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Community Volunteer Ambassador – Big Thicket National Preserve

Stewards Individual Placement Program
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Position Details: 
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train a diverse group of emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.  
 
This position will be supporting the growing Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP) program, which is currently headed by the Chief of Interpretation. During this time, there will be a permanent NPS VIP coordinator position filled, and the CVA will work closely with them. This position will lead current volunteer efforts, such as monthly events, large scale planting events and National Public Lands Day events. They will also work to continue to grow the RV VIP positions. In addition to the current volunteer opportunities, they will also develop new volunteer opportunities to enhance participation in the 50th anniversary. 
 
Site Description: 
Big Thicket National Preserve is located in southeast Texas, between Houston and the Louisiana border. It is 113,000 acres, spread across 7 different counties in 16 different units. Over 500,000 people live within an hour of the preserve and Big Thicket is located 1 1/2 hours away from Houston. The volunteer program is slowly growing from a series of episodic events to recurring volunteers through the RV VIP positions, monthly VIP events and in FY 2024, new volunteer opportunities will be created to support the 50th anniversary of Big Thicket. 
 
Position Responsibilities: 
  • Manage volunteer paperwork 
  • Develop new service descriptions for positions 
  • Work with multiple divisions to create new VIP opportunities 
  • Assist with VIP events throughout the year 
  • Create social media postings about VIP program 
 
CVA Minimum Requirements: 
  • Public speaking skills 
  • Social media skills 
  • Clear communication skills through writing and speaking 
  • Participate in the CVA National Early Service Training in early November 2023 
  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident  
  • Be 18-30 years old at time of service (veterans up to 35 years old) 
  • Pass fingerprint-based FBI, state criminal, and a national sex offender checks.   
  • Be able to provide proof of a driver’s license and complete a MVR check 
  • Must be over 21 years old or have had license for at least 3 years to be insured in this position. 
 
Preferred Qualifications: 
  • Associates degree or bachelor’s degree 
  • Public speaking skills to large groups of people 
  • Working with multi-generational workforce 
  • Worked with volunteers before this position 
 
Additional Information: 
  • Park has housing available.  
  • Schedule will be Tuesday-Saturday 
  • Position requires driver’s license and vehicle 
  • Opportunity to work alongside Chief of Interpretation on big projects such as 50th Anniversary events, lead a variety of VIP programs, including trash cleanups, habitat restoration and paddle programs. 
 
Benefits: 
  • CVA will receive a weekly stipend of $500/week living allowance, additional $65/week housing allowance, if housing is not provided. 
  • Limited health care/childcare benefits 
  • The position is eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award $6,495.00 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of the program 
  • Professional development funds  
  • Networking opportunities within the National Park Service and partnering organizations 
  • Public Land Corps Hiring Authority 
  • Week-long in-person training at NPS site with travel/meal expenses covered.