Position Title: Biological Science Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way; Corvallis, OR 97331

Terms of Service:

• Ideal Start Date: 03/30/2026
• End Date: 09/25/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hours, 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 U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and will host a Biological Science Technician.

The Biological Science Technician is an AmeriCorps position that will assist with scientific research efforts that provides objective and impartial science on protected and invasive species, wildfire, and drought in the western U.S. to resource and emergency managers and the public. The USGS provides science for a changing world, which reflects and responds to society’s continuously evolving needs. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.

The member will assist aquatic and rangeland science teams with field sampling activities and the Science & Data Delivery Program (S&DD) with science support activities in science communications and data/records management. Collaborating with the aquatic and rangeland science teams, the member will learn how to conduct animal, vegetation, soil, and water field sampling techniques and office-based work such as data entry and field equipment maintenance. Collaborating with the S&DD Team, the member will create communications products linked to their work in the field. Projects will draw from the member’s strengths and interests and can include: photography, videography, podcast creation, social media and web page content creation. The member will also learn data and records management skills on how to properly document their creative work and prepare them for publication and archive.

Description of Duties:

• Conduct pre-designed field sampling activities. The member will often be required to work over ten hours a day, be away from home for several days - up to eight days, including weekends.
• Capture photos, video, or audio while out in the field.
• Enter data into existing databases and spreadsheets.
• Write plain language content about USGS-FRESC science
• Create documentation – metadata, for multimedia or research project data files
• Prepare communication or data products for USGS Fundamental Science Practices approval.
• Archive all created products in the appropriate space along with accompanying metadata files.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to work in a small group or with one other individual for several days at a time.
• Must be able to hike long distances over rough terrain carrying personal gear and field equipment.
• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
  • Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.
  • 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:

• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite tools – Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Teams.
• Primitive camping and backcountry experience is highly desired.
• Strong writing skills and photo/video/audio editing or graphic design experience is beneficial.
• Possess a valid driver’s license

Additional Position and Community Information:

Corvallis is located in central western Oregon, at the confluence of the Willamette and Mary’s Rivers in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Corvallis has a residential population of 60,408 per 2024 population estimate and is home to Oregon State University. The member does not need to have a personal vehicle to travel in- and out of town. Corvallis is a walk/bike friendly city and supports fareless local bus service. You can access amenities, such as groceries and medical services, by foot, bike, bus, or rideshare. Regional bus lines stop in Corvallis and can take you the next town, the Oregon Coast, or across the Cascade mountains to points in eastern Oregon. Amtrak regional and long-distance train service is available in the next town over. Short-term and sublet rental properties all around Corvallis are available throughout the year. Housing on the Oregon State University campus may be available.

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 and USGS prohibited and unallowable activities.
• CPR and First Aid certification, if not already certified.
• Access to and time to attend various online training courses or meetings relevant to their assigned project duties.

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/watercorps. 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. You will also need to upload a copy of your Tribal ID or Certificate of Indian Blood showing that you are enrolled in a federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; or Alaska Native.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by 02/15/2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Supervisor/Mentor Name and Contact Information:

• Service Site Contact information: Susan Kemp, USGS at skemp@usgs.gov or (541) 750-1047
• 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.