Energy Corps - Sustainability Coordinator (Yellowstone National Park)
Name and location of host site: Yellowstone National Park
Title: Sustainability Coordinator
Reports to: Energy Corps Program Director
Term of service: October 1, 2019 - August 28, 2020
Anticipated service schedule: 1700 hours over the course of service term. Roughly 40 hours per week. Occasional evening/weekend hours may be necessary.
Position Summary:
Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first National Park and a Biosphere Preserve, strives to be a leader in environmental protection. This includes reducing its footprint for energy, water and waste and greenhouse gas emissions through operations and facility improvements. There is an ongoing and ever evolving need to better assess baseline assets and to manage improvements in this field, and to understand where we can make the most difference in energy conservation and the reduction of fossil fuels throughout Yellowstone.
This position is intended as support for Yellowstone’s Sustainability Program and will include a variety of tasks that help us assess, manage and report on energy use, share information and develop priorities, programs and projects that reduce energy, water and waste. As the member will be working on multiple reports, project development, and assessments the tasks are inherently results-based. The member will be expected to prepare and present actual documents and reports for review and final approval. Work will involve continual review from park staff with input and feedback on a regular basis.
Specific Position Responsibilities:
The AmeriCorps Member will engage in a variety of activities assisting staff in the Chief of Maintenance Office at Yellowstone. This office is responsible for overseeing the Park’s facility and operations programs. Activities will likely include the following:
1) Help Yellowstone become a Dark Sky Park by working to organize the park’s inventory of outdoor lighting into an informative project database that facilitates easy upgrades and replacement. An inventory has been completed but needs to be reorganized to improve its usefulness to the park. This work will include formulating project descriptions, identifying light fixtures that meet standards for outdoor lighting in Yellowstone and working with park and concessions staff to prioritize a multi-year scope of work.
2) Assist with preparing and providing energy use intensity reports, from a meter read database. The Energy Corps member will design this report so that it can be easily generated on a regular, recurring basis as new meter reads are entered into the system. The energy report will present building level energy use in order for staff to identify high energy intensity buildings, compare annual changes and track the success of energy conservation projects. Develop a report format that is easy to use and clear to read that will act as a template for future reporting.
3) Carry out facility condition assessments and energy audits to provide staff with information on energy conservation measures needed to improve building envelope and building systems efficiency. This work may include viewing the insulation in attics and crawl spaces, using a thermal imaging meter and traveling throughout the park to district locations.
4) Assist Sustainability Program staff with the preparation of an annual report for energy, water, waste and fuel use for all NPS and concession facilities and operations. This will include improving the existing format for water use reporting, creating a template and strategy to gather information from multiple sources and personnel.
5) Assist with the park’s pressurized canister recycling program. This will involve assisting staff with operating custom built equipment to depressurize and crush camping fuel canisters and prepare them for recycling.
6) Other tasks as needed: These could include anything from coordinating Earth Day events to researching products and best practice techniques, to working with staff to expand pick-up locations for composting.
Minimum Requirements:
- Must be over 18
- Post-graduate with an interest in the National Park Service as a career
- Background in science, technology or design with some experience in computer programming. Example career paths that would be helpful are environmental science, sustainability, energy management, building and infrastructure professions such as architecture, civil or mechanical engineering, mechanics, electrical engineering, surveying etc.
- Strong data collection and analysis skills desired
- Strong writing and oral communication skills required
- Attention to detail and responsible work habits
- Ability to establish and cultivate relationships with city officials and community partners
- Ability to thrive in a multiple-task environment
- Member will not have recurring access to vulnerable populations
Benefits: This Energy Corps position will receive the following benefits:
- Opportunity to make a difference in a community
- Green job training and professional development
- Living allowance of $13,992 over term of service
- An AmeriCorps Education Award $6,095 upon successful completion of service
- Health benefits and child care assistance if qualified
APPLICATION PROCESS:Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate can be identified. Early applications are encouraged and applications will be considered as they are received. All persons interested in being considered for the position must create an AmeriCorps account and apply. You can create an account and explore AmeriCorps opportunities at: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do
NCAT values diversity and encourages minority and women applicants to apply. For additional information about NCAT please visit our website at www.ncat.org.It is NCAT’s policy and organizational philosophy to ensure that all of our employment practices, including recruitment and hiring, are administered for all individuals without regard to race, sex, creed, color, national origin, age, religion, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
Job Type: Temporary