Position Title: GIS Data Management Steward – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Denali National Park, PO Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755

Application Due: Friday, July 3rd

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 10/05/2026
• End Date: 1/22/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450-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.

The NPS Alaska Fire Ecology program has been collecting and analyzing data on fire- and fire management-affected environments for several decades. In studying fire behavior, short- and long-term fire effects, and how fire management actions contribute to meeting fire management objectives, we aim to support data-driven decision-making in Alaska’s fire prone parklands. Particularly, we are interested in collecting, analyzing and evaluating outcomes of hazardous fuel reduction projects (e.g., thinning vegetation around high-value resources). Rigorous protocols and methods have been developed and tested, however, recent advances in technology have the potential to transform the way we monitor and quantify forest characteristics.

The purpose of this data management Steward is to contribute to several related efforts concerning the processing and management of fire ecology and vegetation monitoring datasets. With a pressing need for scientifically-based information to evaluate fire management objectives and actions, we intend to increase the efficiency and accuracy of which we deliver relevant datasets to managers to allow for revision of fuel treatment timelines and/or other fire management action as needed. This position offers a chance to contribute to this effort, whilst experiencing one of Alaska’s most beloved parks during the winter season.

The selected Data Management steward will research, develop, and test methodologies to create a workflow for annual reporting of a fuels treatment monitoring dataset. Using AGOL, Survey123 and/or FieldMaps, the Steward will create standard operating procedures to (1) simplify and streamline data collection at different sampling intensities; (2) query and display data collected into a new a AGOL web experience or similar; and (3) integrate an existing dataset for display alongside newly collected data. The existing and expected dataset includes vegetation metrics, photographs, and treatment notes associated with specific locations over multiple site visits. This service experience may also offer a chance to develop an independent project based on a balance of the candidates demonstrated abilities, interests, and emergent fire management needs.

Description of Duties:

Duties of the GIS Steward position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Revise and improve upon existing Survey123 to AGOL process for data collection
• Create and document editing workflows and best practices for field-collected data
• Create AGOL experience, map or similar to display collected data
• Integrate existing geospatial data into newly established data display
• Develop standard operating guidelines for data creation, management, access, and sharing
• Participate in weekly fire management or ecology meetings and other team-oriented events and discussions
• Participate in weekly Cohort meetings led by NPS GIS Steward Program support staff
• Design a capstone presentation for the NPS GIS community at service conclusion
  
  

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

A successful candidate will have a strong foundation in GIS programming/coding and/or data management practices and proficiency using Esri desktop software and data manipulation geo-processes and tools. Knowledge of Survey123, FieldMaps, and AGOL or proven aptitude to excel at self-learning is highly preferred. This position requires attention to detail, effective communication skills, and the ability to take initiative and work independently, while also being supported by subject matter experts as needed. Candidates with experience collecting data in the field or managing ecological datasets are especially encouraged to apply.

Planned work is primarily computer based and will be conducted in a climate-controlled office (or home office, if recommended for teleservice) in a building shared with fire management and resource protection staff. Although direct supervision and support are provided by the local fire ecologist, it is critical that applicants be self-motivated, innovative, and willing to ask for help promptly when assistance is needed.

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 $200 per week
• Housing Details: This position offers the chance to immerse oneself in the extremity of subarctic winter, experience the northern lights, view natural landscapes in transition, and live in one of the least populated areas of the country. Denali National Park and Preserve offers unparalleled opportunities for solitude and exploration in a largely untouched landscape. Skiing, snowshoeing, and otherwise enjoying Denali's wild landscape in the least visited season –winter– is an opportunity of a lifetime. Some food and community services are available in Healy (15 miles north of park) year-round.Housing is provided at no cost to the participant and is a short walk from the office. Housing consists of a comfortable 20’ x 20’ cabin shared with one other person. The kitchen, dining, and living space are shared and bedrooms are private. Kitchens are stocked with basic cookware. Cabins are “dry” meaning without running water, but water is available in the nearby communal bathroom/laundry/shower house.

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: Sarah Stehn, Fire Ecologist, sarah_stehn@nps.gov, 907-683-6230

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.