Deadline: Sat, 05/11/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: American Conservation Experience Job Field: GIS/Technology Policy/Administrative Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: Colorado Location Detail: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Job Description: Seed Collection Member - Rocky Mountain National Park Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Rocky Mountain National Park is seeking three members to contribute to native seed collection activities alongside NPS Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org. Start Date: July 8, 2024 Estimated End Date: October 25th, 2024 *a 16-week minimum commitment is required * Location Details/Description: Work will be conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover along the over 300 miles of hiking trails. Due to very limited housing available in and surrounding the park, members should plan to live in the Boulder/Longmont/Loveland/Fort Collins, Colorado areas where there are many more amenities and lower cost housing options. The crew vehicle will likely be staged in Boulder. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). Position Overview: These positions will assist National Park Service botanical staff at the park in native seed collection, data collation, and seed curation. This native, locally appropriate seed is critically important for successfully conducting multiple habitat restoration activities throughout the park. The positions will receive training on plant species identification and the Seeds of Success protocol (used by the BLM, USFWS, and NPS) for seed collection. While NPS staff will provide initial training and periodic oversight, members should not anticipate daily interaction with staff and therefore, be prepared to be self-sufficient working in the field. Members are expected to assist with planning schedules; seed collection population scouting and collection implementation; data management; and reporting. The members will be responsible for ensuring quality assurance and control of seed and data collection and management and may assist with directing volunteers in seed collection. Work will be performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather, and sometimes in extreme weather conditions. The positions will require strenuous physical activity including extended periods of standing, walking and hiking (including over rough terrain), climbing, lifting, and carrying of heavy objects. Travel to seed collection locations in the field is required and there will be a requirement for camping two days a week while performing seed collection activities. Assignments may be performed under hazardous conditions and inclement weather, such as heavy rain, high winds, or flooding. Poison oak, stinging nettle, ticks, and mosquitoes may be present. Project coordination and report writing is sedentary, which requires the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time. 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. Schedule: Workdays shall be between Monday-Thursday and it is expected that days will be at least 10 hours in length due to the commuting distance to work areas. Start times are at the discretion of the crew, but shall be early enough to allow for 10 hours of daylight work. Members should expect that they will be camping at least 2 nights each week (Tuesday & Wednesday) at a designated campground. Qualifications: 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 - To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements. Preferred: - Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree (preferably in a biology or natural resources subject) and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as botany/plant science and/or ecology. - Experience performing plant identification, seed collection, and collecting data via Survey123 and Field Maps. - Ability and willingness to perform seed collection which can sometimes be repetitive and meticulous work; follow seed collection and data collection protocols; collect data using Survey123 and Field Maps; spend at least two nights a week camping; and work as a member of a team. - Deep interest in botany and restoration. Miscellaneous: 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. Salary: Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. Benefits: Position Benefits 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 information online: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements. Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. However, a housing stipend of $300/month shall be provided to offset some of housing expenses. Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $300 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, backpack, hiking boots, and camping gear 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. Specific training will include Seeds of Success seed collection protocol (Collection | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov). How to Apply: Apply Here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1094078
