Job Description

Invasive Species Support Member – San Bernard & Brazoria National Wildlife Refuges

ACE EPIC placements provide young adults with focused, hands-on opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers. 

Funding for ACE positions is provided by a federal program designed specifically for the employment of youth and young adults. 

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Summary:  American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking TWO  Invasive Species Support Members to contribute to invasive species removal with San Bernard and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge Staff. 

Start Date: April 2022

End Date:  August 2022

**18-week commitment required**

Location: San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Brazoria, TX) & Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (Lake Jackson, TX) 

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge:

Stretching inland from the Gulf beaches into the bottomland forests of the Brazos and San Bernard River basins, San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge provides vital habitat for migrating and wintering birds as well as resident wildlife. The refuge manages a diverse array of habitats across the landscape including salt marshes and saltwater lakes, coastal prairies, freshwater lakes and marshes, intermittent streams, and riparian and bottomland forests. The refuge has several recreation areas for people to enjoy the diverse habitats and populations of migratory and resident wildlife that call San Bernard home. The refuge supports a diversity of coastal wildlife, including more than 320 species of birds, 95 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 450 species of butterflies and dragonflies.

For more information about San Bernard NWR, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/san_bernard/.

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge: 

Established in 1966 to provide wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and other migratory bird species, the refuge provides more than 45,000 acres of salt marsh and freshwater sloughs, impoundments and potholes among native coastal prairie uplands. Bastrop Bayou, Big Slough, Oyster Creek and Chocolate Bayou carry freshwater to the bays creating a mosaic of salt marsh, open water mudflats that are shaped by tidal inundation, changing salinity, sediment movements and desiccating winds. This harsh environment is the breeding grounds for fish and shellfish, which support large populations of shore, wading and waterbirds. Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex is made up of Brazoria, San Bernard and Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuges. They were designated as Internationally Significant Shorebird Sites by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.  On higher elevations, the saline marsh gives way to saline prairie where seasonal inundation with tidal waters requires salt-tolerant vegetation like gulf cordgrass and sea ox-eye daisy.  Coastal prairie dominates the non-saline soils providing habitat for mammals, reptiles as well as resident and migratory birds. Although much of the upland habitat had been utilized for rice farming and grazing prior to being added to the refuge, the natural ridge-swale topography can be found across Brazoria’s prairie.  The swales create freshwater wetlands which add diversity and seasonal wetland food sources for waterfowl. 

For more information about Brazoria NWR, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/brazoria.

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.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $450/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided agency housing at no cost for the duration of the term. When residing in FWS provided-housing or on FWS lands, strict adherence to site specific policies and/or regulations is required. 

Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-competitive Hiring Authority: Members serving on this project may be eligible to receive a Department of the Interior (DOI) PLC non-competitive hiring authority certificate upon completion of their term of service. Eligible members must meet standard requirements of completing at least 640 hours (16 weeks at 40 hours/week) and utilize their certificate when applying for qualifying federal positions within 2 years of receipt. More information can be provided upon request.

Position Description:

This individual placement is meant to facilitate personal growth and professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with agency professionals. This could include gaining experience in a variety of conservation fields and/or shadowing different work groups.

Support Members will be part of a team to assist with the removal of invasive species on the San Bernard and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuges. Support Member will mix herbicides and apply herbicides to target vegetation with a variety of equipment and techniques.  They will locate, identify and treat invasive species including Chinese tallow, deep-rooted sedge, tri-foliate orange and other species in prairie and forest habitats. Support Members will operate off-road utility vehicles to access refuge tracts. 

Support Members will assist with the removal of invasive apple snails. Utilizing kayaks, Support Members will paddle around infected lakes, collecting snails and removing them from the environment.  Support Members may assist with gathering scientific data on a random group of snails. Support Members may assist with removing vegetation in which the snails lay eggs and directly remove eggs.

When weather is not conducive to invasive species treatments, Support Members will assist with a variety of management activities, including gardening, removing vegetation from rookeries, trail and yard maintenance and removing fences.

Primary Duties include:

• Mixing and applying herbicides to invasive species.
• Record all invasive species treatment using geographic information system.
• Operate vehicles and off-road utility vehicles (ORUV’s) to access treatment locations.
• Other duties as time and weather permits.   

Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs.; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements. 

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The Invasives Species Support Member 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.  

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.
• U.S. 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.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position will be holding or pursuing a Bachelor’s degree (education or experience in natural resources, biology, ecology or a related subject preferred).
• Ability to use computer technology to maintain and retrieve information from automated data systems, develop spreadsheets, and use word processing and statistical software programs in order to develop reports.
• Familiarity with geographic information system (GIS), aerial photography and survey techniques, and global positioning systems (GPS).
• Ability to communicate in writing in order to assist in the preparation of wildlife management survey summaries
• Ability to operate small watercraft, cars, trucks and trailers.
• Ability to use various specialized tools and equipment required to conduct wildlife studies surveys.
• Ability to capture, handle, and tag or collar various wildlife.
• Ability to work doing strenuous activity for significant periods of time, often walking over rough terrain and in muddy conditions; on rough or uneven surfaces; wading through vegetation choked marshes, lifting and carrying heavy objects, and in many instances during difficult weather conditions.
• Collection survey data requires good vision and fieldwork results in exposure to such things as: poison ivy insects, sun, wind, temperature variation and many varieties of pollen.
• Seasonal field studies involve considerable physical demands, such as frequent, extensive travel on foot; bending; crouching; and climbing; exertion from lifting and carrying equipment; and energy drain from cold, wet and windy weather.
• Must be in good physical condition and anticipate the demands of each field trip. Occasionally lifts containers weighing up to 40 pounds.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Internship. Job Tags: conservation, Habitat, nature, plant, and wildlife. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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