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Sacred Heart University

Community Volunteer Ambassador, Natchez Trace Parkway – AmeriCorps Conservation

Sacred Heart University, Hohenwald, Tennessee, United States, 38462

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Community Volunteer Ambassador, Natchez Trace Parkway – AmeriCorps Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program Recruitment began on December 15, 2025 and the job listing Expires on January 15, 2026

Position Title:

Community Volunteer Ambassador, Natchez Trace Parkway – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program:

Stewards Individual Placements Program

Address:

189 Meriwether Lewis Park, Hohenwald, TN 38462

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 2/23/2026 End Date: 2/5/2027 AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a scenic 444-mile national parkway that stretches from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. It follows a historic travel corridor that was used for centuries by Native Americans, early explorers, and settlers. Often referred to as a Journey Through Time, the Parkway features peaceful landscapes, varied ecosystems, and a rich cultural legacy.

Adding to its uniqueness, the North District duty station is located at the historic death and burial site of Meriwether Lewis, the famed American explorer from the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Parkway is also a haven for outdoor recreation, offering hiking trails, waterfalls, and river options for paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Tucked away in the charm of small-town life, this hidden gem is just a scenic hour’s drive from the vibrant heart of Nashville, Tennessee. There, visitors can enjoy world‑class museums, live concerts, and a wide variety of entertainment options.

Managed by the National Park Service, the Parkway welcomes more than six million visitors each year, making it one of the most cherished drives in the southeastern United States.

Volunteer opportunities include:

Supporting visitor center services and interpretation

Assisting with educational outreach programs

Participating in trail and facility maintenance

Serving as campground hosts

Providing administrative support to park operations

Offering guidance and information to the public

Job Description:

The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) serves as a key contributor to the Natchez Trace Parkway’s Volunteer Program, supporting efforts to expand volunteer opportunities and strengthen local engagement. This role focuses on building meaningful connections between the park and its volunteer community by assisting with daily operations, coordinating volunteer activities, recruiting and onboarding new volunteers, and improving program management resources, documentation, and tracking systems.

The CVA will help develop a comprehensive set of planning documents and operational tools, including position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists. These materials will be organized into a centralized document database to provide a clear and user‑friendly framework for supervisors and future volunteer coordinators.

Working alongside Parkway staff and local partners, the CVA will help grow volunteer teams, create new service opportunities, and enhance public engagement. By promoting stewardship and encouraging active participation, the CVA will ensure that volunteers play a meaningful role in preserving the Parkway’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.

Assuming the role equals contributing to the long‑term sustainability of one of the nation’s most historic scenic routes.

Description of Duties:

Assist with daily operations of the volunteer program

Support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new volunteers

Help establish new volunteer teams and expand existing ones

Coordinate planning, logistics, communication, and execution of volunteer events and service days

Help plan, develop, and co‑lead training opportunities for volunteers and supervisors

Respond to questions and issues from volunteers and VIP supervisors as they arise

Participate in monthly Microsoft Teams meetings with VIP Leads and NPS Volunteer Supervisors

Maintain and update volunteer records and databases

Assist with processing volunteer paperwork

Enter, analyze, and interpret data

Support communications with volunteers and paid staff

Create and distribute promotional materials to raise awareness of volunteer opportunities and initiatives

Promote volunteer opportunities through outreach, social media, and community engagement

Serve as a liaison between volunteers and park staff

Provide excellent customer service to volunteers and visitors

Develop or expand partnerships with local organizations, universities, and businesses to increase volunteer engagement

Conduct outreach in local communities to help build a strong volunteer base

Maintain inventory and provision of uniforms, tools, and program supplies

Identify suppliers and pricing for volunteer supplies, equipment, uniforms, PPE, and training materials

Redesign and reorganize the district’s volunteer uniform cache

Support the creation and updating of planning documents and operational resources, including position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists

Assist with special projects as assigned

Qualifications:

Completed at least one year of college

Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check. Must be over 21 years old or have held a driver’s license for at least three years to be insured in this position

Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Excel and Word

Familiar with Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Canva

Able to type efficiently and manage digital records

Experienced in computer‑based composition, data entry, research, analysis, and interpretation of databases and data review

Excellent customer service skills, including patience, courtesy, and professionalism

Strong written and verbal communication abilities

Able to assist with outreach efforts and promote volunteer opportunities

Comfortable engaging with individuals of all ages and backgrounds

Willing to serve as a liaison between volunteers and park staff

Outgoing and friendly personality

Strong work ethic and commitment to excellence

Motivated learner and self‑starter with initiative

Consistent follow‑through on work projects

Highly organized with strong planning skills

Reliable time management and punctuality

Open to feedback and receptive to supervision

Eager to learn and grow professionally

Enjoys working both independently and collaboratively

Comfortable balancing administrative tasks with creative project development

Passionate about supporting the mission of the National Park Service

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

At least 17 years of age

Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award

Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Preferred Qualifications:

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Public speaking experience with audiences of different backgrounds

Experience in outreach, social media, and community engagement

Comfortable conducting outreach in local communities and networking with organizations of varied backgrounds to build partnerships

Ability to respond to inquiries from the public, volunteers, and staff

Skilled in using Microsoft Teams and other digital communication platforms

Confident working with and analyzing numbers and statistics

Capable of conducting research and creating products independently

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Skilled in data entry, analysis, and interpretation using Excel spreadsheets

Capable of supporting the creation and updating of planning documents, such as position descriptions, interview questionnaires, reference check templates, and training checklists

Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent

Preference given to local applicants

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.

Time Requirements: Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, 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.

Orientation and Training:

Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities

Week‑long, in‑person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills

Year‑long continuum of learning supporting professional development

$750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training

Additional Position and Community Information:

Logistics & Transportation

Valid driver’s license required

Personal vehicle needed for commuting and some duties

Park vehicle available when duties require its use

Weekend and evening work may be part of the regular schedule

Some overnight travel will be required

Opportunity to collaborate with other National Park Service (NPS) units

NPS host site does not provide housing for the Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA)

Nearby communities with potential housing options include: Hohenwald, TN (15 minutes), Lawrenceburg, TN (40 minutes), Columbia, TN (40 minutes), Centerville, TN (36 minutes), Segal

AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00

Living Allowance of $600.00 per week

Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant

Loan forbearance if Eligible

Interest Payments if Eligible

10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, has satisfactorily completed assignments, and 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.

Position start: Monday, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.

Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Application Timeline:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.

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.

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