PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-application-fall-2024 . Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Community Volunteer Ambassador – Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook Unit

Location: Highlands, NJ

Position Details:

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train a diverse group of emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

The primary responsibilities of the CVA will be to expand upon the Shorebird Ambassador volunteer program. The CVA helps to build community involvement and visit locations and events within the community, which includes farmers markets and community festivals. They actively visit local communities and reach out to underserved audiences. This would provide the community with the opportunity to become familiar with the park, its mission, and park personnel in a comfortable, familiar setting that would bridge the relationship between the community and the national park. Our higher learning partnerships provide opportunities to reach diverse students in various fields of study and help reach audiences we don’t normally reach.

The CVA shares and discusses park volunteer opportunities at university & college Career Days (or virtual career days) to engage and recruit young adult populations to become park ambassadors. CVA's are encouraged to build relationships with environmentally conscious leaders and organizations that engage in programs aimed at preserving natural resources and protecting the environment. The American Littoral Society, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, and Clean Ocean Action are all active park partners which focus on protecting New Jersey's water resources and coastal ecosystems. The CVA is welcome to attend their programs and trainings to develop a networking with fellow conservationists to provide support, knowledge sharing and opportunities for collaboration.

The CVA assists the park with habitat restoration and trail maintenance projects, as well as organizing community clean-up events. This participation sets an example for citizen science projects and encourages others to follow suit. This also allows the CVA to experience and learn how to minimize human impacts in other types of habitats (i.e.. maritime forest and upland communities).

Site Description

GATEWAY NRA

The Sandy Hook Unit has a number of individual volunteer programs:

· Shorebird Ambassador Program (100+)

· Seal Education Team (SET) (20)

· Group/School Beach Clean-ups

· Pathway Ambassador Program (10)

· Sandy Hook Docent (Interp) and Living History Program (39)

· Deer Survey Team

These programs are managed amongst the IE Supervisor, Volunteer Unit Coordinator, and the CVA. Volunteers are actively recruited, and new volunteer opportunities develop as park projects emerge. The CVA assists the VIP Unit Coordinator with the Seal Education Team with recruitment, interviews, trainings, and in the field observations/evaluations, from September to January. The CVA will switch gears in Feb & March to work on the Shorebird Ambassador Volunteer Program through August 2024.

Position Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of the CVA will be to expand upon the Shorebird Ambassador volunteer program.

The CVA is responsible for recruiting, training, coordinating, and scheduling volunteers to educate the public about threatened and endangered piping plovers and other nesting shorebirds at Gateway’s beaches. With an increased number of volunteers and with CVAs to help manage the program, the project footprint will expand to include all beaches where shorebirds actively along the Jersey Shore. Park volunteers will help visitors learn how to share the beach by recreating responsibly and respectfully and provide formal educational programming at schools in neighboring communities outside the park. They will share shorebird ecology information and increase visitor understanding of how their actions can make a difference in nesting shorebird species survival and perpetuation. Volunteers will assist the park’s Resource Stewardship Team installing symbolic string line fencing which designates closed areas, build nest exclosures, and monitor/collect data regarding beach use.

The Seal Education Team (SET) is a new piloted volunteer program kicked off in 2023-2024. Both the Volunteer Unit Coordinator and the CVA work together to recruit, manage and assist SET volunteers.

CVA Minimum Requirements:

· Major in environmental sciences

· Easy going, friendly, outgoing

· Effective communicator

· Flexible

· Team player

· Works independently

· Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in late November 2024 (date TBD)

· Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

· Be 18-30 years old at time of service (veterans up to 35 years old)

· High School Diploma/GED

· Pass fingerprint-based FBI, state criminal, and a national sex offender checks.

· Be able to provide proof of a driver’s license and complete a MVR check

• Must be over 21 years old or have had license for at least 3 years to be insured in this position

Preferred Qualifications:

· Public/visitor engagement

· Public outreach

· Public speaking

· Effective communication skills

· Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Canva)

· Social media skills (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

· Leading education pop-up programs

· Leading off-site programs to school groups (K-12), environmental organizations, and universities/colleges.

Additional Information:

· Housing is available

· Driving is required w/ current license

· Work with IE Division and Resource Stewardship Division

· Work with park partners on-site- ALS, NJSGC, MAST, NOAA, & COA

Benefits:

· $600/week living stipend.

· $150/week in housing allowance, if housing is not provided.

· Limited health care/childcare benefits

· The position is eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award $6,895.00 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of the program

· $1,200 in professional development funds for training, networking, conferences, and/or travel.

· Networking opportunities within the National Park Service and partnering organizations

· Public Land Corps Hiring Authority

· Week-long in-person training at NPS site with travel/meal expenses covered.

How to Apply Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.

The CVA position will start on Monday, September 9, 2024, and run for 48 weeks until Friday, August 8, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-application-fall-2024 . Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with diverse populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Applications Deadline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. First review will occur in early June. Final deadline is Sunday, July 7, 2024.

For Application Questions:

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org

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.

Required SkillsRequired Experience