What are the responsibilities and job description for the Stewards VISTA: WVDEP Potomac Basin- AmeriCorps position at Conservation Legacy?
Position Title: Stewards VISTA: WVDEP Potomac Basin- AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: WVDEP Potomac Basin
City, State or Full Address: 22288 Northwestern Pike, Romney, WV 26757
Terms Of Service
Start Date: August 10, 2026
End Date: August 9, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)
Purpose
The West Virginia Stream Partners Program exists to support and strengthen local watershed associations while protecting and restoring West Virginia’s extensive network of streams and rivers through community-driven conservation. Serving rural and close-knit Appalachian communities, the program partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to provide technical assistance, funding support, and capacity-building that advance water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and community revitalization. Grounded in values of environmental stewardship, collaboration, adaptability, and community engagement, this AmeriCorps Program promotes sustainable practices and empowers local organizations to lead long-term conservation efforts.
As an AmeriCorps Position, this role builds the capacity of a local watershed association by developing volunteer systems, designing outreach strategies, and supporting program infrastructure for restoration, education, recreation, and community initiatives. The member also identifies funding and resource opportunities while collaborating with staff, partners, and community members to strengthen organizational effectiveness. This service directly advances the mission of the organization by enhancing its ability to deliver impactful, community-based watershed programs.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description Of Duties
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
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, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Callie Sams, callie.c.sams@wv.gov
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.
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: WVDEP Potomac Basin
City, State or Full Address: 22288 Northwestern Pike, Romney, WV 26757
Terms Of Service
Start Date: August 10, 2026
End Date: August 9, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)
Purpose
The West Virginia Stream Partners Program exists to support and strengthen local watershed associations while protecting and restoring West Virginia’s extensive network of streams and rivers through community-driven conservation. Serving rural and close-knit Appalachian communities, the program partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to provide technical assistance, funding support, and capacity-building that advance water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and community revitalization. Grounded in values of environmental stewardship, collaboration, adaptability, and community engagement, this AmeriCorps Program promotes sustainable practices and empowers local organizations to lead long-term conservation efforts.
As an AmeriCorps Position, this role builds the capacity of a local watershed association by developing volunteer systems, designing outreach strategies, and supporting program infrastructure for restoration, education, recreation, and community initiatives. The member also identifies funding and resource opportunities while collaborating with staff, partners, and community members to strengthen organizational effectiveness. This service directly advances the mission of the organization by enhancing its ability to deliver impactful, community-based watershed programs.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description Of Duties
- Identify community assets that projects can be built around to enhance community and watershed
- Promote existing watershed associations’ success stories through developing an outreach plan for staff to implement
- Prepare grant applications for staff submission to enhance a priority community asset
- Develop an outreach plan to facilitate a Project Team for a successful project to increase organizational capacity and enhance environmental stewardship and community revitalization in WV
- Celebrate success by developing materials for planning events and a volunteer recognition program
- Create a database to for staff to identify new organizations that could benefit from the project partnership
- Develop communication outreach materials for staff to promote local business and nonprofits as a project partner and invest project funding to support their needs.
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- Must be at least 18 years old
- College graduate
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
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.
- 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.
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
- or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
- Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
- Housing Funds ($1,000 a month)
- 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 http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
- For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
- For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
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, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Callie Sams, callie.c.sams@wv.gov
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 : $24,962