PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, Chaco Culture NHP – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

Site Location: Chaco Culture NHP

1808 Road 7950, Nageezi, NM 87037

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 2/23/2026
• End Date: 2/5/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot

Purpose:

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 emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a World Heritage Site located in Northwest New Mexico. It is an extremely remote park located in the high desert. Current volunteers support interpretation and education projects throughout the Winter, campground hosts support campers in the busier months, and the park hosts astronomy volunteers in the summer. Aztec Ruins National Monument (co-managed with Chaco Culture) is located in the city of Aztec in Northwest New Mexico. Volunteers support the interpretation division throughout the year, and National Public Lands Day events started again in 2024. The Chaco-Aztec Museum and Archive Facility is located in Albuquerque on the University of New Mexico campus. The museum facility is supported with four year-round volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours of work to cultural resources and museum management.

The CVA position at Chaco will be expected to help find additional volunteer opportunities for all three sites while maintaining future sustainability. There are ample opportunities for growth with the volunteer program at Chaco and Aztec, and the CVA will be encouraged to look for new and exciting ways to connect to the local communities around New Mexico. The CVA will also be assisting the volunteer coordinator in getting the majority of Aztec and Chaco volunteers on volunteer.gov - currently the website is used primarily for recruiting, but the volunteer coordinator is starting to transition to using it as a volunteer management platform. The CVA would help with this transition.

Description of Duties:

· Reach out to local astronomy clubs and build the Chaco astronomy volunteer program for the summer.

· Assist with project planning and coordination for Sierra Club in June at Chaco.

· Find ways to sustainably increase volunteer hours in maintenance, cultural resources, and natural resources at both Chaco and Aztec.

· Create better opportunities for groups to volunteer at Chaco (trail work, training opportunities, etc.).

· Build foundation or infrastructure for what remote volunteer work at the Chaco-Aztec Museum Facility (CHAZ) could look like.

· Plan annual recognition event(s) for volunteers at CHAZ and Aztec; implement recognition events or ideas for short-term volunteers at Chaco and Aztec (i.e., 2-month long volunteers).

· Build out "shovel ready" project list for Aztec and Chaco (list is already created but could have more projects added).

· Kickstart roving volunteers at Aztec to better interpret and protect the site during busier hours.

· Assist with National Public Lands Day planning and advertising at Aztec.

· Learn volunteer.gov and get regular volunteers signed up for opportunities and reporting hours through the website; train volunteer supervisors on use of volunteer.gov (with volunteer coordinator).

Qualifications:

• Works well independently.
• Outgoing and friendly.
• Willing to live and work in a remote environment.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree

· Public speaking

· Effective communication

· Ability to do outreach and engage groups on the phone and in person

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 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.
• Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills
• Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development
• $750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training

Additional Position and Community Information:

Housing is available in Chaco. Position is extremely remote and will require a driver's license and personal vehicle to be comfortable out here. The nearest town for groceries or other amenities is 90 minutes away one way. The roads into Chaco are both unpaved, so your car may experience accelerated wear and tear. The conditions of the roads can vary greatly throughout the year depending on weather (muddy roads, washboard sections, ruts, etc.). Traveling to Aztec Ruins in Aztec or the Chaco-Aztec Museum in Albuquerque may be required, although travel will be part of your work day.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• 10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave

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.

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, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026

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 different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.

For Application Questions:

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@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.