Job Description

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, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a Maintenance and Conservation Corps Lead for a 26-week term to help with a variety of maintenance and resource management projects at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge located along the Atlantic coast in southern New Jersey.

The ACE member will work on a variety of facilities, maintenance, habitat restoration, and trail projects to improve access, maintain building function, protect nesting piping plover populations, and ensure a positive and safe experience for visitors. Additionally, this position will assist with the mentorship and leadership of the ACE youth summer program engaging local high school teens in conservation field projects within the Refuge. 

This is a rare opportunity to challenge and enhance both your communication skills and conservation training by gaining practical experience in a variety of program areas on a national wildlife refuge. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a background in maintenance, natural resource management, facility operations, outdoor leadership and a deep interest in advancing their career goals in conservation and land stewardship. Working as a member of the refuge team, the member will help with projects ranging from facilities and trail maintenance to endangered species management to youth outdoor leadership. The position involves both group and independent work, including leading a local high school group on stewardship projects for several weeks on site, help with Interpretation signs, plant inventories, maintenance work, invasive species management.  This will allow for an all-around view of the work the US Fish and Wildlife Service does for wildlife and people in the Northeast.    

Start Date: April 11, 2022

End Date:  October 8, 2022

**26-week commitment required**

Location: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge; Galloway, New Jersey 

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 48,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats which is actively managed for migratory birds. The refuge’s location in one of the Atlantic Flyway’s most active flight paths makes it an important link in seasonal bird migration. For more information about Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, please visit:

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/edwin_b_forsythe/.

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 $600/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 the refuge.

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:

The selected candidate will focus 18-weeks of this opportunity on facilities and field maintenance at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The remaining 8- weeks of this position will focus on assisting with the facilitation and leadership of the Refuge’s local summer high school Youth Conservation Corps program in partnership with ACE.

Primary Duties include:

• Assist with conducting and monitoring of habitat restoration work; 
• Participating in special events to promote the refuge and its mission;
• Perform light maintenance (painting, trail clearing, boardwalk repair, lawn care, spreading gravel/stone dust, etc.) and assist maintenance staff with larger scale projects as needed;
• Assist with various trail maintenance and restoration projects throughout the Refuge
• Assist with biological work (plover and shorebird management), Salt Marsh monitoring and other Refuge work (e.g. public outreach and visitor service program) as opportunities and interest allows;
• Safely mentoring and leading summer conservation stewardship field project programming for local high school students
• Collect accurate and detailed project data as required
• FWS certification on operating agricultural tractor, UTV, and small boats as opportunities and interest allows.

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 Maintenance and Conservation Corps Lead 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. 
• 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 be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold a minimum of a high school diploma or or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as ecology, wildlife management, natural resource management, parks and recreation, environmental education, and other related disciplines. A COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE. Resume, Cover Letter and transcripts must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience needed, as defined in this announcement.
• Enthusiasm for interacting with people and learning how to assist visitors to enjoy refuge resources responsibly through interpretation, customer service, and facility maintenance
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Internship. Job Tags: conservation and Maintenance. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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