2025 NPS Academy Fire Effects Member - Grand Teton National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, is seeking ONE member to contribute to the 2025 National Park Service Academy cohort project alongside National Park Service staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

About NPS Academy: National Park Service Academy aims to support the development of a more representative NPS workforce by connecting dynamic, young adults through an experiential program designed around three themes - Connections, Diversity, and Legacy. Through participation, members build their conservation ethic, intercultural awareness, and career readiness skills and competencies. NPS Academy introduces participants to the NPS Universal Competencies that are foundational to all NPS career paths within a cohort of like-minded peers.

Program Goals:

The main goals of NPS Academy are:

• Connect a diversity of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
• Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationships
• Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
• Create a more inclusive and representative future for public lands

Start Date: 05/19/2025

Estimated End Date: 09/06/2025

*a 16 week minimum commitment is required and participation in the orientation (March 17th - 21st, 2025) are required for each position*

Start and end dates are potentially flexible for the right candidate and are dependent on the Park needs. If your availability falls mostly within these dates, please apply. More information regarding specific dates will be shared in the interview process.

Location Details/Description: The Tetons are a magnificent mountain range in this northwestern region of Wyoming, with the small town of Jackson in the valley. Within the mountain range, Grand Teton rises to 13,775 feet, 7,000 feet above the valley floor. What is now known as Grand Teton National Park is rich in history of human cultures and biological diversity, being a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Having a personal vehicle is not required, but highly recommended as the winter can be isolating. For more information about Grand Teton National Park, please visit the National Park Service website.

For more information about Grand Teton National Park, please visit the National Park Service website.

Position Overview: The Fire Effects crew is responsible for collecting fuels and vegetation data to measure the success of prescribed burns and forest thinning for fuels reduction. The crew works mostly outdoors and navigates to remote plots in a variety of forest and shrub vegetation types in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) and the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Western Wyoming. Hiking (sometimes long distances) to the plot locations using GPS, maps, and compasses is required. Plant ID, tree measurement, and data entry in the field is the bulk of outdoor duties.

In the office, the Member will assist with organization of field data for quality assurance. Other duties include data input and analysis, hazard fuel removal, fuel moisture sampling, wildfire assignments, prescribed fire assignments, equipment organization, and physical fitness activities. Field work may take place in remote backcountry areas, on steep terrain, and in all types of weather. Field work sometimes involves travel and camping for multiple days. The Fire Effects Crew Member must be able to hike several miles each day carrying moderate to heavy loads in high elevation environments over rugged terrain. They may also be exposed to inclement weather, stinging insects and other hazards found in the field. The Member will be encouraged to secure and maintain a red-card firefighter certification. This training will be provided at no cost and is not a requirement of the position.

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:The typical work week is 7am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday, with Friday-Sunday off.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/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 usaconservation website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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 may include: NWCG, ICS and NIMS classes at guard school to obtain a red card: ICS-100, S-190, S-130, L-180, NIMS 700; S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws. There may be opportunities to take other classes throughout the season.

AD Hiring Opportunities: The Fire Effects Crew Member will have opportunities to be "AD" hired through the federal government for wildland and prescribed fire operations if a red card certification is obtained. During these periods, the Member will pause their internship with ACE and begin working for the federal government for up to two weeks at a time at the AD-C rate (2024 is $22.16).

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 criminal history checks
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our usaconservation website.

Preferred:

An important reminder, all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job. A good attitude, resiliency, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success.

Essential skills and experience: Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group, experience in subject areas such as Environmental Studies, Forestry, or Geography, Ability and willingness to work outdoors in uncomfortable weather and challenging terrain, and learn to identify trees, shrubs, and other plants, Deep interest in Teamwork, Ecology and Wildland Fire

Additional skills and experience that are helpful: Knowledge of Field Data Collection and comfortable working in remote outdoor settings.

Skills and experience that members will gain from this position:

• Develop an understanding of fire ecology in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
• Develop an understanding of tactics used to complete fuels treatments.
• Develop an understanding of wildfire suppression tactics and how they're used.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

*This position requires a high level of physical fitness and motivation*

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle, feel, indicate directions. Manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard/mouse and other routine office equipment as well as hand tools and interpretive props. Often required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Must be able to walk over 3 miles on uneven ground and/or trails with or without reasonable accommodation.
• 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 10 pounds, occasionally moves up to 25 pounds. Rarely lifts larger loads without another person or assistance from a tool such as a dolley.
• Environmental: Approximately 15% of the work will be in a climate controlled, shared office setting or standing at a desk in the climate-controlled visitor center. The other 85% will be primarily outdoors. Wildlife hazards include moose, black bears and grizzly bears which are found throughout Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest
  • Summers are typically mild to cool with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s and evening temperatures in the 30s or 40s. Temperatures become cooler and winds stronger at higher elevations in the park. Carrying layers is suggested. We typically see afternoon thunderstorms which pose a hazard at high elevation. The sun is strong and can burn quickly when shade is unavailable.
• Noise Environment: Most work days will be pretty quiet in the field, office or truck. Occasional days with moderate to high noise such as chainsaws, helicopters (this is contingent on them getting a red card).
• Travel: This position requires nearly daily travel within Grand Teton National Park and the neighboring Bridger Teton National Forest. Several overnight camping trips lasting up to three nights will occur throughout the summer season.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: Environmental conditions and hazards include inhalation of smoke, dust and other harmful particulates, heat illness, exhaustion, overexertion, potential exposure to toxic chemicals including gasoline, diesel gasoline, firefighting foam, aerial retardant, and others. Other hazards include slips, trips, falls, rocky unstable terrain, inclement weather, extreme temperatures, potentially dangerous plants, animals and insects.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the National Park Service or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the National Park Service. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the National Park Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to National Park Service 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 ACE's online application page for this position on the usaconservation website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact NPS Academy Member Manager, Deja Charles.

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.

Salary : $600