By ELI - June 4, 2024
Type of Position
Full Time Job
Company or Organization
Conservation Legacy
Location
Ventura, CA
Job Link
For More Information and to Apply

Position Description 

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 CVA will continue work on two initiatives: 1) expanding an existing service learning program for local high schools to include summer-session and incoming students at two community colleges; and 2) incorporating a diversity of local artists and arts organizations in a new Art in the Parks program. Both initiatives deepen relationships with existing partners or start relationships with new partners and offer new ways for the public to get involved.

Site Description

Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands off the coast of Southern California. It stretches above and below the ocean's surface, including underwater kelp forests, seagrass beds, and reefs surrounding isolated islands that support plants and animals found nowhere else. Chumash and Tongva/Gabrieleno people have called the islands home for countless generations. The park’s volunteer program is very active: over 800 volunteers donated almost 38,000 hours last year. They are experts in a dizzying array of fields, some quite specialized. Volunteers maintain historic lighthouse lenses, lead guided walks, help operate park boats, monitor endangered species, restore seabird habitat, survey archeological sites, and more.

 

Position Responsibilities:

  • Research potential partners and help make initial contacts to gauge interest.
  • Assist in refining proposals to meet the needs of partners.
  • Help develop volunteer service descriptions and recruitment material.
  • Recruit volunteers and track their demographics and activities.
  • Complete logistical arrangements, including boat transportation, volunteer work leaders, and housing/campsites.
  • Co-lead volunteer activities by demonstrating and directing work.
  • Help evaluate the park's program to suggest new types of volunteer activities and ensure that we are engaging a broad swath of our community.

CVA Minimum Requirements:

  • Completion of a bachelor's degree.
  • Experience in public speaking or leading activities for children and adults.
  • Ability to communicate clearly in writing.
  • Experience managing tasks that are part of a defined project workflow.
  • 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:

  • Familiarity with local community organizations.
  • Experience in writing project proposals or analyzing data and evaluating activities.
  • Knowledge of art, art history, or restoration ecology.
  • Ability to speak Spanish

 

Additional Information:

The CVA will make occasional trips to park islands and will have opportunities to explore hard-to-visit locations. Travel to islands is by boat; some islands are four hours from the mainland.

 

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

Related topics

volunteer