Scientists in Parks: Why Should I Apply?

Why Not?

The Scientists in Parks program provides a chance to step out of your comfort zone and into a national park to discover new challenges, meet new colleagues, and find new inspiration. So why wouldn’t you apply?!

Experience & Mentorship

Participation provides a real-world opportunity to gain valuable work experience while exploring career options in science and land management. Successful participants will enjoy opportunities to learn new skills, network with career professionals, and contribute meaningfully to the protection of America’s most beloved places. In addition, many Scientists in Parks projects afford outstanding opportunities for mentorship and leadership development.

Benefits

All Scientists in Parks participants receive a stipend $480-$640 per week, and free housing (or a housing stipend) for the duration of the project. In addition, successful participants are granted special hiring authorities that provide a potential pathway into federal employment.

Hiring Authorities

Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority

• Eligible SIP participants can be hired non-competitively into Federal General Schedule and Federal Wage Schedule positions (temporary, term, or permanent) through USAJobs.

• The participant must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, or a veteran up to 35. They must satisfactorily work 640 hours on an appropriate. conservation project(s) with at least 120 hours of those hours completed on a PLC-eligible project.

• The PLC non-competitive hiring authority is eligible for 2 years after the completion of 640 hours of eligible PLC service

Direct Hire Authority - Resource Assistant Intern

• Directly hired into a permanent federal position without the use of USAJobs.

• Eligible participants must apply to positions listed as DHA and must currently be enrolled in a degree program for the duration of the internship and graduate after the completion of the internship.

• These positions are 12-week rigorous summer positions which develop technical and creative thinking abilities, leadership skills, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Upon successful completion of the program and degree requirements, the participant will be eligible to use the Direct Hire Authority for two years from their graduation date.