Position Title: Fisheries Laboratory Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Warm Springs Fish Technology Center, 5151 Spring Street Warm Springs, GA 31830.

Terms of Service:

• Ideal Start Date: April 6, 2026

• End Date: October 2, 2026

• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hour Slot, 26 weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to federally enrolled Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted at the Warm Springs Fish Technology Center and will host a Fisheries Laboratory Technician.

The Fisheries Laboratory Technician is an AmeriCorps position that will serve primarily in the cryopreservation laboratory at the Warm Springs Fish Technology Center (WSFTC) but will also have the opportunity to assist at the co-located, Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery and the Warm Springs Fish Health Center. The Warm Springs Fisheries Facilities are a part of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) within the Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation department. As a part of the national fish hatchery system, we work to raise fish and aquatic species to enhance state and tribally managed recreational fisheries, recover threatened and endangered species, and prevent at-risk species from becoming endangered. The WSFTC focuses on researching and developing cryopreservation and unique species production programs for fish hatcheries across the country. We aim to conduct thorough and sound research to advance the USFWS’s mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The Fisheries Laboratory Technician will assist biologists with animal care, laboratory maintenance, and science communication outreach. The Technician will also assist with research through literature review, performing laboratory trials, and organizing data. These duties will serve in contributing to science and progressing species conservation.

Description of Duties:

· Care for captive fish and amphibians

· Culture worm and bug species to feed captive amphibians

· Checking water chemistry metrics

· Assist with spawning fish

· Assist with preparing chemical solutions and pipetting during laboratory trials

· Using microscopes to collect data

· Organizing data on the computer

· Reading and summarizing scientific literature

· Preparing outreach materials to inform members of the public about conservation science activities

Qualifications:

· A passion for conservation science

· A positive attitude and eagerness to learn

· The ability to assess and initiate things independently

· The ability to listen, communicate effectively, and be patient with coworkers

· Attention to detail

· Conscientious of safety

· Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:

o Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.

o Descendants of Members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 – shown by completing BIA Form 4432.

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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 National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience caring for aquatic species

· Microsoft Excel and/or Access Database skills

· Laboratory experience

Additional Position and Community Information:

Warm Springs, Georgia is a small rural town set between the larger cities of Lagrange and Columbus, Georgia. Most amenities such as grocery stores are only accessible via driving so a member will need a personal vehicle. Housing will most likely not be included, but that could change as the start date nears, so please reach out and ask us.

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 full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary according to project needs. Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
• 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 program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will have the opportunity to learn basic laboratory and animal husbandry skills

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Childcare Coverage (opt in)
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

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:

Find position in table at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions. Open position, review full position description and click apply.

In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by 03/30/26. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Supervisor/Mentor Name and Contact Information:

· Service Site Contact information: Valerie Kearny at valerie_kearny@fws.gov

· Program Contact information: Morgan Hassey, mhassey@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.