Position Title: STEM Career Pathway Support Specialist
AmeriCorps (2 openings)
Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico
Site Location: Western New Mexico University
1000 W. College Avenue
Silver City, NM, 88061
COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION
Terms of Service:
• Start Date: 8/3/26
• End Date: 12/18/26
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours
Purpose:
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.
Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)
As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.
Mentorship
These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.
Western New Mexico University is participating in a grant funded project, Forest Research for New Mexico Water and Carbon Management (FOR-NM), which is a statewide network focused on watershed resilience, forest management, adaptation, research, education, and workforce development in New Mexico. The project links research, community engagement, K-12 outreach, and workforce pathways to help build a diverse, natural resources workforce for New Mexico.
New Mexico faces significant watershed, wildfire, environmental, and workforce challenges. The selected candidates will serve an important community and organizational role by helping bridge ongoing field research with student and public engagement: the individual placements will support project-related STEM activities and K-12 outreach that promotes career awareness and highlights pathway opportunities for middle and high school students. These positions will benefit the community by making watershed and forest science more accessible, strengthening youth exposure to natural resource and infrastructure careers, and supporting partner-led education efforts. These positions will benefit the environment by contributing to watershed resilience, better-informed land and water stewardship, and a stronger natural resource workforce in New Mexico.
Description of Duties:
• Support FOR-NM project activities
o Assist with selected project-related field activities; prepare and organize materials and supplies; provide basic notetaking, record-keeping, and follow-up support.
• Assist with outreach preparation and coordination
o Help schedule meetings, school visits, and outreach activities; prepare handouts, supplies, and presentation materials; support event setup, breakdown, tabling, participant logistics, and follow-up communications.
• Support K-12 engagement and career awareness
o Work with project partners to support lessons and activities related to forest management and assist with at least two K-12 outreach programs (one middle school and one high school) to promote awareness of natural resources careers. In addition, the individual placements will coordinate work readiness workshops focused on resume building, interviews, job searches and networking.
• Support development of summer programming, professional development, and documentation
o Assist with coordination and on-the-ground support for FOR-NM summer programming activities; participate in mentoring, networking, and career exploration; maintain organized notes and simple records; help develop reusable pathway or outreach materials and provide an end-of-term summary.
Conditions: Outdoor weather exposure, uneven terrain, lifting/carrying, and repetitive motion; travel between work sites, standing for extended periods, and lifting event materials; travel to school, community, or field-based education sites, and standard risks associated with youth and field settings; long days during field-based programming, travel, lifting/carrying supplies, and repetitive computer-based work.
Qualifications:
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check to work in K-12 settings.
• Bachelor’s degree completed by start date, preferably in environmental science, ecology, biology, forestry, natural resources, geography, education, or a related field.
• Interest in environmental fields, conservation, forestry, watershed science, recreation, STEM outreach or career pathway development.
• Ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences, including youth, educators, researchers, and community partners.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to support a mix of research, outreach, and administrative tasks.
• Interest in STEM and youth programming, education, and outreach.
• Valid driver’s license – drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years.
• Ability to travel, including overnight (NOTE! The host will not be able to provide a vehicle for the individual placements due to state laws dictating who can drive a state vehicle).
• Comfort working outdoors in variable terrain and weather.
Physical Requirements:
• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Participation and Expedition Behavior:
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, Western New Mexico University and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
Safety and Judgment:
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.
Substance Free:
• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
Our Commitment:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• This position is expected to serve 35-40 hours per week.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14.
• Living Allowance of $680 per week.
• Travel support can be provided; more information will be shared during the interview process.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
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.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
CCNM Program Contact information:
SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org
Western New Mexico University Contact information:
Kathy Whiteman, Kathy.Whiteman@wnmu.edu
First review of applications will take place by [2 weeks from posting]. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 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.