Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council AmeriCorps Member - Yosemite National Park
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Yosemite National Park, is seeking 1 member to contribute to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council project alongside National Park Service staff.
Position Overview: The DEIA Council Member will assist with YOSE's DEIA Council, a grassroots group of employees, to provide structure and focus on DEIA within the park. Responsibilities include event planning, developing a newsletter, training, and grant review.
Description of Duties:
- Support and collaborate with park leaders to implement, execute, and monitor progress on DEIA strategic planning initiatives, with DEIA council members, past feedback sessions, service-wide RDI office, and the DEIA Council Charter as guides.
- Serve on and support all Yosemite Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
- Support communication channels and strategic planning between Yosemite Employee Resource Groups.
- Communicate with park leaders, partner organizations, mentor program, volunteer program, human resources, and others, on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
- Facilitate meetings, training, and events to promote inclusive practice in the workforce.
- Plan and execute initiatives designed to improve recruitment, belonging, and retention for diverse staff.
- Host and support internal and external events for Yosemite's ERGs.
- Serve as a resource and point of contact for organizational needs and inquiries on diversity, equity and inclusion as well as related training topics.
- Research and share best practices for ERGs to address common challenges related to cultural competence, identity, social differences, and inequality.
This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.
Start Date: 03/27/2022
Estimated End Date: 03/13/2024
*a 50-week minimum commitment is required *
Location Details/Description: Position is located at Yosemite National Park in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This is a remote location with limited "amenities" in terms of cell phone coverage, access to goods and services, and proximity to an airport, but the payoff is living inside a wilderness playground. Americorps member will work across teams while embedded in the National Park Service. The position is a good fit for someone considering a career in the NPS, environmental justice advocacy, or nonprofits. Members of gender and ethnic minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
For more information about Yosemite National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/yose.
Schedule: Usually Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm PST. Some nights or weekend work may be required, such as for Employee Resource Group work or holiday celebrations. Hours are flexible since some work will be completed independently. Partial telework is a possibility.
Skills and Experience: An important reminder, all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job. A good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success. Additionally, this position includes a $750 allowance to spend on professional development.
Essential skills and experience:
- Successful track record of openness, growth, and receptivity to feedback
- Willingness to learn and question assumptions
- Deep interest in Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Coursework towards a degree in subject areas such as Sociology, Psychology, Human Resources, Volunteer Management, Public Health, Organizational Development, Education, Environmental Studies, Communications, Comparative American Studies, or other related fields.
Additional skills and experience that are helpful:
- Bachelor's degree in subject areas referenced above.
- Some experience with project management
- Some experience with facilitating meetings or groups of people
- Knowledge of the importance of national parks and protected lands, as well as the complex history behind unequal access to parks; with interest in learning more.
Skills and experience that members will gain from this position:
- Facilitation: meetings, dialogues, discussions, and training
- Coalition building; ability to influence and persuade
- Leadership and advocacy within a large organization
- Presenting and organizing training opportunities
- Strengthened understanding of DEIA topics and principles
- Event coordination
- Basic graphic design
- Accessible file creation
- Organizational acumen in the federal government
- Familiarity with federal hiring practices
- Communicating with collaborators and individuals at all levels of the organization
- Developing educational content and materials
- Operationalizing and implementing policy initiatives
Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Physical Demands: Position requires mostly sitting and computer use, but may involve standing and walking to distribute flyers or present to a group
- Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Up to 25 pounds
- Vision Requirements: ability to drive a car is preferred, but not required
- Environmental: Mostly an office environment, but can involve outdoor work
- Travel: Will require regular within-park daytime travel. Government vehicle will be provided for official travel
Position Benefits:
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $540/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly, less any applicable taxes.
AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 1700-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2022/23 grant year program, valued up to $6,495.00 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 1700 hrs.
AmeriCorps Provided Childcare Coverage & Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage and federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.
Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Due to the remote nature of the park, a personal vehicle is highly recommended but not required.
Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.
Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include dialogue facilitation, bystander intervention training, working with accessibility standards, and many others depending on candidate's prior strengths and needs. ACE Members will have up to $750 to spend on professional development, as well as access to a wide variety of freely available training. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.
ACE Requirements:
- Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
- Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
- Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
- Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
- ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact NPS Academy Program Manager, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@usaconservtion.org.
EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.