Wildlife Lead Team Member
Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with US Forest Service, is seeking One Wildlife Lead Team Member to contribute to the Wildlife project alongside the Tahoe National Forest, American River District Staff.
This opportunity is intended for an experienced, enthusiastic professional, with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in natural resource management and conservation. For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
Start Date: 03/13/2023
Estimated End Date: 9/29/2023 *a 29 -week minimum commitment is required *
Location Details/Description: American River Ranger District - Foresthill, CA
The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land. A number of ecosystems occur in the Sierra as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.
Foresthill is a small town of about 1,200 people with a few amenities including a small grocery store and a few restaurants. Auburn is about 20 minutes away, and contains a great deal more, including chain stores and movie theaters. It is about 1 hour from Sacramento and less than 3 hours from San Francisco. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation, including excellent hiking, white-water rafting, swimming, bicycling, backpacking, fishing, and boating.
For more information about the Tahoe National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/
Position Overview: The ACE Wildlife Crew Leader will be expected to train and provide guidance to a crew of 3, which will mainly be conducting California spotted owl and northern goshawk surveys. This position will require proficiency in field techniques such as using a map and compass, following a standardized survey protocol, 4 x 4 driving, and hiking in steep, rugged terrain. This candidate will perform extensive field work, manage the crew's schedule, organize field data, and ensure the crew is performing work with safety as the highest priority. Field work will include a considerable amount of hiking and variable schedules including day and night work. This position requires close coordination with the Forest Service wildlife biologist, but most duties will be performed independently and in pairs, in the backcountry, which at times will require the leader to take initiative and problem solve to determine priorities of their crew.
Project Objectives:
- Complete surveys to protocol and provide accurate and timely documentation.
- Closely coordinate with the wildlife biologist, but perform most duties independently.
- Perform all tasks with safety as the highest priority.
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.
Schedule: Typically 40 hours a week, Monday thru Friday, working in afternoons and evenings when conducting owl surveys, during the day for other surveys.
Position Benefits
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $950/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. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here.
Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. However, housing may be available in government barracks at a daily rate of approximately $10-20/day by the Forest. Housing Assistance of up to $250/week will be available. Local candidates are encouraged to apply.
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. USFS; Training and discussion of methodology and safety, along with First Aid will be provided. This includes the following:protocol refresher, Defensive Driving, Red Card Refresher (if candidate holds current Red Card) ,CPR/First Aid, Data Entry - NRIS Wildlife Database.
Qualifications
Applicants will hold a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, and have experience working in the field and conducting wildlife surveys. Leadership experience is desirable but candidates with extensive field/data management experience will be considered. This is a highly demanding outdoor job that requires substantial physical fitness and a tolerance for extreme weather and terrain.
ACE 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.
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
- Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history 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.
- 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 here.
USFS Required:
- Ability to manage, organize, and provide for quality control of data collected by the crew.
- Ability to complete work with safety as a priority.
- Ability to hike steep terrain in challenging field conditions (biting insects, poison oak, thick vegetation, snow). Ability to work in adverse conditions (rain, snow, heat etc.)
- Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely on rough road conditions
- Experience conducting field work and biological surveys with established protocols.
- Knowledge of the basic theories and practices of biological science sufficient to analyze findings.
- Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis.
- Proven ability to be both self-directed/work alone, communicate with coworkers and supervisor, and provide guidance to the crew.
- Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and maps.
- Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio)
- Proficiency in required field skills and ability to train others.
- Ability to lead a team to meet project goals, as well as independently to complete survey tasks.
Preferred:
- Experience surveying for spotted owls, northern goshawks, or with other raptors or avian species
- Data management and data entry
- Familiarity with Avenza, ArcMap, and Survey 123.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Manager, Celia Demers at cdemers@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.