Position Title: GIS Support Steward - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve/Bandelier National Monument
Application Due: Friday, August 7, 2026

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 10/05/2026
• End Date: 3/19/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675-Hour Slot, 24 Weeks

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.

Overview:
Valles Caldera National Preserve is located in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. This 88,900-acre park encompasses almost all of the volcanic caldera created by a spectacular volcanic eruption about 1.2 million years ago. The caldera is dormant, but not extinct, and still displays signs of volcanic life with hot springs and boiling sulphuric acid fumaroles. The juxtaposition of large grassland meadows, or valles in Spanish, surrounded by rounded, forest-covered volcanic domes provides the distinctive natural landscape that led to the name of Valles Caldera. These ecosystems, ranging from 8,000 to 11,254 feet high at the top of Redondo Peak, combine abundant rainfall, mixed conifer forests, and deep, rich soils to support a broad mix of animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms including several thousand elk and healthy populations of mountain lions, bears, and coyotes.

For thousands of years, American Indians have used the caldera for hunting, fishing, and gathering various plants for food, medicine, and ceremonies. The signature resource for these indigenous peoples was obsidian, and tools found across the United States were made from obsidian gathered here. Numerous American Indian tribes and pueblos in the region have deep historic and cultural connections to the caldera. Valles Caldera also chronicles the history of New Mexico’s enchantment and exploitation—from 19th century land use after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and sheep grazing under the partido system to subsequent cattle grazing, timber harvesting, and geothermal exploration.

The park collects and manages several types of geospatial data including those used to manage and protect natural and cultural resources within the Preserve.

Description of Duties:
The GIS Steward will work closely with the National Park Service's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Natural Resource programs at Valles Caldera National Preserve, with opportunities to support projects at Bandelier National Monument. Under the guidance and mentorship of the park's GIS Specialist, the participant will gain hands-on experience applying geospatial technologies to support natural resource conservation, land management, and public engagement.

Primary responsibilities will include modernizing legacy geospatial datasets, updating enterprise geodatabases with historical and newly collected GIS data, maintaining and utilizing National Park Service spatial datasets, supporting web and mobile GIS applications, preparing GPS and tablet equipment for field data collection, integrating spatial data into established national and regional data standards, producing maps and other geospatial products for park staff, improving GIS workflows, and responding to GIS-related requests from multiple park divisions. The participant may also participate in field data collection to support new facilities and infrastructure projects within Valles Caldera National Preserve and assist with GIS initiatives at Bandelier National Monument. The position may require operation of a government vehicle, and park housing may be available.

Throughout the position, the GIS Steward will develop practical skills in enterprise GIS, field data collection, data management, cartography, mobile GIS technologies, and spatial analysis while gaining valuable experience working within a multidisciplinary National Park Service environment. The participant will collaborate with resource managers, scientists, planners, maintenance staff, and other park professionals, providing a broad understanding of how geospatial information supports park operations and resource stewardship.

The position will culminate in the development of a geospatial product that transforms a portion of the park's legacy natural resource data into an engaging and useful resource for staff, visitors, researchers, educators, and partner organizations. By improving the quality, access, and usability of critical geospatial information, the participant’s work will contribute directly to the protection and management of natural and cultural resources, support informed conservation decisions, and enhance public understanding of the landscapes and ecosystems managed by the National Park Service. The products and datasets developed during the position will provide lasting value to both park staff and the communities that benefit from the preservation, education, and recreational opportunities offered by these public lands.

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 knowledge and skills. Experience using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Microsoft Office products. Experience creating, editing existing, and populating new GIS databases. An understanding of spatial and non-spatial databases. Cartographic skills desired. Familiarity with metadata standards, and GIS data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). Experience with GPS data collection, remote sensing, Python scripting, or geoprocessing workflows. Interest in natural/cultural resource management, conservation, public lands, or National Park Service operations. Experience creating maps or web-based geospatial products. Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn new GIS technologies and workflows.

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.
• Housing may be available

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:
  Monte White – GIS Specialist (VALL/BAND)
  monte_white@nps.gov
  (505) 309-2620

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.