OSMRE AmeriCorps Member with Friends of Blackwater

Position Title:  OSMRE AmeriCorps Member with Friends of Blackwater

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Friends of Blackwater
172 east Ave., Suite 1, T
Thomas, WV 26292

 Terms of Service: 10 weeks

• Start Date: 09/28/2026
• End Date: 12/04/2026
• Application Deadline: 08/24/2026
• Number of Positions Available: 1
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 Hours

Stewards Individual Placements
Stewards Individual Placements, a division of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources.  Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to build institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health.

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Established in 1977 under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), OSMRE's primary mission is to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining operations. The office provides oversight and assistance to state and tribal regulatory programs, promotes reclamation of abandoned mine lands, and supports research and training to improve reclamation techniques. OSMRE is committed to balancing the nation's need for coal as an energy source with the need to protect and restore the environment.

Friends of Blackwater
Friends of Blackwater is a non-profit conservation organization working effectively in the Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Highlands to protect key landscapes, watersheds and natural and human communities, and to promote economic development that maximizes biodiversity and outdoor recreational opportunities for future generations.

Position Role
Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with Friends of Blackwater, is seeking an AmeriCorps service Member.  Friends of Blackwater’s North Fork of the Blackwater Project remediates Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from three legacy mine sites with an active treatment project.  This project is comprised of a team in which one team member is focusing on outreach and education to the public about the importance of the treatment project.  Another member is transcribing recordings of miners and their historical stories of mining in the area. This AmeriCorps member will support those efforts by helping to explain the history of the pollution, the process of the treatment of AMD, and the long term benefits of remediation.

This AmeriCorps Member will support education, audio transcriptions of early miners' recording, tours of pollution along the rail trail, and research into similar projects to inspire more restoration and healing.

Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of this position, the Member will:

•         Research similar remediation and public education projects
•       Gather relevant materials and information to share from videos, brochures, and tours
•       Create educational materials for public outreach
•       Assist the WVDEP Basin Coordinator
•       Conduct outreach with other watershed groups

 
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Be between the ages of 18-30 (or up to age 35 with Veteran status)
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Able to commit to 10 weeks of service
• Ability to drive with an insurable driving history
• Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

•   Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively

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 Monday – Friday, 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
• OSMRE Members are part of a cohort and meet virtually online on a bi-weekly basis; the OSMRE cohort space is established for OSMRE Members to collaborate and support one another on various projects, while also discussing various personal and professional development topics

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Other trainings include Canva use, office video filming & editing equipment and procedures, guidance on audio transcribing

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1565.08 pre-tax
• Stipend of $800 per week, pre-tax ($700 Living Allowance $100 Additional Benefit)
• $1000 Relocation Benefit ($500 issued at start of term, $500 issued upon successful completion at end of term)
• Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
• Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
• Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections
• OSMRE Members have opportunities to connect and collaborate with other OSMRE Members in the bi-weekly virtual OSMRE Cohort space

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.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
To apply, please click on the green “apply” button in the top right corner of the page.  In addition to uploading your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter.  In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in the position. 

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131 

We are 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 : $800