Position Description for a Half or Quarter-Time AmeriCorps Member at the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance

Nanticoke Watershed Alliance is seeking a Half or Quarter-Time AmeriCorps Member for the 2023-2024 service year to serve primarily as a Creekwatchers Program Assistant.

A Half-Time Member would be required to complete 900 hours between a January/February start date and August 14, 2024.  A Quarter-Time Member would be required to complete 450 hours during that timeframe.

Given a late start in the service year, a Half-Time member would have to serve approximately 32-37 hours/week, depending on exact start date.  A Quarter-Time member would have to service approximately 16-19 hours/week, depending on exact start date.

As a Creekwatchers Program Assistant, the AmeriCorps Member will be required to:

• Assist with annual training in March,
• Help prepare training materials and equipment kits,
• Work with volunteers in the field and provide assistance during the season,
• Perform data entry during the season,
• Deliver samples to partner labs, and
• Perform water quality monitoring as needed.

Member may also be asked to help with the following, depending on hours type and start date:

• Attending outreach events and leading trash clean-ups
• Developing monthly #spatchat check-ins with the Lower Nanticoke oyster gardeners and other social media campaigns
• Maintaining and installing conservation landscaping practices in the Nanticoke River watershed

Applicants do not need prior experience with water quality monitoring but must be able to learn new processes following extensive classroom and hands-on training.

Benefits available to the AmeriCorps Member include: 

• Valuable experience
• A bi-weekly stipend of $412.50 (Half Time) or 206.25 (Quarter Time)
• An education award of $3,447.50 (Half Time) or $1,824.07 (Quarter Time) for future educational expenses or repayment of federal student loans – members who are age 55 or older may gift their education award to a child or grandchild
• Federal student loan forbearance while in service, with exemption from paying interest accrued during that time
• 4 tuition-free credits at Salisbury University for completion of training course
• Access to AmeriCorps Alumni Network

 Requirements for applicants include the following:

• Have a strong interest in serving the community
• Be able to relate to diverse populations
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to provide a copy of either high school diploma, GED, or college transcript
• Have reliable transportation
• Be available to attend the free, AmeriCorps training class at SU alternate Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., during the Spring semester.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive Criminal History Check, which includes FBI fingerprinting
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants DO NOT need to be college students, anyone from the community who fits the above requirements may participate.

Additional requirements defined by Nanticoke Watershed Alliance:

• Basic familiarity with common technology, including use of PCs.
• Experience with common software, such as the Microsoft Office suite (particularly Word and Excel), Google Workspace (Calendar, Gmail, and Drive, in particular), and Canva, and/or be able to learn new applications quickly.
• Availability every other Sunday and Monday from March 24/25 through the end of the service term (August 14, 2024), and on some Saturdays, to assist with outreach events and programs.
• Applicants must be able to start serving hours between January 15 and February 15, 2024.

The AmeriCorps Member will work primarily from the Vienna office and in the field.  Some telecommuting will be allowed for a Half-Time Member, but a Quarter-Time Member’s service hours would be primarily devoted to field work related to the Nanticoke Creekwatchers Program and to outreach efforts.

Interested applicants, please contact Beth Wasden at BethWasden@NanticokeRiver.org or at 443.944.1175 to discuss the position and be given further instructions on how to apply.

This position will remain open until filled, but priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by January 3, 2024.

 This position is offered through a partnership with ShoreCorps, the AmeriCorps program at Salisbury University. It is contingent upon federal funding and approval of the AmeriCorps office.

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community needs. Similar to the Military or the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is another form of service to our country. The mission of AmeriCorps is to make our people safer, stronger and healthier; to strengthen our communities; and to Get Things Done for America. Our program, ShoreCorps, is one of hundreds of AmeriCorps programs nationwide. To learn more about AmeriCorps https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps

Salisbury University has a strong institutional commitment to diversity and equal employment and educational opportunities for its faculty, staff and students. To that end, the University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. The University adheres to the EEO/AA policies set forth by federal and Maryland laws. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to: Humberto Aristizabal, Associate Vice President of Institutional Equity, Title IX Coordinator, Room 100 Holloway Hall, 1101 Camden Ave. Salisbury, MD 21801; Tel. 410-543-6426.