2023 NPS Academy Aquatic Invasive Species Team Member - Grand Teton National Park
Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, is seeking ONE Aquatic Invasive Species team member as part of the 2023 National Park Service Academy cohort. During this 16-week position and additional one week March Experience, the member will learn public interface through resource management while simultaneously learning about the National Park Service (NPS) as a career path.
For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
About NPS Academy: National Park Service Academy aims to support the development of a more representative NPS workforce by connecting dynamic, young adults through an experiential program designed around three themes - Connections, Diversity, Legacy. Through participation, members build their conservation ethic, intercultural awareness, and career readiness skills and competencies. NPS Academy introduces participants to the NPS Universal Competencies that are foundational to all NPS career paths within a cohort of like minded peers.
Program Goals:The main goals of NPS Academy are:
- Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
- Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationships
- Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
- Create a more inclusive and representative future for public lands
Start Date: May 15th, 2023
End Date: September 1st, 2023
*a 16-week minimum commitment and participation in the orientation March 6th-10th is required for the position*
Location: Grand Teton National Park-
The town of Jackson offers a variety of amenities and services in close proximity to Grand Teton National Park. Jackson is only four miles from the southern boundary of Grand Teton, 12 miles from Moose, 20 miles from Jenny Lake, and 41 miles from Colter Bay. The year-round population of Jackson is about 10,000 people. However, millions of visitors come through every year, which means that Jackson offers many amenities that you don't normally see in a town of that size. The Teton Range is a magnificent mountain range in this northwestern region of Wyoming, with the small town of Jackson in its foothills. The Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet, 7,000 feet above the valley floor. Numerous peoples have roamed these lands, showing first signs from various Native American tribes around 11,000 years ago, from the ranchers and trappers of the 1800's, to the homesteaders and modern-day conservationists that support the park. Grand Teton National Park is rich in history of human cultures and biological diversity, being a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Living Allowance: Members are expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $560/week (less any applicable taxes) to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. NPS Academy allowances are designed to prepare members for similar allowance structure at entry level positions at their service site.
Housing: NPS Academy members will be accommodated in provided park service housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing varies by park site.
Scheduling: The typical work week four days a week from 7am-5:30pm, with three consecutive days off. Days off vary, weekend work is typical.
Position Description:
The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) NPS Academy member is responsible for:
- Positively interacting with park visitors with watercraft to assess risk level watercraft may pose for carrying viable aquatic invasive species (AIS)
- Conducting decontamination procedures if watercraft is considered to be at a high risk of acting as an AIS vector
- Safely inspecting and decontaminating watercraft, often using a high temperature pressure washing unit
- Recording data legibly and accurately, entering data into Excel file format
- Assisting in the execution of fisheries research projects using a variety of tools
This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.
Skills and Experience: An important reminder, all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job. A good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success..
Essential skills and experience: Ability and willingness to learn, dedicated work ethic, positive attitude, and strong communication skills.
Additional skills and experience that are helpful: Background or interest in biology or related sciences.
Skills and experience that members will gain from this position: Resource management in a national park, knowledge and use of different aquatic sampling methods, understanding of how to assess risk profiles in a professional setting, risk mitigation procedures, understanding of employment within the National Park Service
Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:
Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Physical Demands:
-The work involves prolonged standing and walking often required.-Requires the ability to walk over uneven terrain in extreme weather conditions and stand on their feet for lengthy periods of time.
Weight Lifted or Force Exerted:
-May move objects up to 50 pounds
Vision Requirements:
-Must have adequate vision to walk on uneven, rocky, or terrain covered with vegetation. -Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
Environmental:
-The work environment varies constantly. Most work is outdoors, and is performed in temperatures from 90 degrees F to below freezing. Severe mountain weather conditions can result in extreme heat, rain, snow, and high winds.
Travel:
-no travel
Additional Benefits:
AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award (~$1718.25) upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.
Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects are subject to specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the PLC, you are still eligible to apply for the NPS Academy position with ACE. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility.
Outdoor Perks: As an ACE EPIC member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.
ACE Requirements:
- Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
- Willing to undergo a criminal background check.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
- To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and the NPS Academy program, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/?keywords=academy. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time but will close by January 10th at the latest. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Academy Program Manager, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@usaconservation.org.
EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.