Public Affairs and Disaster Communications Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Public Affairs and Disaster Communications Individual Placement - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina

Site Location: US Forest Service Supervisor's Office

160 Zillicoa St.

Asheville, NC 28801

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: September 2026
• End Date: August 2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps position supports disaster recovery communications and public affairs for the National Forests in North Carolina through digital media, public information, storytelling and outreach products. The position will assist with communicating milestones, recreational impacts, infrastructure repairs, restoration projects and public safety information multiple ranger districts and partner organizations.

The AmeriCorps position plays a key role in strengthening communication between the forest service and the public by supporting coordinated messaging, public outreach and information sharing related to the forest and to recovery efforts.

Working alongside recreation, engineering, fire, timber and other resource specialists, the AmeriCorps position will assist with translating technical information into common language for a variety of audiences. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, motivated to support sustainable natural resource management and can work independently on teams.

Description of Duties:

During their term, member responsibilities will include:

• Updating and maintaining webpages, especially recreation pages with Hurricane Helene recovery information and changing conditions.
• Writing press releases, featured stories, social media posts and recovery updates for public distribution.
• Sharing success stories highlighting accomplishments, partnerships and community impacts.
• Utilizing Adobe Cloud (i.e. Premiere, Lightroom, Express, InDesign) for content creation.
• Creating engaging material through photography and videography.
• Developing and maintaining internal guides and resources for digital media key performance indicators and standard procedures.
• Supporting educational sign development related to restoration and recovery projects.
• Assisting with internal review and approval processes at the regional and Washington Office level.
• Translating technical project information into clear, public friendly language.
• Coordinating with resource specialists to gather project information and updates.
• Working with partners, local communities and nonprofits to support consistent messaging. 

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 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 prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Strong writing, editing and storytelling abilities
• Experience with social media management and website content updates.
• Photography, video editing, and graphic design skills preferred.
• Ability to communicate complex information in plain language. 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Experience working with public information, emergency response, or natural resource communications preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with partners and teammates.
• Interest and knowledge in natural resource management and community-based conservation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to work in a virtual environment and present information through platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong interest in conservation, public policy, and community engagement
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and aptitude to work with new databases and systems
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work within a professional setting

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 
•  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.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7395
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $420 per week.
• Professional Development Fund of $750
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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:

IP Member Support Coordinator Rachel Robinson, Contact information: [email protected]

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.