What are the responsibilities and job description for the GIS/Silviculture Individual Placement - George Washington and Jefferson National Forests position at Conservation Legacy?
Title: GIS/Silviculture Individual Placement
Location: Based out of Harrisonburg, VA; George Washington and Jefferson National Forest field office
Dates of Service: January 2026 – January 2027 (50 weeks)
Pay: $900/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend $300 additional member benefit)
Status: This is a full-time, temporary 1700-hour minimum AmeriCorps National Service position.
Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org
Appalachian Conservation Corps:
Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.
Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.
Position Summary:
The Appalachian Conservation Corps, in partnership with the United States Forest Service, is seeking Forestry Technicians to serve under the North Zone Silviculturist in 2026. The North Zone comprises the North River Ranger District and Lee Ranger District on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, encompassing 500,000 acres of land. The ideal candidates will be able to work independently and autonomously, with a strong desire to learn new tasks and skills while contributing to projects with real-world applications and benefits to the district. Upon completion of the internship, individuals will have gained substantial experience in all aspects of forest management relevant to both public and private sectors, and will be equipped with technical skills to aid them in their career.
During their term, the member will assist the silviculture program in planning and implementing various projects. Specific responsibilities include:
Field Support:
• Collecting forest inventory data using Common Stand Exams (CSEs)
• Conducting old growth surveys
• Performing reforestation and planting surveys
• Timber sale layout and preparation
• Timber cruising
• Forest stand improvement
Office Support:
• Organizing and managing spatial data
• Streamlining project planning and reporting processes
• Updating reporting databases with field data.
• Developing Standard Operating Procedures incorporating spatial data management practices
Housing is NOT provided for this position. We are seeking candidates who residents of the surrounding area.
Benefits:
- $900/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend $300 additional member benefit)
- $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 675 hour service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)
- Option to enroll in health, vision and dental benefits.
- Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
- Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff
- Member Assistance Program– 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
- Additional subject-specific certifications and trainings may be offered (Chainsaw training, pesticides, etc)
- Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements
- Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths
General Qualifications:
To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. In addition, applicants must:
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Physically capable of strenuous field activities (off-trail hiking, monitoring, survey, etc.) for 10 hours in adverse conditions (high heat, high humidity, biting insects, rough terrain, inclement weather) while carrying up to 40 lbs.
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to work alone in the field.
Desired Skills/Qualifications:
- Working towards or have obtained a Bachelor's or Master's degree in forestry, preferably from an SAF-accredited university (highly preferred), or possessing equivalent educational experience with a substantial curriculum in forestry, silviculture, and forest ecology.
- Experience in forest inventory and timber cruising
- Proficiency in dendrology and tree identification
- Skills in timber marking and sale layout
- Experience in writing and implementing silviculture prescriptions
- Proficiency in GIS, including data collection, AGOL applications, forest stand delineation and mapping, ArcGIS suite navigation, and the Microsoft Office suite
- Project-oriented individual rather than task-driven
- Comfortable problem-solving independently
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume that highlights any education, work or volunteer experience, skills and trainings that may apply to this position. In addition to your resume, you may submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements.
Our Promise:
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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 job functions. 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.
Salary : $3 - $9
