PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, Natchez Trace Parkway – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

Site Location: Natchez Trace Parkway

189 Meriwether Lewis Park, Hohenwald, TN 38462

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 2/23/2026
• End Date: 2/5/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, 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 emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a scenic 444-mile national parkway that stretches from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. It follows a historic travel corridor that was used for centuries by Native Americans, early explorers, and settlers. Often referred to as a Journey Through Time, the Parkway features peaceful landscapes, varied ecosystems, and a rich cultural legacy. From river valleys to the rolling hills of the Middle Tennessee Highlands, it is especially admired for its spring wildflowers, vibrant fall foliage, and historic sites.

Adding to its uniqueness, the North District duty station is located at the historic death and burial site of Meriwether Lewis, the famed American explorer from the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Parkway is also a haven for outdoor recreation, offering hiking trails, waterfalls, and river options for paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing. With its tranquil scenery and abundant natural features, it is truly an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, providing countless opportunities to explore, relax, and connect with nature.

Tucked away in the charm of small-town life, this hidden gem is just a scenic hour’s drive from the vibrant heart of Nashville, Tennessee. There, visitors can enjoy world-class museums, live concerts, and a wide variety of entertainment options. Whether you're seeking culture, music, or unforgettable experiences, it is all within easy reach.

Managed by the National Park Service, the Parkway welcomes more than six million visitors each year, making it one of the most cherished drives in the southeastern United States.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Supporting visitor center services and interpretation
• Assisting with educational outreach programs
• Participating in trail and facility maintenance
• Serving as campground hosts
• Providing administrative support to park operations
• Promoting stewardship understanding among visitors
• Offering guidance and information to the public

The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) serves as a key contributor to the Natchez Trace Parkway’s Volunteer Program, supporting efforts to expand volunteer opportunities and strengthen local engagement. This role focuses on building meaningful connections between the park and its volunteer community by assisting with daily operations, coordinating volunteer activities, recruiting and onboarding new volunteers, and improving program management resources, documentation, and tracking systems.

The CVA will help develop a comprehensive set of planning documents and operational tools, including position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists. These materials will be organized into a centralized document database to provide a clear and user-friendly framework for supervisors and future volunteer coordinators.

Working alongside Parkway staff and local partners, the CVA will help grow volunteer teams, create new service opportunities, and enhance public engagement. By promoting stewardship and encouraging active participation, the CVA will ensure that volunteers play a meaningful role in preserving the Parkway’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.

This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about community outreach, public lands, and volunteerism. It offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the long-term sustainability of one of the nation’s most historic scenic routes.

 
Description of Duties:

·       Assist with daily operations of the volunteer program

·       Support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new volunteers

·       Help establish new volunteer teams and expand existing ones

·       Coordinate planning, logistics, communication, and execution of volunteer events and service days

·       Help plan, develop, and co-lead training opportunities for volunteers and supervisors

·       Respond to questions and issues from volunteers and VIP supervisors as they arise

·       Participate in monthly Microsoft Teams meetings with VIP Leads and NPS Volunteer Supervisors

·       Maintain and update volunteer records and databases

·       Track volunteer hours and ensure accurate reporting using volunteer management systems

·       Assist with processing volunteer paperwork

·       Enter, analyze, and interpret data

·       Support communications with volunteers and paid staff

·       Create and distribute promotional materials to raise awareness of volunteer opportunities and initiatives

·       Promote volunteer opportunities through outreach, social media, and community engagement

·       Serve as a liaison between volunteers and park staff

·       Provide excellent customer service to volunteers and visitors

·       Develop or expand partnerships with local organizations, universities, and businesses to increase volunteer engagement

·       Conduct outreach in local communities to help build a strong volunteer base

·       Maintain inventory and provision of uniforms, tools, and program supplies

·       Identify suppliers and pricing for volunteer supplies, equipment, uniforms, PPE, and training materials

·       Redesign and reorganize the district’s volunteer uniform cache

·       Support the creation and updating of planning documents and operational resources, including position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists

·       Assist with special projects as assigned

Qualifications:

• Education & Eligibility
• • Completed at least one year of college
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check. Must be over 21years old or have held a driver’s license for at least three years to be insured in this position
• Technical & Administrative Skills
• • Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Excel and Word
  • Familiar with Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Canva
  • Able to type efficiently and manage digital records
  • Experienced in computer-based composition, data entry, research, analysis, and interpretation of databases and data review
  • Capable of processing volunteer paperwork and maintaining accurate records
• Communication & Outreach
• • Excellent customer service skills, including patience, courtesy, and professionalism
  • Strong written and verbal communication abilities
  • Able to assist with outreach efforts and promote volunteer opportunities
  • Comfortable engaging with individuals of all ages and backgrounds
  • Willing to serve as a liaison between volunteers and park staff
• Personal Attributes
• • Outgoing and friendly personality
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to excellence
  • Motivated learner and self-starter with initiative
  • Consistent follow-through on work projects
  • Highly organized with strong planning skills
  • Reliable time management and punctuality
  •  Open to feedback and receptive to supervision
  • Eager to learn and grow professionally
  • Enjoys working both independently and collaboratively
  • Comfortable balancing administrative tasks with creative project development
  • Passionate about supporting the mission of the National Park Service
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Communication & Outreach

o   Effective written and verbal communication skills

o   Public speaking experience with audiences of different backgrounds

o   Experience in outreach, social media, and community engagement

o   Comfortable conducting outreach in local communities and networking with organizations of varied backgrounds to build partnerships

o   Ability to respond to inquiries from the public, volunteers, and staff

o   Skilled in using Microsoft Teams and other digital communication platforms

·       Technical & Analytical Skills

o   Confident working with and analyzing numbers and statistics

o   Capable of conducting research and creating products independently

o   Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

o   Skilled in data entry, analysis, and interpretation using Excel spreadsheets

o   Capable of supporting the creation and updating of planning documents, such as position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists

·       Education & Preferences

o   Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent

o   Preference given to local applicants

·       Personal Attributes

o   Enjoys working with people and excels in independent, focused tasks

o   Excellent organizational skills for both physical logistics and digital workflows

o   Strong multitasking abilities with a talent for coordinating events, managing participants and staff, and maintaining professionalism under pressure

o   Enthusiastic  about both office and field-based work

o   Able to engage individuals across all ages and backgrounds

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 40 hours per week, 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.
• Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills
• Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development
•  $750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training

Additional Position and Community Information:

Logistics & Transportation

• A valid driver’s license is required
• A personal vehicle is needed for commuting and some duties
• A park vehicle is available when duties require its use
• Weekend and evening work may be part of the regular schedule
• Some overnight travel will be required

Collaboration & Housing

• Opportunity to collaborate with other National Park Service (NPS) units
• The NPS host site does not provide housing for the Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA)
• Nearby communities with potential housing options include:
• • Hohenwald, TN (15 minutes from the duty station)
  • Lawrenceburg, TN (40 minutes from the duty station)
  • Columbia, TN (40 minutes from the duty station)
  • Centerville, TN (36 minutes from the duty station)

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• 10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave

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.

How to Apply
Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.

The CVA position will start on Monday, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026

Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.

For Application Questions:

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org

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.

Salary : $150 - $600