Santa Cruz Valley NHA Steward - AmeriCorps

Position Title: Santa Cruz Valley NHA Steward - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: 201 N Stone Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85701

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by 1/13/2025

Terms of Service:

• Ideal Start Date: 2/17/2025
• End Date: 5/9/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification:

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career 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 National Park Service are seeking an individual who will assist the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in conducting youth outreach, marketing, and education in Arizona. This is an AmeriCorps position where the steward will also assist with program planning related to the heritage area’s Passport Stamp and Concierge Ambassador programs.

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA) encompasses Pima and Santa Cruz counties in Southern Arizona. The SCVNHA recognizes the rich history, natural and cultural resources, and heritage of the Santa Cruz River watershed. SCVNHA is a unique and diverse watershed in the southwestern U.S. that encompasses a mosaic of cultures and history. Living together in this region are Native American tribes with ancient roots to the area, the descendants of Spanish settlers who colonized the valley in the late 1600s, Mexican families who settled the area before the 1854 Gadsden Purchase made it part of the United States, and current generations of late nineteenth-century American pioneers who ventured into this borderland seeking new beginnings. National Heritage Areas (NHA) are places where natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape arising from human activity shaped by geography. These patterns make National Heritage Areas representative of the national experience through the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in them. These regions are acknowledged by Congress for their capacity to tell nationally important stories about our nation. NHAs promote greater public and private participation and partnership in historic preservation, education, outdoor recreation and conservation activities, which build a resource stewardship ethic for participants and the public. For more information on the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, please visit: Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area |

Description of Duties:

• Conduct youth outreach and education related to the NHA’s interpretive plan.
• Provide educational marketing for the NHA’s social media accounts & support at outreach events
• Provide planning & outreach related to the NHA’s Passport Stamp and Concierge Ambassador programs.
• Catalog & organize NHA digital assets.
• If a Spanish speaker, the intern may assist in translation of literature & other outreach materials from English to Spanish.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate, graduate level student, or recent graduate at an accredited university or college with coursework related to education, communications, history, archiving, or similar coursework.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• 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 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 National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish fluency preferred (speaking & translation)
• Some experience with archiving and digitizing;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office Programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc), Canva, and Social Media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, etc)

Additional Position and Community Information

• The Santa Cruz Valley NHA is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona but spans Pima and Santa Cruz counties in Southern Arizona. Tucson is listed as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and has major amenities like grocery stores, local lodging and restaurants, coffee shops and breweries, medical hospitals, and is home to the University of Arizona. Saguaro National Park and Tumacácori National Historical Park are located within the NHA and include many unique opportunities to learn the local history, cultures, and Sonoran Desert ecosystem. The area has many local trails, and opportunities for cycling and hiking.
• The SCVNHA encompasses 2 counties so travel within the NHA boundaries is a must and the steward will need a personal vehicle.
• Housing will not be provided by the host site.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956
• Living Allowance of $660.00 per week.
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

How to Apply:

Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions. In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by 1/13/2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will close once filled.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

• Service Site Contact information: Lesley Kontowicz; lesley@santacruzheritage.org
• Program Contact information: Ali Jones; ajones@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. 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.

Additional Details

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:

• This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks 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 program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• The steward will receive direct mentorship from the SCVNHA Executive Director.

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.