Stewards VISTA: VISTA Leader-Serve Communities 2025– AmeriCorps

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: VISTA Leader-Serve Communities Nationwide 2025– AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Beckley, WV

City, State or Full Address: 330 Harper Park Drive, Suite I, Beckley, WV 25801

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)

*MUST HAVE SERVED ONE YEAR AS VISTA OR PEACE CORPS MEMBER OR 1700 AMERICORPS HOURS.

Purpose:

The Stewards VISTA Leader position, an AmeriCorps position, is dedicated to empowering VISTA members and enhancing the impact of their service. Based in the heart of Appalachia near the New River Gorge, this role provides vital support to a diverse group of VISTAs working across the country on critical issues such as food security, education, community resilience, job development, and environmental stewardship. By fostering peer mentoring, organizational development, and leadership, Stewards VISTA Leaders help create a stronger future for communities and the environment while championing the values of collaboration, equity, and service.

As an AmeriCorps program, Stewards is committed to alleviating poverty, engaging communities, and supporting the next generation of leaders. Stewards VISTA Leaders serve as the primary point of contact for VISTA members, offering resources, organizing training sessions, conducting site visits, and addressing challenges to ensure a successful service year. This role connects members to meaningful projects and broader national networks while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and impact.

Description of Duties:

The VISTA Leader will:

• Member Support and Communication
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for VISTA members, providing guidance and resources to enhance their service experience.
  • Conduct regular check-in calls with members to assess progress, provide support, and address challenges.

• Site Visits and Monitoring
  • Travel to VISTA sites to conduct in-person visits, evaluate progress, and ensure project goals are being met.
  • Facilitate communication between VISTA members and site supervisors to resolve issues and promote collaboration.

• Training and Professional Development
  • Organize and lead training sessions for VISTA members, focusing on skill development and capacity building.
  • Attend and participate in conferences with VISTA members, fostering learning and networking opportunities.

• Program Development and Efficiency
  • Collaborate with office staff to develop and implement best practices for VISTA projects.
  • Support initiatives that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of VISTA projects and operations.

• Peer Mentoring and Leadership

• • Provide mentorship to VISTA members, encouraging professional growth and success.
  • Model strong leadership and communication skills, promoting teamwork and a positive service culture.

• Outreach and Networking
  • Engage with community partners, stakeholders, and other VISTA leaders to strengthen program connections and impact.

• • Represent the program in a professional capacity to advance its mission and goals.

• Organizational Support
  • Collaborate with other VISTA leaders to share resources and strategies for supporting VISTA members effectively.

• • Assist in creating reports and documentation to track project progress and outcomes.

Qualifications:

*MUST HAVE SERVED ONE YEAR AS VISTA OR PEACE CORPS MEMBER OR 1700 AMERICORPS HOURS.

• 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.

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

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