Restoration Technician Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

The Restoration Technician Individual Placement at Conservation Corps New Mexico, part of AmeriCorps, focuses on environmental stewardship and conservation service projects. Participants will gain hands-on experience in habitat restoration, including collecting and planting rare native species and managing invasive plants. The role involves mentorship from Refuge Biologists and opportunities to network within the conservation field. This position is based in New Mexico and not remote.
Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to serve a statutory purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and water. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this statutory purpose.

The Refuge System deploys a host of scientifically sound management tools to address biological challenges. These tools, which range from active water management to wilderness character monitoring, aim to ensure a balanced conservation approach that enables wildlife and people to thrive.

Bitter Lake NWR manages 24,536 acres of spring-fed wetlands and short grass prairie in Southeast New Mexico. The refuge provides important habitat for 10 Threatened and Endangered species and migratory waterfowl.

The selected individual placement will support refuge staff by conducting management activities to restore areas that were previously treated for invasive species. The individual placement will collect, process, and plant rare and native plants including Pecos sunflower, Wright’s marsh thistle, and leoncita false foxglove. These efforts will benefit the native plant communities at Bitter Lake NWR, and the wildlife that forage on these species. Additionally, these efforts will prevent invasive plants from recolonizing treatment areas.

The individual placement will assist Refuge Biologists with a variety of tasks and Refuge Biologists will provide mentorship to the individual placement. There will also be opportunities for the individual placement to network with Fish & Wildlife staff outside of the refuge as well as with Biologists from the Bureau of Land Management.

Description of Duties:

Assist staff with revegetation efforts
• Rare plant seed collection and processing
• Plant seeds and grass plugs
• Pull invasive weeds

Assist staff with wildlife surveys
• Participate in water bird surveys
• Enter data on datasheets, Survey 123, Microsoft Excel
• Assist staff with water quality and air quality monitoring
• Conduct water quality monitoring
• Change air quality filters
• Enter data and managing data on datasheets and Microsoft Excel
• Assist staff with wetland management
• Maintain water control structures
• Assist with managing water levels in wetlands

Trainings:

Plant identification, seed processing and storage methods; Waterbird identification; YSI water quality probe calibration; demonstrate use of water control structures

Conditions:

Uneven terrain, hiking off trail, heat exhaustion, venomous snakes.

Qualifications:
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 17 years of age.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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 Check.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License – Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years.
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Two years of college coursework in Biology.
• Personal vehicle for use outside of service hours.

Preferred Qualifications:
• B.S. in Wildlife, Ecology, Biology, or related field.
• Ability to identify plants Ability to identify waterfowl.
• Ability to use GIS and FieldMaps.

Physical Requirements:
• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the FWS and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:
• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. FWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Time Requirements:
• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break 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 training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08.
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Free housing available onsite.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible.
• Interest Payments if Eligible.

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.

Program Name and Contact Information:

Contact information:

SamJean Simmons

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Consideration will be given as applications are received and this position may close at any time.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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