WV Ready Member with Guardians of the West Fork Watershed
Position Title: WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV Ready) – AmeriCorps Member with Guardians of the West Fork Watershed
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Guardians of the West Fork
3450 Buckhannon Pike; Mount Clare, WV 26408
Terms of Service: 32 week AmeriCorps Service Member position
- Start Date: 05/04/2026
- End Date: 12/11/2026
- Application Deadline: 03/28/2026
- Number of Positions Available: 1
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AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours
Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new collaborative AmeriCorps program sponsored by Stewards Individual Placements. Stewards, in partnership with Volunteer WV, and local community organizations such as the Guardians of the West Fork Watershed, is working to support West Virginia’s developing tourism, and outdoor recreation economies.
Guardians of the West Fork Watershed is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the ecological integrity of the West Fork River, its tributaries, and its watershed. Guardians of the West Fork monitor, and assist agencies in monitoring, the biological, physical, chemical, and cultural characteristics of the watershed, as well as encourage educational and recreational enjoyment of the watershed.
Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with the Guardians of the West Fork Watershed, are searching for a WV Ready Member who will help grow the organization’s administrative and organizing capacity through increased volunteer support and stakeholder buy-in across regional nonprofit and municipal government entities. Efforts will contribute to the Guardians of the West Fork Watershed’s wider mission of monitoring and improving watershed health, educating the public, and encouraging water recreation.
Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of this WV Ready position, the member will:
- Continue development of an asset map of existing community supports and stakeholders, including past and current water and ecology projects, plans, and research in the watershed by other stakeholders
- Facilitate discussions with local government, county government, local businesses, and nonprofits to identify community assets and the interest to invest time or resources into those assets
- Coordinate workdays and volunteers to complete projects, including the current Stream Partners grant, the Old Mill Festival and Float the Fork, the third annual West Fork Watershed Day
- Improve access points on the West Fork Water Trail by placing and publicizing West Fork River Water Trail signage
- Identify and coordinate outreach and education tables or booths at general public or youth events (fairs, First Fridays, etc.) across the watershed
- Planning, publicizing, recruiting groups for and leading water trail and trail cleanups
- Planning and leading social paddles
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 18 years of age
- Bachelor’s degree in related field
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
- Able to commit to 32 weeks of service
- Ability to drive and have an insurable driving license
- This is primarily an in-person position with a hybrid office space; the selected applicant is expected to live in/within a reasonable distance of the West Fork Watershed
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Professional communication skills: written, presentation, and public speaking
- Familiarity with word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software, especially Google Workspace and LibreOffice, social media posting (Wordpress)
- Event Planning
- Facilitating group conversations
- Managing/supporting volunteers
- Experience/familiarity with trail maintenance and/or trial construction
- Experience/familiarity with kayaking, boating and fishing; citizen science experience; outdoor recreation experience
- Passion for outdoor recreation
- Leadership
- Open-minded and collaborative spirit
- Ability and willingness to work actively outdoors for several hours
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 through Friday, but with many Saturday events; 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.
- Member will receive training on Community Asset Mapping (CAM)
- Training with West Virginia Water Research Institute
- Trainings with WV Dept. of Environmental Protection
Benefits:
Although each WV READY Member’s project will look different depending on host site needs, they will still be able to lean on a cohort-style model for support, shared experiences, and professional development. Ideal candidates for this initiative are young adults looking to build a career and be a part of this larger movement in the Mountain State! Additional benefits include:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
- Living Allowance of $600 per week
- Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
- Paid Training & Professional Development
- Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
- Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
- Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections
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.
Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.
Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131
We are 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.