Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy; Neosho (MO); On-site; USD 31,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Living Allowance

Additional Benefit

Free Healthcare Coverage

Job summary

Conservation Legacy’s AmeriCorps Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant position at Neosho National Fish Hatchery in Neosho, Missouri involves learning captive culture of Rainbow Trout, Lake Sturgeon, Topeka Shiner and freshwater mussels while assisting with tours and visitor services.

The role supports outreach, hatchery maintenance, and ensures safety in outdoor work; candidates must be US citizens or eligible, able to lift 50 pounds, and hold a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe or descendant as described by BIA Form 4432.
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.
• High school diploma or equivalent; or agree to obtain before using the education award.
• Agree to provide eligibility information and to complete National Service Criminal History Checks.
• Ability to conduct outdoor work in extreme heat.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Assist with captive culture of Coldwater, Coolwater and Warmwater fish.
• Assist with captive culture of freshwater mussels.
• Assist with public outreach and visitor services.
• Assist with hatchery grounds maintenance.
• Assist with endangered fish releases, monitoring and removal of nonnative fish.

Job description

• Job Category Individual Placement, AmeriCorps
• Employee Type AmeriCorps

Contact information

• Email [e-mail]

Description

Position Title: Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant – AmeriCorps

Site Location: Neosho National Fish Hatchery; 520 Park Street, Neosho, Missouri 64850

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: March 1, 2027
• End Date: August 27, 2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours, 26 weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery.

Neosho National Fish Hatchery in Neosho, Missouri is the oldest continuously operating Federal fish hatchery. Founded in 1888, we have been raising fish in Southwest Missouri ever since. In addition to supplying Rainbow Trout to Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri we also rear Lake Sturgeon, Topeka Shiner and several species of freshwater mussels for restoration projects.

The Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will learn all aspects of the captive culture of freshwater fish and mussels while assisting with the production of Rainbow Trout, Lake Sturgeon, Topeka Shiner and various species of freshwater mussels at Neosho National Fish Hatchery. The Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant will also participate in outreach by staffing the hatchery visitors center and helping with tours for area schools.

Description of Duties:

• Responsible for assisting with the captive culture of Coldwater, Coolwater and Warmwater fish.
• Responsible for assisting with the captive culture of freshwater mussels.
• Responsible for assisting with public outreach and visitors services.
• Responsible for assisting with maintenance of the hatchery grounds.
• Assists with endangered fish releases, monitoring native and nonnative fishes, and the removal of nonnative fish species and preparation for beneficial use.

Qualifications:

• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
  • Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.

oDescendants of Members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 – shown by completing BIA Form 4432.

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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 National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.
• Ability to conduct projects outdoors in conditions of extreme heat.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds (one sack of fish food).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
  

Additional Position and Community Information:

Neosho Missouri is a rural community with a population of just over 13,000. It offers a friendly atmosphere and a mix of local dining options and national chain restaurants. There are multiple grocery stores and a 25 bed hospital/surgery center open 24hrs a day. There are rental properties available at a range of price points. Neosho provides access to all basic needs; anything that can’t be found in Neosho is easily found in Joplin, Missouri which is roughly 20 miles to the North.

It is important for the Fish and Mussel Propagation Assistant to have their own vehicle to navigate town, and a valid driver’s license to be able to operate station vehicles.

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 Vanessa Morrison at [e-mail]

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Member must complete all required service hours to obtain the AmeriCorps Education Award.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive training on the safe operation of all required equipment and associated personally protective equipment.
• Member will be provided with Job Hazard Analysis paperwork.
• Member will attend the United States Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Intern Workshop in Minneapolis during the summer.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Additional Benefit of $120.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

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.