Botany Technician Individual Placement-AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy
Position Title: Botany Technician Individual Placement-AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina
Site Location: Pisgah National Forest
Terms of Service:
- Start Date: January 2026
- End Date: December 2026/January 2027
- AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours
Purpose:
Organizational Summary
Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) partners with public land managers to engage youth, young adults, and veterans in meaningful conservation service projects. Through hands-on work in the field, CCNC members develop skills in natural resource management, outdoor leadership, and community engagement while improving trails, restoring habitats, and enhancing recreation areas. CCNC is an AmeriCorps-affiliated program dedicated to building the next generation of conservation leaders through service, education, and teamwork.
About the Pisgah National Forest:
The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east.
Position Summary:
This AmeriCorps position will serve with the U.S. Forest Service to support botany and vegetation management programs on the Pisgah National Forest. The position will focus on rare plant monitoring, invasive species management, seed collection, and ecological restoration.
This role is critical in supporting district staff with Hurricane Helene recovery, as well as long-term monitoring of threatened and endangered plant species. Members will gain skills in plant identification, GIS mapping, and land management planning while serving in one of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the United States.
Description of Duties:
Fieldwork:
- Conduct botanical surveys to locate, map, and monitor rare, threatened, and endangered plant species.
- Identify and document invasive plant infestations; assist with manual or mechanical treatments.
- Collect native seed for restoration and participate in propagation/nursery work as available.
- Support ecological monitoring projects including phenology (flowering/fruiting times).
- Assist with herbicide application under supervision (if certified/approved by host site).
Data Collection & Analysis:
- Collect GPS/GIS data on plant populations, invasive species locations, and restoration activities.
- Enter, clean, and manage plant survey data in USFS databases and spreadsheets.
- Contribute to preparing maps, graphics, and reports for district botanists.
Planning & Project Support:
- Assist with developing management recommendations for invasive species and rare plants.
- Support USFS staff in planning and monitoring restoration projects.
- Help evaluate post-storm vegetation recovery and identify priority areas for treatment.
Outreach & Partnerships:
- Collaborate with local partners, nonprofits, and volunteer groups on botany-related projects.
- Provide data summaries and field support for volunteer events.
- Represent CCNC professionally in interactions with the public and partners.
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 17 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.
- Interest in conservation, botany, invasive species management, and land stewardship.
- Valid driver’s license; insurable for agency/CCNC vehicles.
- Ability to work outdoors in rugged conditions and inclement weather.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work independently.
Preferred
• Experience with plant identification, vegetation surveys, or natural resource management.
• Familiarity with invasive species management methods (manual, mechanical, or chemical).
• Coursework in botany, ecology, biology, or related natural resource fields.
• Experience with GPS/mobile data collection and GIS software.
• Pesticide/herbicide applicator license (or ability to obtain).
Our Commitment:
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 and Working Requirements:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 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.
- Typically 40 hours/week; some weekend or holiday work during peak seasons.
- Frequent field days with hiking over uneven terrain while carrying tools/equipment; exposure to heat/cold, precipitation, insects, and remote settings.
- Government/CCNC vehicles may be used for field travel; valid license and insurability required.
Orientation and Training:
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395
- Living Allowance of $480 per week.
- Additional Benefit of $420 per week.
- Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
- Childcare Coverage if Eligible
- Loan forbearance if Eligible
- Interest Payments if Eligible
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Reimbursement of up to $150 for medical certification (First/Aid CPR or above).
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On-the-job training provided - including obtaining US Forest Service Chainsaw Certification.
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AmeriCorps Orientation, including training on prohibited and unallowable activities.
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Accrue hours towards the Public Land Corps Certificate that offers hiring authority when applying for future federal positions.
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Health insurance and childcare assistance (if eligible).
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Members may be eligible for student loan forbearance.
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Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist.
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Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements.
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Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.)
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Exposure to natural resource career paths and opportunities.
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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.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
For questions, contact: Stephanie Dunton, sdunton@conservationlegacy.org
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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.