Fisheries Technician-AmeriCorps

The Fisheries Technician position with Conservation Legacy is an AmeriCorps role focused on restoring native fish populations at Grand Canyon National Park. Responsibilities include monitoring and managing fish species, conducting fisheries surveys, and participating in fieldwork in remote locations. The role requires physical endurance and teamwork. The position runs from April 15 to October 10, 2025, and is based in Flagstaff, AZ.
Description

Position Title: Fisheries Technician- AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements- BIA WaterCorps Program

Site Location: 1824 S. Thompson Street, Ste 200, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by February 17, 2025.

Terms of Service:
• Ideal Start Date: April 15, 2025
• End Date: October 10, 2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hour, 26 weeks

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 partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted at the Grand Canyon National Park, Flagstaff office.

The Fisheries Technician is an AmeriCorps position that will participate with the Science and Resource Management's Native Fish Ecology and Conservation Program (NFEC) at Grand Canyon National Park. The technician will actively participate in furthering the NFEC mission to restore native fishes in Grand Canyon, including through translocations of threatened and endangered fish species and nonnative fish removal programs. These on-the-ground management projects are first line responses aimed at preventing a whole-scale shift from a native-dominated fishery that is a haven for listed species to a nonnative dominated one in Grand Canyon. If such a shift were to occur, there would be serious implications for water management and power production in the West as well as the ecosystem of Grand Canyon National Park.

The fisheries technician will work directly with NFEC staff to: release and/or monitor threatened and endangered species in the Colorado River and tributaries; monitor for, respond to, and maintain suppression of, new invasions and/or expanded range of invasive fish species; remove invasive species from areas important for listed species conservation.

Description of Duties:
• Assists with endangered fish releases, monitoring native and nonnative fishes, and the removal of nonnative fish species and preparation for beneficial use.
• Assists in fisheries surveys using methodologies such as boat electrofishing, backpack electrofishing, hoop netting, seining, weirs, and PIT-tag technologies.
• Follows established protocols for collection of fisheries field data on established fisheries management projects.
• Uses tablets and software such as Excel to keep accurate, well-organized, detailed field datasheets and notes.
• Performs field work as part of a team in arduous situations such as in remote backcountry settings requiring carrying a heavy pack (35-50 lbs.), hiking over varied terrain and/or in inclement weather for extended periods of time.
• Accesses field sites by helicopter, hiking, and/or boating.
• Uses Microsoft products to plan for and summarize field trips.
• Assists with logistics associated with backcountry fieldwork, including menu planning and food shopping, gear maintenance and packing, driving to and from work locations.
• Cross trains with other Grand Canyon divisions if interested and available, potentially including Tribal Affairs, Wildlife, Database Management, Vegetation, Cultural, and others.

Qualifications:
• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
• * Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.
• Descendants of Members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 - shown by completing BIA Form 4432.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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 Checks for Conservation Legacy and potentially the host site.
• Willing to learn new skills.
• Adept at using MS Office programs on computers and email programs.
• Interested in natural resource conservation science.
• Able to work in backcountry settings under the following conditions:
• for extended amounts of time (5-14 days);
• in potentially extreme and adverse weather conditions;
• in a group setting during on- and off-duty hours using shared bunkhouse or tent camp accommodations, amicably sharing cooking and cleaning responsibilities;
• with little communication abilities except in cases of emergency;
• including 1-10 miles of daily hiking in uneven and steep terrain and slick and flowing reiver and creek habitats;
• carrying up to 40 pounds of personal and scientific gear during work activities
• working up to 10 hour days.
• Comfortable working in and around rivers and creeks.
• Able to follow established safety procedures and job hazard analyses to ensure safe working environment.
• Willingness to participate in a "RISE" work environment- Respectful, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged.
• Possesses a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in backcountry hiking or camping, professionally or recreationally.

Additional Position and Community Information:

No government housing is available.

The successful candidate will need reliable transportation to and from work.

Flagstaff, Arizona has a population of approximately 77,000 and is at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Flagstaff is located 140 miles north of Phoenix. Flagstaff offers complete medical, dental and shopping services, along with excellent educational opportunities at Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College. The country that surrounds Flagstaff is some of the most fascinating and beautiful in the southwest. A day on the road may take you from lush, green forests to the rugged, colorful desert. Several Indian Reservations, the San Francisco Peaks, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, several national monuments and parks including Grand Canyon National Park are located near the city Flagstaff.

Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697 awarded upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week.
• Professional Development fund of $2,255.00 for entire term.
• Option to choose Healthcare Coverage and Childcare Coverage
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

How to Apply:

Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions. In addition to your resume, you must upload a copy of your Tribal ID proving you are enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe, Band, or village. Please also submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by February 17, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will close on March 3, 2025.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
• Program Contact information: Ali Jones at ajones@conservationlegacy.org
• Service Site Contact information: Emily Omana, emily_omana@nps.gov

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Additional Details

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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.Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:
• This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks 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 program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• On site training will at minimum include relevant fisheries techniques, data collection protocols, Job Hazard Analyses (backpack electrofishing, boat electrofishing, vehicle operations, backcountry fieldwork, passenger boat travel, environmental hazards, fisheries river and tributary work), and helicopter aircraft crewmember (if applicable).

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.