Position Title: Eagle Permits Support Specialist – AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: US Fish & Wildlife Regional Office (location negotiable with opportunity for teleservice): Portland, OR; Albuquerque, NM; Bloomington, MN; Atlanta, GA; Hadley, MA; Denver, CO; Sacramento, CA; Falls Church, VA
Terms of Service:
- Start Date: 10/5/2026
- End Date: 6/18/2027
- AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hour Slot
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 in partnership with the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) will host an Eagle Permits Support Specialist.
The Migratory Birds Program administers permits and ensures compliance under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Through these authorities, the Program advances the FWS's mission to conserve, protect, and enhance migratory bird and eagle populations across the nation.
Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, activities such as take, capture, possession, and transport of bald and golden eagles are prohibited unless authorized. The FWS issues permits that allow otherwise prohibited activities while ensuring they are conducted in a manner consistent with the long-term preservation of eagle populations. Permitting serves as a critical conservation tool by supporting FWS's ability to monitor authorized activities, assess their effects on eagle populations, and balance appropriate use with the preservation of eagles.
The Migratory Bird Program provides timely, accurate, and consistent support for eagle permit applicants and the public while maintaining efficient permit processing nationwide. The Eagle Permits Support Specialist will help meet this need by assisting with responses to public inquiries, providing customer service related to eagle permits and the ePermits system, and supporting projects that improve permit program efficiency and data management. By increasing the program's capacity to respond to stakeholders and complete operational projects, the participant will contribute to more effective permit administration, improved public access to information, and better support for conservation activities that protect bald and golden eagles. This position will also provide valuable experience in wildlife conservation, federal permitting, customer service, and data management while supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission to conserve and protect eagle populations.
The selected participant will support eagle permit staff by completing projects that improve permit processing, customer service, and program efficiency. Expected products include timely responses to permit-related inquiries, assistance with permit application reviews and administrative tasks, support for data management and reporting requests, and the development of resources that improve permit operations. Through this work, the participant will help the program more efficiently process permits that authorize activities such as eagle nest disturbance, eagle nest take, and incidental eagle take. The participant will also gain experience working with Migratory Bird Program staff across the country while contributing to consistent, high-quality service for permit applicants and stakeholders.
Description of Duties:
(1) Provide customer service and administrative support for the Eagle Permit Staff.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Respond to phone calls, emails, and correspondence regarding eagle permits, permit applications, renewals, permit status, and the ePermits system.
- Provide accurate, consistent information to the public and partners, referring complex technical or case-specific questions to eagle permit staff as appropriate.
- Track customer inquiries and responses in program databases.
- Compile and update responses to frequently asked questions to improve consistency and efficiency.
(2) Support permit program operations, data management, and records administration.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Assist with responding to data requests by performing queries in ePermits and preparing reports under staff guidance.
- Assist with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by locating and organizing responsive records.
- Organize electronic records within network drives, SharePoint, and ePermits in accordance with records management procedures.
- Apply file management procedures to support records retention and archiving requirements.
Qualifications:
- Computer skills (Microsoft Excel, Word, Sharepoint, Teams, and Outlook).
- Ability to communicate clearly by written or verbal methods.
- Ability to read and understand written documents.
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 17 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.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge in wildlife biology, particularly eagles or birds.
- Knowledge of federal, state, or Tribal regulations or policy.
- Experience communicating complex or technical information to the public in a clear and professional manner.
- Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software applications, databases, and technology platforms.
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 the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours each week, 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.
- Eagle permit regulations and policies.
- Customer service best practices.
- ePermits navigation and support.
- Communication and records management.
- ePermits data querying.
- Records management and federal records retention requirements.
- FOIA procedures.
- SharePoint and electronic file management.
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.50
- Living Allowance of $750.00 per week.
- Additional Benefit of $230.00 per week.
- Loan forbearance if Eligible
- Interest Payments if Eligible
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:
Stewards Contact information: Katie Traub, [email protected]
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.
