New York Corps- Wildlife Unit Assistant

Position Summary

The mission of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic, and cultural resources. Within OPRHP, the Division of Environmental Stewardship and Planning (DESP) is dedicated to the protection, conservation, and resiliency of the State Parks and Historic Site system. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and partners, the Division provides education, training, and tools necessary to make informed decisions that balance responsible recreation with the needs of the natural environment. These efforts will ensure a robust and sustainable parks system now and for generations to come. Located within DESP’s Wildlife Unit, this SCA position will allow the member to explore solutions that balance wildlife conservation and environmental protection with operational and recreational needs, for the long-term stewardship of New York State Parks and Historic Sites. This position will collaborate with OPRHP staff on wildlife management and conservation, as well as other environmental stewardship activities. This includes:

• Assisting with policy and guidance development to promote conservation initiatives statewide • incorporating recreational and educational opportunities with environmental stewardship, including the development of educational materials • incorporating science and GIS-based methods to inform conservation activities

• working with OPRHP staff on field work The community is defined as the statewide NY State Park system, which has over 200 State Parks and Historic Sites. OPRHP owns more than 350,000 acres, over 90% of which are in natural cover, supporting native flora, fauna, and ecosystems. OPRHP facilities also receive more than 84 million visitors each year, many of which come to see or interact with the parks’ natural environments. This puts significant pressure on the fragile ecosystems within the Park system. There is a great need to implement environmental stewardship within the State Park system, balancing recreation with conservation of the environment.

Schedule

January 20, 2025 - November 21, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

This position will be based in the Wildlife Unit within OPRHP’s Division of Environmental Stewardship and Planning (DESP) in downtown Albany, NY. It is primarily an office-based position, with some opportunities for fieldwork and travel during the field season. The focus of this position will be on advancing DESP initiatives designed to enhance environmental stewardship in State Parks statewide, with an emphasis on wildlife conservation and management. The position may entail field work, including on-the-ground activities such as site visits and assessments, wildlife surveys, manually removing invasive species, planting native species, water quality sampling, etc., as well as office work such as research and report writing, GIS analyses and map creation, environmental outreach material development, and the review and development of technical guidance documents. The position entails significant collaboration with DESP staff and regional stewardship staff, as well as with partners who are assisting in Parks’ mission of advancing environmental stewardship, including the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the NY Natural Heritage Program.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Compile information (e.g., literature review), review management plans, and/or draft reports, policies, and guidance documents (35%)
• Develop outreach content for stewardship, such as blog posts, newsletter writeups, training materials, and project summaries (15%)
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings (15%)
  

Goal 1: Successfully completes assigned tasks within a reasonable timeframe.

Goal 2: Conducts work in a professional manner.

Goal 3: Achieves professional growth in an area determined by the member and supervisor.

Marginal Duties

• Travel to state parks for meetings, field work, etc. Field work includes wildlife/water quality/plant surveys, and more. Travel will be coordinated with DESP staff travel (10%)
• Participate in outreach events to engage the public in environmental stewardship topics, including wildlife and invasives species awareness (5%)
• Participate in all SCA/AmeriCorps training programs and Hudson Valley service projects, and complete necessary AmeriCorps reporting (10%)
• Utilize ArcGIS to create maps or tools for environmental projects and assessments (10%)

Required Qualifications

1. A basic knowledge of conservation biology and natural resources including biodiversity, aquatic ecosystems, and terrestrial ecosystems.

2. Experience with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

3. Some familiarity with ArcGIS and MS Access preferred.

4. Some knowledge and experience in environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation preferred.

5. Ability to take direction and provide timely responses to assignments.

6. Ability to conduct field work in variable weather conditions.

7. Knowledge of outdoors and skills necessary to work in an outdoors setting.

8. Ability to travel around the State, with some overnight trips.

9. Ability to function as a team player and to work with people to achieve desired outcomes.

10. An understanding of the importance of safety in the workplace especially in field situations.

11. Bachelor’s degree or higher in wildlife biology, environmental science, ecology, conservation biology, or a related discipline.

12. Course work and/or experience in conservation biology, wildlife conservation, or environmental stewardship.

13. Experience in working as a team player and with people.

Preferred Qualifications

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

$1,000/month housing allowance

Compensation

$400/week Living Allowance

Amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award being offered for successful completion of the member’s term of service: $7,395

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits

First Aid/CPR

Wilderness First Aid Training

Health Insurance

LNT Level 1 Certification

Mental Health First Aid

$100 Professional Development Stipend

Environmental Leadership Institute

AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.