Wildlife Biology & Management Individual Placement

Position Title: Wildlife Biology & Management Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

 71189 Harper Road

Jet, OK, 73749

Terms of Service:

• Anticipated Start Date: 8/3/26
• Anticipated End Date: 12/4/26
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 

COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

First review of applications will take place by 5/21. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.

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, and 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 projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas/Oklahoma 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; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) seeks a Wildlife Biology & Management Individual Placement to support daily refuge operations as part of the refuge team and individually. Under the guidance of refuge staff, participant will develop, organize and run one refuge event for visitors and complete one biological project of their choosing to help inform refuge management decisions. Examples of past biological projects include management of Bonham Pond to ensure fish recruitment and sustainability, controlled white-tailed deer hunt guides, and local plant species guides.

Description of Duties:

·       Control and Monitoring Project

o   Use GIS mobile technologies to map treatment efficacies.

o   Treat resprouts and small infestations of salt cedar with chemical herbicide.

·       Wetland Management

o   Maintain and prepare wetland structures for seasonal flooding.

o   Conduct management actions on wetlands to promote desirable vegetation. growth and control undesirable vegetation.

o   Keep log of management activities.

o   Conduct wetland vegetation surveys.

o   Assist with waterfowl surveys.

o   Input survey data and management activities.

·       Support visitor services and community engagement activities

o   Review and pick two Project Wild lesson plans to adapt to refuge.

o   Research, plan and organize one refuge event.

o   Put out brochures and assist with cleaning visitor facilities on a weekly basis.

·       Refuge Surveys

o   Conduct long-term vegetation surveys across various units.

o   Assist with fall migratory shorebird surveys on salt flats.

o   Assist with white-tailed deer spotlight surveys.

Conditions: Chemical handling, uneven terrain, off-road vehicle use, inclement weather; environmental risks such as ticks, mosquitoes, heat and rain, potential human safety risk interacting with the public.

 
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 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 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.

·        Committed to treating every visitor with respect and representing the refuge professionally.

·        Take all measures possible to ensure the safety of yourself and others and understand all safety precautions involved.

·        Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions.

·        Commitment to completing tasks thoroughly and on time.

·        A personal vehicle for off-duty hours due to the distance of housing to office and stores.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as biology, natural resource management, ecology, botany, parks and recreation, interpretation, environmental education or another related subject area.

·       Knowledge of/experience in plant identification, habitat restoration, and/or invasive species management.

·       Ability to follow assigned protocols to perform tasks with many steps.

·       Experience working with a variety of people of different ages and backgrounds.

·       Basic knowledge of hand and power tools, lawn mowers, weed eaters or heavy equipment experience.

·       Experience leading or planning events, field trips or following a lesson plan.

·       Ability to embrace travel opportunities as they arise to other nearby Refuges.

·       Experience with Microsoft office, website development and social media.

·       Skills and ability to resolve a full range of problems or situations when performing a variety of tasks in the field or office setting.

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 25 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 accommodation 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, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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 Department of Interior background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The 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 government 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.

Our Commitment:

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

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week but exact service schedules may vary. There may be a refuge event requiring attendance on a weekend day, but those hours will be flexed with another day during the week. 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.
• Safe herbicide handling skills.
• ATV/UTV training.
• Database training, wetland plant identification, wetland management techniques, waterfowl identification. 
• Attend Oklahoma Project Wild Training and become certified.
• Watch and assist with other refuge events alongside Staff Visitor Services Specialist.
• Plant identification, shorebird identification, wildlife survey techniques.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $640 per week.
• Free housing onsite provided; more information will be shared during the interview process.

·        Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.

• Healthcare Coverage.

·        Eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).

·        Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

CCNM Program Coordinator, SamJean Simmons: ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Salt Plains NWR Wildlife Biologist, Glen Hensley: glen_hensley@fws.gov

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.