Conservation Positions

Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area - Elkins, WV
Conservation Coordinator: 1 Full-Time, 3 to 6-month position (2025-26)
Logan Smith, Supervisor

AFNHA is seeking a Conservation Coordinator to assist in the development and implementation of conservation related projects, outreach, and programming on topics including our Pollinator Initiative, wildlife biology, habitats, and stewardship. Member will support conservation projects across our region, and coordinate volunteer and national service efforts among AFNHA partners and AmeriCorps.

Potential projects include presenting to school groups or community organizations, organizing activities or displays at public events, or coordinating partner work projects such as tree plantings.

United States Forest Service - Richwood, WV
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center Technician: 1 Full-Time, 3 to 6-month position (2025-26)
Amy Lovell, Supervisor
USFS on-site bunkhouse style housing available

The Cranberry Mountain Nature Center (CMNC) is located on the Gauley Ranger District in the South Zone of the Monongahela National Forest near Hillsboro, WV at the intersection of SR 39/5and FR 150 (Highland Scenic Highway, serving visitors and local communities drawn to the area’s scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. The purpose of this position is to benefit both the AmeriCorps member and CMNC to serve the public, with the member supporting day-to-day visitor services while also helping to deliver interpretive and educational programming and strengthening connections with community partners. The duty station will be Richwood, WV.

United States Forest Service - Seneca Rocks, WV
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center and Trails Technician: 1 Full-Time, Full-Year Position (2026-27)
Morgan Rao, Supervisor
USFS on-site bunkhouse style housing available

The Cheat-Potomac Ranger District is located within the North Zone of the Monongahela National Forest and serves a high volume of visitors recreating at Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Dolly Sods, Roaring Plains and Otter Creek Wilderness areas, Canaan Mountain Backcountry and many trail and camping opportunities. The purpose of this position is to benefit both the AmeriCorps member and the Cheat-Potomac Ranger district to serve and educate the public at Seneca Rock Discovery Center (SRDC), maintain and improve trails and wilderness, and strengthening working relationships with community partners. The duty station will be Seneca Rocks or Petersburg, WV.

Skills Sought:

• Someone who is able to interact with the public professionally and are willing to work in an assortment of weather and terrain.

United States Forest Service - Bartow or Petersburg, WV
North Zone Trails Outreach Coordinator: 1 Full-Time, Full-Year Position (2026-27)
Morgan Rao, Supervisor
USFS on-site bunkhouse style housing available

The North Zone of the Monongahela National Forest is comprised of the Greenbrier Ranger District and Cheat/Potomac Ranger District. These ranger districts offer 100’s of miles of trail, many popular campgrounds and dispersed campsites, 5 Wilderness areas, 8 Mon Forest Towns, and many active partner and volunteer groups. The North Zone has endless recreation opportunities that attract visitors from all over. This position has the pleasure and chance to work across the North Zone trails and recreation areas making a positive impact on the ground and in the communities.

The best candidate for this position has general knowledge of natural resources, a passion for improving MNF recreation sites, Wilderness areas, and trails, and a passion for connecting the local communities and towns to the Monongahela National Forest. The candidate will aid in planning and implementing trails, Wilderness, and recreation site maintenance and improvement projects. This includes, but not limited to, trail work-clearing, tread maintenance, reroutes, construction, and signage needs, Wilderness work-patrols, trail work, collection of visitor, trail, and campsite data, and educational outreach, and campground and dispersed campsite work-cleanup, mowing/weed eating, signage needs, and infrastructure improvements. The selected candidate is expected to organize and attend volunteer and community events in coordination and connection to volunteer groups and organizations, as well as complete valuable public outreach.

Skills Sought:

• The candidate for this position must be comfortable working in remote locations for up to 10-hour days completing physical labor with the possibility of hiking long distances.

• Prior back country recreating and work experience is a must, as is a positive attitude and a desire to maintain and improve these magnificent areas.

• The candidate must also feel comfortable organizing and speaking in front of groups.

• Previous public outreach and involvement is strongly encouraged. As is, familiarity with social media and other online public forums.

United States Forest Service - Marlinton, WV
Mon National Forest Watershed and Fisheries Technician: 1 Full-Time, Full-Year Position (2026-27)
Morgan Rao, Supervisor
USFS on-site bunkhouse style housing available

Do you love the science behind stream ecology, fisheries, and forest and watershed health? Do you love being outdoors? Are you enthusiastic about aquatic habitats and the relationship between forest and watershed health? Come serve a year with the Monongahela National Forest team! We focus on supporting active management through survey work, water sampling, and stream monitoring, with opportunities for restoration and collaboration with Forest Service research centers, state, federal, and local non-profit partners. This project also includes the opportunity to work directly with Forest Service researchers to better understand how the health of the forest can impact the health of a watershed and vice versa. Additional education and outreach activities may be available such as working with school groups, Forest Service events, and other public presentations. Members support their organizations and communities by supporting and managing volunteers who accomplish environmental stewardship and/or community development activities. This position will become available, based on approved agreement. Our member will be exposed to adaptive management practices, research, monitoring and various types of management and restoration. Projects include water sampling, research activities, stream surveys, monitoring, habitat improvement, riparian tree planting, and may include involvement with aquatic organism passage improvement (culvert replacement) or road decommissioning. Field experience and holistic focus is a major component of a successful candidate. Data entry and GIS mapping are also likely components of the position. A large portion of this position will be field data collection within cold water stream systems across the Monongahela National Forest.

This position is centrally located in beautiful Pocahontas County, Marlinton, WV and will be serving with the watershed program for all of the Monongahela National Forest. Affordable bunkhouse style housing may be available on site at the Ranger station shared with other seasonal employees. We are seeking a self-motivating individual with a watershed, fisheries, or similar conservation degree. The position will continue to build upon monitoring and projects within the Monongahela National Forest. Our member will also have opportunity to develop or improve skillsets through working in other program areas and assisting with projects forest-wide!