Biological Support Member - Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Biological Support Member - Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 member to contribute to biological monitoring  projects alongside FWS Staff. Major duties will include supporting the inventory and monitoring efforts of multiple national wildlife refuges in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This will include, but not limited to: planning and preparation for surveys such as equipment maintenance; drafting standard operating procedure documents; logistics; field data collection, data entry and QA/QC; survey documentation, and data summary and reporting. The member will travel to support refuge staff across a variety of habitat types and exposure to a myriad of species-specific surveys throughout Area 1 and work with both regional and local National Wildlife Refuge biologists and managers. The position goal is to provide crucial on-the-ground and technical support of the full survey lifecycle of inventory and monitoring of refuge priorities on National Wildlife Refuges of the Southeast.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: March/April 2025

Estimated End Date: March/April 2026
*a 52 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 2080 hours*
 

Location Details/Description: Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, Lacombe, LA

Six Southeast Louisiana Refuges are part of a rich ecological system which includes marshes, pine and bottomland hardwood forests, lakes, barrier islands, swamps and bayous. Ranging from the marshy delta at the mouth of the Mississippi, to the wetlands that help protect New Orleans from hurricanes and provide a nursery to the fisheries that support the region’s food economy, to the wild bayous of the Atchafalaya Basin; the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges preserve wildlife, habitat, and recreation opportunities representative of this unique part of the country. For more information about the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex please visit the FWS website.

Though the primary duty station is Southeast LA NWRC, this position will be exposed to the 45 refuges that currently comprise Area 1 as well as refuges in coastal Alabama and Mississippi, which cover a myriad of habitat types and native species, as well as unique vulnerabilities.

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 at Southeast Louisiana NWRC. 

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

• Work with scientific staff within the Inventory and Monitoring program of the Southeast region on a variety of refuge-priority surveys.
• Generate, archive and synthesize raw wildlife and habitat survey data;
  • Conduct surveys for avian, terrestrial and aquatic species, 
  • Identify wildlife and trees/plants to species,
  • Collect target measurements (e.g., counts, size, density),
  • Data entry, management and build data visualization and summary skills,
  • Document survey procedures and outcomes in scientific writing formats.
• Work with data managers and other I&M staff to ensure appropriate data management and archiving.
• Updating refuge-specific parameters into national databases.
• Other duties may include:
  • Assist with wildlife and habitat management and research on refuges
  • 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.

Work 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 on 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 $700/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 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 housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, work pants, socks, outerwear, etc., and 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 may entail: 

• use of standard equipment (e.g., pickup, UTV)
• site-specific training on sampling procedures (e.g., bird, bat, wetland, forest monitoring)
• participate in online trainings (e.g., GIS, database management)
• use of biological program databases and document standards

Scholarship Funding Opportunity:  The selected candidate for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE’s Access and Inclusion Scholarship. This is a $500 scholarship  which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Scholarship recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of scholarships are available. 

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).
• 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 communicate effectively to determine needs and follow directions.
• Ability to stay on task until task is completed
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working independently in remote areas.
• 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 usaconservation website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position will hold or be pursuing a degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, entomology, or a related subject.
• Experience in scientific literature reviews and information synthesis.
• Experience following written instructions to conduct duties (e.g. sampling Standard Operating Procedures).
• Experience accurately documenting, entering, and managing data and documents using programs including Microsoft and ArcGIS.
• Experience with electronic field data collection, curation, and archiving 
• Experience with wetland and/or forest plant identification.
• Interest in avian and terrestrial wildlife and their habitats

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. Hiking in dense vegetation that is poisonous or contains thorns and biting/stinging insects.
• 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. Summers are hot and humid. During inclement weather, interns 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 the online application page for this position on the usaconservation website. Early consideration will be given as resumes 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, Cait Dunne.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - 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 with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee 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, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.