Stewards VISTA: WVDEP - Western Basin - AmeriCorps

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: WVDEP - Western Basin - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Charleston, WV 25304

City, State or Full Address: 601 57th St. SE

Terms of Service:

Start Date: May 4, 2026

End Date: May 3, 2027

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

APPLY USING THIS LINK:

Purpose:

This position is part of an AmeriCorps Program focused on strengthening environmental restoration and community development efforts across Appalachian communities in West Virginia by building the capacity of organizations that protect and restore the state’s rivers and streams. The program serves rural and underserved communities throughout West Virginia, emphasizing collaboration, environmental stewardship, equity, and long-term sustainability as guiding principles for improving water quality, habitat health, recreation, and community well-being. Through partnership with state, federal, and nonprofit entities, the program aims to create lasting systems that support watershed protection and community revitalization.

As an AmeriCorps Position, the member will work with a mentor from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to develop internal resource databases, community development planning tools, and a multi-year community engagement implementation guide. Through indirect service and capacity-building activities, the member’s work will support staff coordination, partner engagement, and long-term funding strategies, ensuring continued impact beyond the member’s term of service.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Description of Duties:

The AmeriCorps member will perform indirect service activities that build organizational and community capacity to support environmental stewardship and community revitalization efforts across West Virginia. All duties focus on planning, research, system development, and resource creation in compliance with AmeriCorps guidelines. Duties include:

• Researching and documenting community assets that can serve as foundations for environmental restoration and community development projects
• Developing a staff toolkit that highlights watershed association success stories for use in websites, digital platforms, and print publications
• Creating a structured plan and internal guidance for staff to prepare and submit grant applications that support priority community assets
• Developing a project team facilitation toolkit to help staff coordinate partners, manage projects effectively, and strengthen organizational capacity
• Designing a volunteer recognition framework that supports retention and engagement while aligning with organizational values
• Creating and maintaining a database to identify and track organizations that may benefit from future project partnerships
• Developing a strategic plan to support staff-led recruitment of volunteers and prospective members for the organization’s Board of Directors

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• College graduate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.
• 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 a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

• Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
• Housing funds
• Professional Development funds
• Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
• Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
• Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
• Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here .

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit .

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit .

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit .

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; 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, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, View email address on adventurejobboard.com

For site related information, contact Tomi Bergstrom, View email address on adventurejobboard.com

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.