DescriptionPosition Title: Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring AmeriCorps Individual Placement
Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps
Site Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Address: 1316 Cherokee Orchard Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Position Available: 1
Housing: Not Provide
Terms of Service: 12 weeks
Start Date: 05/19/25
End Date: 08/08/25
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hr
Purpose: Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position. SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service and environmental stewardship. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) is a 522,000 square acre International Biosphere Reserve. The primary mission of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management and Science Division (Inventory & Monitoring Branch) is to protect and conserve natural resources throughout the park for both current and future generations. Protection and conservation are accomplished primarily through day-to-day resource management and science activities, including inventory, monitoring, restoration, data management, and data dissemination. Ultimately, these activities inform park policy, the public, and the park management team about the status and trends of natural resources within the park so that sound stewardship and management decisions can be made.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Inventory and Monitoring Branch conducts various inventories and monitoring activities during the summer season, including long-term monitoring of aquatic macroinvertebrates. The individual placement that is needed for this program will assist with field data collection of aquatic macroinvertebrates and species-level identifications in the laboratory. Field work is labor-intensive and requires several crew members to operate safely and communicate effectively, and could not be accomplished without the assistance of an individual placement. All data collected will inform park policy, assist to educate park visitors, and provide information for park management efforts to make sound stewardship decisions and protect important natural resources throughout the park.
Position Overview:Great Smoky Mountains National Park aquatic macroinvertebrate sample sites are widely distributed among different watersheds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Annual sampling results in a list of species, and their abundance, per site. This data is then compared to previous years to determine trends, and if there are any environmental concerns or downward trends in a particular area, further targeted research may then be required. This program is instrumental for determining the status and trends of aquatic communities. Annual sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrates occurs in streams within specific watersheds, and includes streams that contain sensitive resources and/or are at risk due to environmental concerns. The resulting watershed-level data provides information on the health of a large area of the park, and assists park managers when considering if management actions are necessary to mitigate specific threats to water quality in these areas.
Description of Duties: Sample long-term aquatic macroinvertebrate sites- Read and become familiar with the specific monitoring protocols for this program
- Determine which established sites are to be sampled
- Plan field days, pack equipment and navigate to sites using maps and GPS
- Collect abiotic data and aquatic macroinvertebrate samples
- Enter data and perform data QA/QC as necessary
Macroinvertebrate sorting using microscope- Sort field samples into higher level taxonomic categories
- Become familiar with use of dichotomous keys and conduct insect ID's to the species level
- Label each sample with species-level identification, and enter the data into a spreadsheet
Assist with various natural resource outreach activities- Become well-versed on the major entomological topics in the Smokies (i.e., fireflies, pollinators, etc.)
- Lead tours of the natural history collection and education sessions using the video-microscope
- Participate in the firefly event, which involves educating, directing, and overseeing the safety of large groups of people
- Assist with stream-based aquatic education sessions for high school interns and various other school groups
Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Slippery rocks, fast currents in streams, hot and humid conditions, strenuous hiking, stinging/biting animals, Eye strain, neck strain. Slippery rocks and fast current for stream event, night service for the firefly event.
Qualifications: - United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 18 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 before using the education award
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
- Valid Driver's License and clean driving record
Preferred Qualifications: - Applicants should be self-motivated, highly organized, and able to follow detailed protocols.
- The preferred qualifications include education in entomology, natural resources, or aquatic sciences, and experience in insect ID and the use of technical keys, sampling methods, orienteering, and GPS.
- Must be able to hike in mountainous terrain in inclement weather conditions, carry a backpack, both on and off trail, and traverse streams wearing waders.
- Some overnight backpacking is a requirement.
- Individual placement will be a part of a team that operates safely and communicates effectively at all times.
Transportation: A personal vehicle is not required but highly recommended due to limited public transportation. NPS vehicles will be provided for transportation only for park capacity. The Individual Placement will be a driver at this park location.
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, 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.
- Training from the park will include:
- field techniques for aquatic collections, use of GPS and navigation, backcountry safety, and data management. GSA Fleet Defensive Driving online courses
- Instruction on following the key and which morphological characters to observe will be provided as often as necessary, depending on the individual placements' level of experience.
- Talking points for collection tours will be provided, training sessions will be held on firefly biology and the firefly event procedures (Incident Command System).
Benefits: - Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,956.35
- Living Allowance: $600
- Possible student loan forbearance.
- Member Assistance Program - 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or service-life balance specialist.
- Uniform shirts
- Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.
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
- Monthly Accomplishment Report
- Narrative Monthly Report.
- Bi-Monthly Check-Ins
- Midterm and Final Evals
- Exiting Task
Substance Free: In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
If you have questions about the position, please contact: Becky Nichols
Entomologist
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
becky_nichols@nps.gov
If you have questions about the application process, please contact: Ray Wilson
Individual Placement Coordinator
Southeast Conservation Corps
rwilson@conservationlegacy.org
We are 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.
