supervisor with data collection and reporting of accomplishments associated with the program.
  5. Assist supervisor with drafting a new volunteer program operating plan.
• Work Plan Activity: Assist with all aspects of Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program coordination.
  1. Assist supervisor and other employees to plan and implement YCC work projects on Prescott National Forest lands.
  2. Shadow supervisor/other employees leading the YCC crew in the field, building up to the leader role on projects.
  3. Assist supervisor with data collection and reporting of accomplishments associated with the program.
• Work Plan Activity: Some exposure to and assistance with the forest partnership program.
  1. Shadow and possibly assist supervisor and other employees in various elements of the partnership program.
  2. Shadow supervisor/other employees in planning meetings, collaborative workshops, and/or public meetings.
  3. Assist supervisor with drafting partnership agreements and other related documents.

PLEASE NOTE: Work plan activities are estimated to break down as follows: 60% of work in the volunteer program, 30% in the YCC program, and 10% in the partnership program.

Minimum Requirements:

• Any natural resources course of study of at least one year.
• Good writing skills. Technical writing is more common in this line of work, but creative writing skills are also very useful.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check.
• Applicants must possess a valid state driver license with a clean driving record and be insurable by Conservation Legacy (over 21 years old or driver license for at least three years).

Preferred Requirements:

• Good people skills working with adults and youth.
• Physically able to perform some field work in remote locations with common hand tools including shovel, rake, Pulaski, McCleod, fence pliers, loppers, hand saws).

Benefits:

• $1000.00/month living allowance. (pre-tax)
• $50/monthly commuting allowance. (pre-tax)
• $2750.00 Professional Development and Travel fund.
• On-the-job training related to position responsibilities.

*The USFS Resource Assistant Program (RAP) is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship providing developmental and training opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about Forest Service careers. After completing a minimum of 960 hours of satisfactory work and an associate degree, RA’s may acquire a two-year certificate of noncompetitive hiring eligibility. The certificate enables participants to apply to internal merit announcements for qualifying permanent General Schedule FS positions as well as a Direct Hire Authority for FS Career positions.

How to Apply
Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Questions: Please contact Roddy Cobb Jr. at rcobb@conservationlegacy.org for any questions.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, 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 application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.