Ancestral Lands Hawaii Community Engagement Fellow for NPS-RTCA- Individual Placement

Position Title:  Ancestral Lands Hawaii Community Engagement Fellow NPS RTCA - Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

Site Location: 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96850 US

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 04/21/2025
• End Date: 04/24/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

Purpose:

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Mission

Our vision is to lead our Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being by engaging underrepresented Indigenous youth and young adults in conservation service programs that reconnect participants to the land, their cultural heritage, and their traditions. We work to remove barriers to participation, education, and employment by partnering with local community organizations, agencies, and institutes of higher learning to create paid service and career training opportunities, personal and professional development, and pathways to postsecondary education and employment. Native American applicants are encouraged to apply.

National Park Service Mission:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.  The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

NPS - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Overview:

The NPS operates programs in communities throughout the nation to connect people across the country to their parks, trails, rivers, and other special places. This fellowship position is within the NPS- Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, which helps community groups, nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribes plan parks and trails, conserve and improve access to rivers and natural areas, and create recreation opportunities through locally led partnerships.

The fellow will work to support NPS-RTCA projects through research, outreach, and facilitation that will assist with overall program and project development. The focus of the fellow is our work with Native Hawaiian Organizations and the environmental and cultural restoration of ecological and agricultural systems. Work will support the building of relationships between federal, state, and local government agencies with non-profit and Native Hawaiian Organizations. It will focus on projects that are led by Hawaiian ecological practices and approach to land stewardship. We believe this position will be mutually beneficial as it will provide professional development and technical skills that will assist in future jobs. This job is ideal for someone who is interested in policy, community-based management and involvement in 'aina-based projects, and the support and integration of adaptive management practices that can be supported by state and federal agencies. Those interested in Co-Stewardship, Co-Management, and Indigenous knowledge/practice are encouraged to apply. This work will help to build relationships, help with the development of a training video that highlights best practices for working in the Pacific Islands for the Department of Interior, supports the Alakoko Conceptual Master Plan project work in Kauai. All of this work will greatly benefit the communities who support and surround Alakoko fishpond. 

Description of Duties:

Support Neighbor and Community Engagement work for the Alakoko Conceptual Master Plan roll out. 

• Assist with review and strategy around neighbor and community engagement strategies 
• Learn and be able to communicate the concepts of the plan for community engagement purposes. 

• Develop interviews and interview questions for the co-stewardship/working with diverse cultures in the Pacific Islands.
• Assist with story boarding and interviews 

• Review project information
• Research history- Hawaiian cultural history and practices related to the project. 
• Potential to travel for this position, will be dependent on budget and project development. 

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• • 18-30 years old as of December 2024 (up to 35 for veterans)
  • 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 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.
  • Understanding of biocultural restoration
  • Understanding of 'aina-based organizations
  • Interest in bridging western and indigenous sciences in biocultural restoration work
  • Available to work full-time (40 hours per week)
  • Driver’s License and ability to pass MVR through Conservation Legacy (must be over 21 years old or have had license for 3 years)

Preferred Qualifications:

• • Olelo Hawaii
  • Wetland and Hawaiian agricultural and aquaculture best practices and knowledge
  • Planning Skills
  • Facilitation Skills
  • Experience working with different Pacific Island cultures

This job is ideal for someone who is interested in policy, community-based management and involvement in 'aina-based projects, and the support and integration of adaptive management practices that can be supported by state and federal agencies. Those interested in Co-Stewardship, Co-Management, and Indigenous knowledge/practice are encouraged to apply. 

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 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 $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $634 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• 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:

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps - Individual Placements Program Manager, Cat Ami: gami@conservationlegacy.org

National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Planner, Meredith Speicher: meredith_speicher@nps.gov

NPS, Meredith Speicher

Meredith_Speicher@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, gender identity or expression, 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. 

Salary : $200