Stewards VISTA: Western Slope Conservation Center -AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site location: Western Slope Conservation Center

City, State or Full Address: 204 Poplar Ave, Paonia, CO 81428

Terms of service: Sept. 8, 2026-Sept. 7, 2027

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

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

The Western Slope Conservation Center, an AmeriCorps Program, is dedicated to protecting the lands, air, water and wildlife of western Colorado through conservation, education and community engagement. Serving the rural communities of the North Fork Valley and surrounding region, the program supports environmental stewardship while strengthening local economies and quality of life rooted in the area’s agricultural, mining, and cultural heritage. Guided by values of stewardship, collaboration, sustainability, and community responsibility, the program seeks to build resilient communities and foster long-term environmental and economic well-being.

This AmeriCorps Position focuses on building organizational capacity by supporting environmental initiatives, developing grant and fundraising strategies, expanding community partnerships, and strengthening volunteer systems. The member will create tools and resources that enhance outreach, education, and engagement with conservation efforts and skill-building opportunities. Through this service, the member contributes to advancing the organization’s mission by improving systems that support lasting community impact and environmental stewardship.

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

Description of duties:

• Plan a minimum of six community environmental stewardship and outreach projects throughout our watershed for staff to lead volunteers with hands-on environmental education and job-skill building experiences that support the sustainability and resiliency of rural Colorado’s natural resource base

• Grow WSCC's organizational resources by researching funding opportunities, contributing to a minimum of four grant proposals, developing new partnership and sponsorship strategies, and strengthening fundraising capacity for special campaigns

• Strengthen WSCC's volunteer program by creating a toolkit for staff for recruiting, stewarding and transitioning responsibilities to volunteer leaders, developing position descriptions for future paid staff, and creating orientation materials and standard operating procedures to ensure program continuity

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

• Must be 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.

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Hannah Stevens, director@theconservationcenter.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.