Pollinator Science Members – D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking two pollinator science members to contribute to pollinator projects under the mentorship of FWS Staff. Major duties will include organizing and conducting sampling events to collect data on pollinator communities, synthesis of pollinator monitoring data and research findings, and development of a project summary. The goal of this project is to increase sampling and data coverage to thoroughly document the pollinators (i.e., bees and butterflies) across several National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast to better inform habitat management.   

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date:  February 2026

End Date: February 2027

**52-week commitment required**

Location Details/Description: D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, Farmerville, LA

D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975 to protect bottomland hardwood forest and provide wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl. Additionally, the refuge provides habitat for alligators, bald eagles, the little known Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The refuge is bisected by 13 miles of Bayou D’Arbonne, a stream in the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System, and is crisscrossed by numerous creeks, sloughs and oxbow lakes. Cypress swamps, bottomland hardwood and upland forests complete the landscape that is habitat for a diverse group of plants and animals.  D’Arbonne NWR provides wintering habitat for thousands of waterfowl each year. Mallards, green-winged teal, wood ducks, gadwall and shovelers are just some of the species that can be found on the refuge in the winter months.  The Refuge relies heavily on forest management, prescribed burning, and invasive species management to provide quality habitat for native wildlife species.  This project will contribute to a greater understanding of insect pollinator species that reside within the Northern Louisiana Refuge system.  

For more information about the National Wildlife Refuges in Northern Louisiana, please visit the FWS website.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission.

. The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the accomplishment of:

• Generate, archive and synthesize raw pollinator observation data;
  • Conduct surveys for bumblebees, other bees, and butterflies 
  • Learn and apply basic bee taxonomy skills to pre-process samples
  • Enhance butterfly and plant identification skills
• Coordinate and oversee “pollinator-blitzes” with community scientists
• Conduct specific wintering Monarch Butterfly surveys 
• Curate data collected during individual and group surveys
  • Work with data managers and other I&M staff to ensure data quality, management, and archiving
• Conduct winter waterfowl monitoring. 
  • Deploy game cameras and duck traps, place and monitor bait, capture and band waterfowl, manage field data, and communicate with refuge staff
• . Other duties may include:
  • Provide data entry and management support.
  • Intermittent travel within the Southeast to conduct surveys across multiple Refuges.
  • Work with professional scientific staff within the Inventory and Monitoring program on a variety of monitoring related surveys occurring on the host NWR
  • Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System.

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: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday.  Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours.  A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including early mornings, nights,  weekends and/or holidays.  Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/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 and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term. The bunkhouse is located next to the office at D’Arbonne NWR. It is a four bedroom two bathroom house with WiFi and laundry. 

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. 

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. 

Position-specific training entails: 

• training on specimen preparation (bees, especially)
• site-specific training on plot installation and sampling procedures (e.g.,netting and handling of live bees, pollard walk, deployment of bowl traps)
• participate in online trainings (e.g., GIS, database management)

Qualifications 

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. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
• 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 will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. 
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• Ability to keep work organized and communicate orally to determine needs and follow procedures.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Time and workload management skills, including the ability to assess and implement task priorities given program priorities and time-frames.
• Organizational and information management skills, particularly in regard to information and data management for accurate and efficient accomplishment of data entry, QA/QC, basic visualizations, summary and reporting.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an advanced degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, entomology, or a related subject and/or have relevant experience in similar subject areas.
• Able to perform duties while in waders and serve extended hours in adverse weather conditions (e.g., precipitation, windy weather, hot and cold temperatures in wetlands. 
• Have a positive attitude, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, a strong work ethic, and clear handwriting
• Experience with insect sampling.
• Previous experience banding, aging, and sexing waterfowl 
• Experience accurately documenting, entering and managing data and documents, using programs including Microsoft and ArcGIS.
• Research and/or monitoring experience specific to pollinator habitats or species.
• Experience with field data collection electronically (e.g., using iPads) and taking appropriate notes/data on paper and with data curation and archiving 
• Experience in insect identification and sample preparation
• Interest in/affinity for insects and their habitats
• Experience and/or knowledge of the mission of the USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System and other federal land management agencies
• Experience with scientific outreach to the public - comfort leading small groups in data collection, ability to coordinate programs with partners (e.g., arrange, schedule logistics for group sampling events)

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. 
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 35 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates and terrain. During inclement weather, members  will conduct office tasks (e.g., data entry) in indoor office conditions. 
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position will require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.  

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager, Mac Utter.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO:  Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.