Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking ONE Native Plant & Nursery Fellow to contribute to resource management projects alongside Lake Mead National Recreation Area staff.
For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
Start Date: September 27, 2021 (some flexibility available for the right candidate)
End Date: September 24, 2022 or 52 weeks after start date
*a 52-week minimum commitment is required *
Location: Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in Boulder City in the arid environment of Southern Nevada. Swim, boat, hike, cycle, camp and fish at America's first and largest national recreation area. With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes. See the Hoover Dam from the waters of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave, or find solitude in one of the park's nine wilderness areas.
For more information regarding Lake Mead National Recreation Area, please visit the NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS.
Position Description:
The ACE Fellow will collaborate with NPS staff in planning work activities, primarily native plant propagation at the Lake Mead NRA native plant nursery and out-planting native plants, salvage and seed collection. Work will include propagation and care (including weeding and irrigation) of plants at the nursery, mixing soil and filling plant containers, documenting propagation protocols, moving heavy plant containers around yard, pest control, assisting in maintenance of facility, seed collection and data management, and installing plants at restoration sites. Other projects will likely include assisting NPS with decommissioning and rehabilitating abandoned road and off-road vehicle disturbance; assessing, repairing, constructing off-road barriers and ungulate management fences and other tasks associated with Mojave Desert restoration.
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.
Physical Environment:
Lake Mead National Recreation area is located in the Mojave Desert so the ACE Fellow will be required to wear appropriate attire to work in an outdoor setting in extreme weather conditions and very little shade. Outside temperatures can range from below 32°F in the winter to over 120°F in the summer. The Fellow may be exposed to poisonous or noxious plants that may cause skin irritations. They may come in contact with spiders, lizards, scorpions, insects, snakes and other hazardous wildlife. The Fellow will be required to wear all necessary safety equipment to perform duties. Work will occur in remote areas on uneven terrain and various elevation gains. The Fellow may be exposed to direct sun, wind, dust, and rain and other environmental conditions.
Physical Demands:
- Ability to move up to 40 pounds of material or equipment
- Bend, lift, pull, and push
- Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time
- Walk for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying equipment
- Be outside in extreme heat or cold (depending upon the season)
- Work 10 hour days
- Travel overnight or up to 4 days at a time for project work
Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. Eligible members must meet standard requirements of completing at least 640 hours and utilize their certificate before the age of 31.
Qualifications:
Required
- 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.
- This position is funded through the Public Land Corps Act which has specific program requirements.
- Must be 21-30 years of age to apply (members must be 21+ to apply for an ACE position that requires or anticipates operation of agency or ACE vehicles for duties).
- Military Veterans up to 35 are encouraged to apply.
- US Citizen or Permanent Resident
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
- Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to communicate with park staff in an appropriate manner in written and verbal form
- Ability to do physical labor in the backcountry
Preferred:
- Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resource management, botany, or biology.
- Ability to identify plants, particularly native and non-native plants of the desert southwest
- Ability to drive 4x4 vehicle
- Experience in navigating in the backcountry using maps, phones or GPS units
- Ability to use phones and/or GPS units to collect data
- Experience in maintaining GIS databases
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Programs
- Motivated to learn about the park's resources
- Deep interest in native plants, restoration, and conservation.
