Position Title:  WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV Ready) – AmeriCorps Member with Morgan County Commission

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Morgan County Commission
Berkeley Springs, WV

 Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 04/21/2025
• End Date: 11/28/2025
• Application Deadline: 03/25/2025
• Number of Positions Available: 1
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new collaborative AmeriCorps program sponsored by Stewards Individual Placements. Stewards, in partnership with Volunteer WV, and local community organizations such as the Morgan County Commission, are working to support WV’s transition to eco-tourism, outdoor recreation, and increasing outdoor attainability.

The Morgan County Commission has a long history of governance in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia. Founded in 1820, Morgan County is a small, rural county of 230 square miles with a population of approximately 18,000 residents. The Morgan County Commission’s mission is to provide the mandated government services as well as those services that help make our community a great place to live, work, and play. With two state parks located within Morgan County, tourism has always been a large sector of the economy, and outdoor recreation opportunities play a dominant role in attracting visitors to the county and encouraging residents to stay.  Bolstering the county’s parks and outdoor recreation offerings for both residents and visitors is one of the top items on the Morgan County Commission’s extensive list of goals. Many additions to our outdoor recreation economic development plans are underway, but assistance is needed to help coordinate the various levels of planning, construction, and promotion of these projects. 

Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with Morgan County Commission, seek a WV READY AmeriCorps Member for a 32-week (7.5 months) term to serve as an outdoor recreation development coordinator. The member will perform a variety of administrative and professional work to enhance the outdoor recreation economy and opportunities in Morgan County, increasing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. 

Description of Duties:

Under supervision and direction of the Morgan County administrator and Morgan County Economic Development Authority’s executive director, the WV READY member will: 

• Become knowledgeable about Morgan County’s outdoor recreation economy, assets, and related business programs as well as current activities 
• Research potential funding resources and assist in preparing funding requests/grant applications to expand outdoor recreation infrastructure and programming in Morgan County 
• Compile information and prepare reports regarding the planning, construction, and completion status of various outdoor recreation economic development projects 
• Create and maintain an inventory/spreadsheet of outdoor recreation assets, related businesses, and program/activities available in Morgan County 
• Collaborate with the Morgan County Parks and Recreation Board to expand outdoor recreation programming 
• Assist in the development of an outdoor recreation marketing campaign to promote local outdoor recreation assets, businesses, activities/events, etc. 
• Support volunteer efforts of various community groups working on outdoor recreation projects within Morgan County 

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Able to commit to 32 weeks of service
• Willing to serve in West Virginia, West Virginia resident preferred

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Professional communication skills: written, presentation, and public speaking
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook, Excel, and Forms
• Event Planning
• Facilitating group conversations
• Managing/supporting volunteers
• Experience/familiarity with trail maintenance and/or trial construction
• Passion for outdoor recreation
• Leadership
• Open-minded and collaborative spirit
• Ability and willingness to work actively outdoors for several hours
• Valid West Virginia Driver’s License
• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

 Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday - Friday, 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:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive training on Community Asset Mapping (CAM)

Benefits:

Although each WV READY Member’s project will look different depending on host site needs, they will still be able to lean on a cohort-style model for support, shared experiences, and professional development. Ideal candidates for this initiative are young adults looking to build a career and be a part of this larger movement in the Mountain State!  Additional benefits include:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5176.50, pre-tax
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
  • Learn how to maximize your education award in West Virginia!
• Paid Training & Professional Development
• Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
• Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
• Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections

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.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131 

We are 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.