Position Title: Alumni Impact VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

Stewards Individual Placement
701 Camino del Rio, Suite 1010
Durango, CO

Terms of Service

Start Date: 6/29/2026

End Date: 9/4/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: Minimum-time

Purpose:

The Alumni Impact Summer Associate (AISA) will support the efforts of Conservation Legacy’s Evaluation Committee (EC), comprised of central senior leadership staff, in its efforts to conduct interviews with recent era alumni to inform next steps of the development of a more robust impact evaluation process across all Conservation Legacy programs. Specifically, the AISA will help develop and reach out to a representative cross-sectional alumni sample, schedule interviews, use a common interview template to conduct interviews in a way to elicit as much input as possible, take detailed notes, and compile a summary report of trends, insights, and key takeaways for the Evaluation Committee and executive leadership. The AISA may also help conduct research on evaluation partner firms the the EC could engage and send a Request for Proposals to as the EC expects to engage an external evaluation partner in the next phase of this project (after the AISA term concludes).

Background: for many years, Conservation Legacy has captured exit survey data from outgoing members asking about leadership and development, future career and educational plans, program experience, belonging. Capacity limitations and competing priorities have resulted in the informal data collection process we currently utilize. Conservation Legacy needs a more robust and scientifically rigorous impact evaluation and data collection process. Compiled feedback from sampling of alumni interviews is expected to be a key input to help develop a more comprehensive logical model and evaluation plan. This AISA summer term will be a key temporary capacity building project which would allow the Evaluation Committee to realize its vision of a more robust impact evaluation process centered on member experience and alumni engagement and tracking.

Description of Duties:

The Summer Associate will focus on capacity-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials. Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations. Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations’ capacity, guide long-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The Associate will:

• Develop a representative cross-sectional alumni sample.
• Contact and schedule interviews with selected alumni sample.
• Consistently conduct Interviews in a way to elicit maximum input, feedback, and open-ended responses.
• Documentation – take detailed notes during each individual interview and document interviewer impressions.
• Conduct progress meetings with mentor and Evaluation Committee.
• Report results and present themes, trends, key findings, and insights to Evaluation Committee, and potentially other stakeholders.
• Research evaluation firms that Conservation Legacy can engage during its Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
• Research and connect with other corps or similar nonprofits engaged in alumni engagement and giving campaigns to identify and document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned.

Qualifications:

• Education: Communications, English Language Arts, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Organizational Development or other related college level education preferred.
• Language: English
• Strong organizational and communication skills required.
• Strong customer service and responsiveness required.
• Friendly demeanor.
• Prior corps experience and/or experience with or familiarity of Conservation Legacy programs preferred.
• 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; 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.

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 full-time, 35-40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1, 565.08
• Living Allowance of $957.46 (taxable) every other week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Outdoor Recreational Opportunities abound in and around Durango https: //www.durango.org/
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Networking with central leadership and other leadership level stakeholders
• Connection with program alumni
• Networking with SCC Summer Associate, also based in Durango
• Office in Conservation Legacy shared office suite

No relocation assistance or reimbursement provided

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, performance will be evaluated on whether the Summer Associate has completed the required number of hours, whether the Summer Associate has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the Summer Associate 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, timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Erin Adams

eadams@conservationlegacy.org

330 Harper Park Drive

Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 860-0578

Host Organization Contact:

Kevin Heiner

kevin@conservationlegacy.org

(970) 946-4762

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.