Position Title: GIS Cultural and Natural Resources Steward – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Hot Springs National Park, 101 Reserve Street, Hot Springs, AR 71901

Application Due Date: July 3, 2026

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 10/5/2026
• End Date: 3/19/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675-Hour Slot

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.

Hot Springs National Park is a 5,500-acre area in Hot Springs, Arkansas, that preserves geothermal spring water and resources related to hydrotherapy and therapeutic bathing. First set aside as Hot Springs Reservation in 1832 and renamed a national park in 1921, the park is among the oldest protected areas in the United States. The park cares for significant natural and cultural resources, including Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark District, featuring eight bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923, the Libbey Memorial Physical Medicine Center, Whittington Park, Gulpha Gorge Campground, and the surrounding parklands that provide opportunities for public health and wellness activities.

The HOSP Resources division manages the cultural and natural resources of the park, while the Facilities Maintenance division manages the buildings, utilities, roads, trails, and grounds within the park. The Steward will collaborate with personnel from both divisions but would be located within the Resources Division office in the historic Lamar Bathhouse.

The goals for the project are quite simple:

• Complete several vital CR/NR tasks that will increase productivity, data usability, and personnel safety
• Give real-world experience to a student interested in working for the NPS
• Improve the function of park Maintenance and Resources divisions

Description of Duties:

The GIS Steward will collaborate with the park’s Resources Program and Maintenance division. The project may include GIS modernization of legacy data sets (old shapefiles), working with existing NPS Standard authoritative datasets, web and mobile GIS, improving mobile GIS workflow, improving and providing tools and applications for data editing and migrating workflow to ArcGIS Pro and updating technical documents. Additional tasks may include developing scripting tools and/or processes for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of data, and/or improving layer symbology and web map cartography, and responding to GIS user issues and requests. Service will occur individually and in team settings.

The GIS steward will also scan and georeference all the as-built drawings in the park Maintenance division to create a Utilities Basemap.

Requirements:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
• 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

Advanced GIS skills and knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS software and applications are essential, whether gained through coursework or applied experience. Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in geospatial data management, including working with geodatabases, performing database queries, and producing well-designed cartographic products. Skill and experience with Python and/or relational databases may also be considered. Must possess strong organizational, teamwork, and communication skills, including technical writing and presenting. A successful applicant must be self-motivated and able to serve with limited supervision after the initial training period.

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 $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 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: James Gasaway, jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org

Service Site Contact Information: Tom Hill, Tom_Hill@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.