Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador – Network Benefits

Title: Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador – Network Benefits

Location: Based out of Annapolis, MD

Positions: 1 position available

Dates of Service: 9/14/2026 - 8/27/2027 (50-week term commitment)

Pay: $760/week ($600/week stipend + $160/housing allowance) plus benefits

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org 

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. Applications will be accepted until August 1st. 

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.  

As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and 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.  

National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways:

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails (NPS Chesapeake Gateways) is a partnership park statutorily directed by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to create, support, and invest in the Chesapeake Gateways Network. The Network is a system of over 300 public and private sector places, experiences, and communities in six states and Washington, D.C. within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. NPS Chesapeake Gateways invests in the Network through National Recreation & Preservation funding and full-time National Park Service expertise, as directed by Congress. Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, NPS Chesapeake Gateways has five core functions to convene, promote, support, and invest in the Network.  The Chesapeake Gateways Network Framework guides the NPS, grounding the Network’s operations in its core functions as directed by Congress.

Position Summary: 

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service are seeking a Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador to work with National Park Service staff to work on projects to specifically support promotion of visitor experiences throughout the Chesapeake Gateways Network through digital and print resources. The member will review, develop, and implement processes to facilitate partnership communications and training and assist in the overall efforts to assist Chesapeake Gateways Places and Experiences in engaging visitors to the Chesapeake watershed.

The member will complete two weeks of formal training at the NPS Chesapeake Gateways office to learn basic operations, skills in interpretation, and the natural/cultural resource stories that guide our collective work. In addition to the standard training curriculum, the member will participate in self-paced digital media training specific to the National Park Service. The member will work with the park’s visitor experience team to research and write digital media content, highlighting Chesapeake Gateways Places and Experiences. They will also participate in a strategic development planning process to help guide the future of the park’s social media strategy. After working at Chesapeake Gateways for several months, the member will independently create or co-create content with partners for the park’s website. This content development will include written content, as well as audio visual elements.  The member may assist with other interpretive media projects including signage, and brochures. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Community engagement and outreach, especially activating young people to move from digital engagement to onsite stewardship. 
• Preparing and publishing content focused on at least one of the NPS Chesapeake Gateways themes. 
• Creating, editing, and publishing content for multiple print and digital platforms including websites, mobile apps, social media, publications, newspapers, magazines, and more. 
• Developing digital interpretative experiences at Chesapeake Gateways Places.
• Develop common interpretive content that can be readily adapted and customized for use at individual sites, including thematic interpretive products, such as interpretive signage. 
• Link culture and nature through interpretation, education, messaging, and initiatives. 
• Opportunities to participate in a variety of activities and projects related to the mission of the National Park Service depending on interest areas.

Housing is not provided.

Time Requirements:

• These positions are full-time, 40 hours/week.
• This position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend work. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Member will have most federal holidays off but may be expected to work holidays during the busy summer season.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Benefits: 

• $760 week stipend paid bi-weekly ($600 living stipend + $160 additional member benefit)
• $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 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 free Health, Vision, Mental Health and Dental benefits
• $1250 professional development fund for certifications, trainings, conferences, and travel reimbursements
• Paid leave
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
• Possible federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist 
• 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 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Some college course work completed in Communications, History, Public Affairs, Public Speaking, or other related subjects
• Experience working in public facing roles and customer service

Minimum Requirements: 

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, you must be between the ages of 21 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.

• Possess a valid driver’s license

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.

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.   

Our Promise:  

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.