Inventory & Monitoring Refuge Support Members - Pacific Southwest Region - American Conservation Experience - EPIC

Inventory & Monitoring Refuge Support Members - Pacific Southwest Region

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking five Inventory & Monitoring Refuge Support Members to assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff in developing and implementing an Inventory and Monitoring Program on National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the Pacific Southwest Region in California and Nevada.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website at usaconservation dot org.

Start Date: 1/13/2025

Estimated End Date: 1/10/2026*a 52-week minimum commitment is required, approximately 2080 hours*

Location Details/Description: Each member will serve at two refuges in the Pacific Southwest Region over the course of their term. Most refuge locations are remote or adjacent to small towns. Potential locations include Ruby Lake NWR, San Luis NWR Complex, Desert NWR Complex, San Francisco Bay NWR Complex, Humboldt Bay NWR, Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, Stillwater NWR, and Kern NWR Complex. Candidates will be matched with locations based on skills, station needs, and logistical considerations. Details will be discussed during the interview process and will be finalized when positions are offered.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region has federal fish and wildlife management responsibilities in California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon. The Region includes one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States, ranging from the arid sand dunes in the Mojave Desert to the snow-capped crags in the high Sierras; from rich farmland in the Central Valley to rain-soaked redwood forests along the Pacific coast. This highly diverse geography provides habitats for a vast array of wildlife. More than 42 million people live within the Region, and expanding population centers such as San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Reno, San Diego, and Las Vegas are increasing demands on natural resources, presenting unique challenges to the Region's conservation mission.

For more information about Pacific Southwest National Wildlife Refuges, please visit the FWS website.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission at two National Wildlife Refuges. This position includes participating in inventory and monitoring planning, monitoring implementation, data preservation, and refuge natural resource management. Each member will serve at multiple refuges over the course of their term.

Duties for this position include:

• Inventory and Monitoring Plan Development (Percentage of Time: 40%)
  • Assist the Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning Inventory and Monitoring leaders in implementation of an Inventory and Monitoring Plan on National Wildlife Refuges through documentation of a survey protocol for a refuge priority ecosystem, habitat or species.
  • Prepare, edit, and preserve a survey protocol, training materials, standard operating procedures and other documents that are needed to assist Refuge biologists and technicians to implement the survey.
  • Edit and preserve existing protocol reports. Protocol documentation will follow methods and templates provided by Inventory and Monitoring.
  • Prepare documentation of the survey based on review of existing documentation, observations, and communication with Refuge staff and non-refuge partners who participate in the survey by using knowledge of biological systems, databases, ArcGIS and R.
  • Assist in implementation of the survey protocol and use observations made during this implementation to enhance existing documentation.
• Data Preservation (Percentage of Time: 20%)
  • Document and archive at least two high priority natural resource datasets for each refuge.
  • Review of data, assessment and documentation of data quality, writing and editing of metadata, and archiving of products on the USFWS centralized data system ServCat. Training and support will be provided by Inventory and Monitoring and Refuge staff.
• Field Station Support (Percentage of Time: 40%)
  • Assist in Refuge resource management and operations as needed to support the mission of the Refuges and their priorities.
  • Perform biological surveys, restoration activities, invasive species management, habitat management, visitor services, or facilities maintenance.
  • Assist with the management and monitoring of Refuge priority ecosystems and species, maintenance of station facilities, and public programs by using knowledge of natural resource monitoring and management techniques, public relations, species identification, spreadsheet and database programs, ArcGIS and statistical analysis.

These placements are meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience at different National Wildlife Refuges, in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1075/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website at usaconservation dot org.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS shared housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing is not provided for pets or other family members.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, backpack, work pants, rain gear, etc. and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include Defensive Driving.

Scholarship Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE's Access and Inclusion Scholarship. This is a $500 scholarship which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Scholarship recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of scholarships are available.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website on usaconservation dot org.
• Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally
• Proficient in English
• Ability to work in an office setting and at a computer for extended periods
• Skills and experience in scientific writing, data entry and management, and self-sufficiency and safety in a field setting
• Ability to keep work organized and manage time effectively
• Ability to create clear, concise, and accurate documentation

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as biology, natural sciences, wildlife and habitat management
• Experience and/or knowledge in the mission of the USFWS and other federal land management agencies
• Ability to and willingness to learn and contribute to FWS tools (e.g., ServCat)
• Knowledge of biological systems, databases, ArcGIS, mobile data collection applications, and R
• Ability to manage, organize, and clean data using programs including ArcGIS and R
• Experience in field work, such as biological surveys and habitat restoration

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 30 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position will require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website at usaconservation dot org. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager, Saige Ruleau, sruleau at usaconservation dot org.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you! ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.