Position Title: GIS Support Steward – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Sequioa-Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 06/01/2026
• End Date: 11/13/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career internship 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 in partnership with the NPS GIS office is hosting a cohort of GIS stewards.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) protect one of the largest populations of giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), a globally iconic and ecologically significant species. In recent years, these trees have faced increasing threats not only from large, high-severity wildfires, but also from the cumulative and interacting effects of fire injury, prolonged drought stress, and bark beetle attack. Trees that survive initial fire impacts may become physiologically weakened, making them more susceptible to beetle infestation and delayed mortality. This gradual decline is difficult to detect and quantify using traditional monitoring approaches.

Currently, there is no cost-effective, scalable, and comprehensive method to track the health of giant sequoia populations across their range. Early detection of dead and declining trees—particularly those affected by post-fire beetle infestation and drought-related stress—is critical for understanding grove vulnerability, guiding management decisions, and anticipating future loss under changing weather patterns.

Emerging research demonstrates strong potential for high-resolution remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect individual tree condition and mortality from aerial imagery. SEKI is partnering with a non-profit organization to develop AI-based tools capable of assessing giant sequoia health across the species’ range. A critical next step in this effort is the development of an integrated field–GIS validation workflow to evaluate and iteratively improve model predictions.

This position will focus on designing, testing, and refining that validation workflow. The selected steward will contribute directly to the development of a next-generation monitoring framework for one of the world’s most iconic and climate-vulnerable tree species.

Description of Duties:

The GIS Steward will serve closely with park GIS and USGS field staff to support the validation and implementation of AI-based sequoia health assessments. Responsibilities will include:

1. Field Data Collection

· Configure mobile GIS tools for collecting tree health validation data.

· Conduct spatial data collection on tree condition and environmental variables in tandem with NPS, I&M, or USGS field crews, as coordinated by project leads.

· Support GPS/GNSS data management and post-processing workflows.

2. Remote Sensing

· Download, organize, and manage high-resolution imagery and derived datasets.

· Process UAS-acquired imagery and/or terrestrial lidar scans as necessary.

· Use remote sensing products to validate model data where appropriate/when feasible.

3. Data Management & Analysis

· Maintain geodatabases supporting AI model development.

· Conduct spatial accuracy assessments and summarize model performance metrics.

· Generate summary maps and spatial products to communicate findings to park leadership and partners.

4. Documentation and Communication

· Develop metadata and documentation describing validation procedures.

· Create workflow documentation to ensure reproducibility and long-term implementation.

· Facilitate data sharing with project partners.

· Present interim findings to GIS and resource staff.

· Prepare a final written and mapped summary of validation methods and results.

Requirements:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

· Coursework in GIS, geography, environmental science, forestry, ecology, computer science, or related field

· Experience with ArcGIS Pro and other ESRI products

· Understanding of:

o Vector and raster datasets

o Coordinate systems and spatial accuracy

o Basic spatial statistics

· Experience with remote sensing data (imagery interpretation, raster analysis, photogrammetry)

· Familiarity with uncrewed aerial systems

· Familiarity with field data collection tools (e.g., Field Maps, Survey123, GPS units)

· Basic Python or scripting experience

· Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail

· Ability to serve in both office and field settings (including hiking in steep terrain)

Applicants must also be enrolled at an institution of higher education or within two years post-graduation. Applicants who have obtained or are pursuing a GIS degree or certificate and/or with GIS experience are preferred. Prior to starting this position, a federal government security background clearance will be required.

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.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $ 1,956.35
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $160 per week.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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:

Program Contact information: stewardssupport@conservationlegacy.org

Service Site Contact Information: jflickinger@nps.gov

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.