Position Title: Invasive Species Technician – AmeriCorps Individual Placement

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps

Site Location: Congaree National Park

Address: 100 National Park Road Hopkins, SC 29061

Position Available: 2

Housing: Available

Terms of Service: 10.5 Weeks

Start Date: 08/18/25

End Date: 10/29/25

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hr

Purpose:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position. SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, and environmental stewardship. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.

Congaree National Park is the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state-champion trees. The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Position Overview:

The team will have a direct positive impact on Congaree by performing restoration efforts in a National Park. Their actions will directly promote the restoration, well-being, and conservation of wetlands, longleaf pine ecosystems, and rare species. This project supports multiple high-priority activities outlined in the 2021 CONG Resource Stewardship Strategy. Wild pig management will include work with NPS staff and USDA partners on (a) trap site mapping, monitoring (w/ wildlife cameras), surveying for destruction, prioritization, and baiting, and (b) trap assessment, maintenance, and relocation. Interns will not handle firearms. Interns will receive training in park operations, seasonal safety, hog management, and wilderness management while gaining field experience and learning to work as a team.

The intern will complete surveys for feral hogs and present the data to the park at the end of their term. The intern will hopefully detect patterns of hog movement, hotspots, and areas of high impact. Feral hog destruction is the most destructive force within Congaree, impacting the entire park (27,000 acres). The intern's work will directly improve park conditions by assisting law enforcement with invasive hog removal, mapping, and ecosystem restoration.

Description of Duties:

Feral Hog Management

· Survey Park for feral hogs, destruction, and signs, pinpointing where populations are present and mapping it using GIS

· Locate feral hog hot spots within the Park.

· Determine patterns of feral hog movement within the season based on pressures, food supply, etc.

· Assist managers with baiting, trapping, and data collection.

Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Hiking several miles in remote terrain, serving outdoors in hot, humid, cold, rain, snow, or other conditions, potential exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, black bears, snakes, hog, and other wildlife, operating government vehicles, and working alongside law enforcement (firearms).

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Valid Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Local applicants in the Columbia/Sumter, SC region.

Transportation:

A personal vehicle is required due to the limited public transportation and rural character of this location. NPS vehicles will be provided for transportation only for park capacity. The Individual Placement will be a driver.

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. 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.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve 8 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week – but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Training in the use of GPS and park radio
• Consultation with park and regional resources
• Microsoft Excel and GIS mapping
• GIS, data collection using field maps
• Survey 123
• UTV safety training.
• Training on division vehicles.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,565.08
• Living Allowance: $600 per week.
• Possible student loan forbearance.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free support sessions with a counseling or service-life balance specialist.
• Uniform shirts
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.

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
• Monthly Accomplishment Report
• Narrative Monthly Report.
• Bi-Monthly Check-Ins
• Midterm and Final Evals
• Exiting Task

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Carson Lillard

Supervisory Park Ranger

Chief of Resource Stewardship & Science

carson_lillard@nps.gov

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson

Individual Placement Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

rwilson@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. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population