Range Resource Assistant

The Range Resource Assistant position at Conservation Legacy involves serving as an AmeriCorps member with the Arizona Conservation Corps at the Red Rock Ranger District. The role focuses on rangeland management, including monitoring conditions, habitat restoration, and supporting ranchers. This is a full-time position from April to October 2026, based in Sedona, Arizona, and entails engaging with local communities and conservation projects.
DescriptionRange Resource Assistant - AmeriCorps (1 opening)Conservation Legacy Program:Arizona Conservation CorpsSite Location: Red Rock Ranger District (8375 State Route 79, Sedona, AZ 86351)Term of Service:Start Date: 4/27/2026 (anticipated)End Date: 10/23/2026AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 HoursPurpose:This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at the Red Rock Ranger District as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for Coconino National Forest.AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation.


AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson.Coconino National Forest:One of six National Forests in Arizona, the Coconino National Forest comprises 1.856-million acres in northern Arizona, with elevations ranging from 2,600 feet to the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet (Humphrey's Peak).


Coconino National
Forest contains a variety of landscapes, including deserts, ponderosa pine forests, flatlands, mesas, alpine tundra, and ancient volcanic peaks. The forest surrounds the towns of Sedona and Flagstaff and contains all or parts of 10 designated wilderness areas.Red Rock Ranger District:The Red Rock Ranger District is situated in the Verde Valley, and its red rock country is world-renowned for its dramatic red sandstone scenery. At its heart is the city of Sedona, which attracts millions of visitors each year.


The district receives half of the annual forest visitation (over 2 million visitors each year) and has many volunteers and partners involved in day-to-day management.The local communities of Central and Northern Arizona have strong ties to this special landscape, and the wider community of Phoenix and beyond have a deep appreciation for red rock country which offers an idyllic recreational experience amongst one of the most beautiful regions of the state.On the Red Rock Ranger District, the Range Team is responsible for managing nine highly complex allotments and permittees ranging from fifth generation to brand new ranchers and one university. The responsibilities of the team are dynamic and full of exciting challenges supporting ranchers through post-fire improvements and repairs, coordinating volunteer efforts, monitoring range conditions, administering permits, and managing permittee relationships.Description of Duties:Rangeland management specialists work to provide such things as habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, clean water, and sustainable grazing and browsing. They inventory, classify, and monitor rangeland conditions to maintain or improve rangeland health.


When they identify unhealthy rangelands, they strive to restore rangeland ecosystem functions.


Forest
Service rangeland management includes a whole host of partners, public and private, working together to ensure our rangelands are healthy and functioning properly.The intern will be critical to monitoring the status of the allotments on the Red Rock Ranger District; this will include making observations on opportunities to improve allotments and participating in projects that restore grazing conditions and ecosystem health and manage for neighboring uses (such as recreation and fire).The intern will be participating in bare area monitoring to determine how forage capacity is being affected by recreation. Acres of grassland in the lower Verde valley have increased recreational use and is an at-risk system ecosystem for perennial and native plants.The intern will monitor riparian areas to ensure grazing compliance for threatened or endangered species in the Colorado River Basin and Verde River Watershed, and will work on range infrastructure to better mitigate recreation and create a more enjoyable trail experience.The intern will be integrated with the broader District team which includes Wildlife Biologists, Archaeologists, Fire and Fuels Specialists, Recreation Managers, Interpretive Specialists, and GIS experts. They will interact and collaborate with these specialists and subject matter experts on a day-to-day basis exposing them to a variety of backgrounds and mission focus.


At the beginning of the internship, and throughout, the supervisor will discuss professional development opportunities and identify opportunities to cross-train, job shadow, seek mentorship, and gain new experience.Essential Responsibilities and Functions:Assist Range Staff with compliance monitoring of grazing allotments to ensure permit terms and Forest Plan standards are met.Conduct