Stewards VISTA: NM Forest & Watershed Restoration Institute-Collaboration Specialist– AmeriCorps

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: NM Forest & Watershed Restoration Institute-Collaboration Specialist– AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Las Vegas, NM or Rio Rancho, NM (near Albuquerque)

City, State or Full Address: 810 National Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701 OR 1700 Grande Ct SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 04/07/25

End Date: 04/06/26

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps Program aims to strengthen community-based collaborative conservation (CBCC) efforts in New Mexico, supporting ecological resilience, adaptive forest management, and restoration-based economic development in rural areas. Guided by values of collaboration, capacity building, and sustainability, the program addresses critical environmental and economic challenges by fostering partnerships and empowering local communities to reduce wildfire risks and promote conservation.

The VISTA Collaboration Specialist, an AmeriCorps Position, will expand and enhance networks of CBCC organizations, improve access to resources, and lead training initiatives in collaborative techniques, financial development, and problem-solving. By bridging local and statewide efforts, the member’s service will connect ecological conservation with rural economic growth, creating lasting impacts on forest health and community vitality.

Description of Duties:

The VISTA Collaboration Specialist will:

• Expand Collaborative Networks:
• • Strengthen and grow the existing network of community-based collaborative conservation (CBCC) organizations in New Mexico.
  • Facilitate connections between regional CBCC groups to enhance collaborative capacity and knowledge sharing.
• Create New Resource Networks:
• • Develop a new network to improve the accessibility of financial, informational, and technical resources for CBCC groups.
  • Establish partnerships and coordinate with stakeholders to address resource gaps.
• Support Training and Skill Development:
• • Assist in creating and delivering training programs focused on collaboration techniques, adaptive management practices, conflict resolution, and leadership development.
  • Promote skill-building initiatives to empower community members in collaborative conservation efforts.
• Engage in Economic Development:
• • Support restoration-based economic development projects in rural communities by connecting CBCC efforts with local economic opportunities.
  • Participate in planning and implementing strategies that align ecological restoration with job creation and poverty reduction.
• Collaborate on Statewide and Multi-State Initiatives:
• • Contribute to broader efforts aimed at developing resources and tools to support CBCC organizations across New Mexico and beyond.
  • Represent the program at CBCC meetings and training sessions, both in-person and through virtual platforms.

Qualifications:

For AmeriCorps

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• 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

For VISTA

• Has received a four-year college degree

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 full-time (35-40 hours) from 4/07/25 to 4/06/26, but exact schedules may vary.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

The VISTA will primarily serve in a hybrid environment, requiring occasional travel to CBCC meetings and trainings to ensure active engagement and effective program delivery.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
  • or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
• Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
• Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
• Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
• Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
• Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; 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, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson (she/her), agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Crystal Medina (she/her), camedina@nmhu.edu

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

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.

Salary : $24,962