Water Quality Data Management and Field Support VISTA Summer Associate

About the Program

The Conservation Legacy Program's Stewards Individual Placement connects with underprivileged areas across West Virginia to support local goals for clean water and a healthy environment. This initiative provides an unbiased perspective by working closely with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) staff, ensuring that the feedback gathered directly serves the citizens of the state.

About the Role

As a VISTA Summer Associate, you will bridge the gap between field data collection and strategic management. Your primary mission is to ensure an accurate understanding of water quality conditions throughout West Virginia by reviewing reports on water quality and aquatic habitats collected by field staff. You will be responsible for entering this biological data and specimen collections into the agency database, performing rigorous Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) to confirm accuracy and validity for data-driven decisions.

Beyond office-based assessment, this role offers a dynamic day-to-day experience that includes participating in field sampling. You will join crews to collect water quality data, habitat notes, and aquatic life specimens, such as macroinvertebrates and fish, in streams and rivers across the state. This work requires adapting to varying weather conditions, from rain to heat, while supporting field efforts. You will also collaborate with veteran staff to develop and refine data assessment tools that align with the agency's goals for improving water quality.

Hiring Process & Application

Interested candidates must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents, at least 17 years of age, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. The selection process involves a National Service Criminal History Check and an interview to establish eligibility. Successful applicants will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) on their first day of service, covering AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Equal Opportunity

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants regardless of 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. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities during the application and recruiting process.