Fisheries Monitoring Members - Shenandoah National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking FOUR Fisheries Monitoring Members to assist with backpack electrofishing on 70 or more sites throughout the park to monitor fish populations and take various habitat measurements alongside Shenandoah National Park staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 5/18/2025 or late May/early June 2025

Estimated End Date: 8/9/2025 (or 12 weeks after start date)

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Shenandoah National Park Headquarters, Luray, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park contains 196,000 forested acres along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia. The Park's backcountry of steep rugged terrain contains 500 miles of trails, including 95 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and nearly 80,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Skyline Drive, the famous scenic tour road through the Park, follows the ridge crest for 105 miles and connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nearly two million people visit the Park each year to enjoy views from the Skyline Drive, hike trails, rock climb, enjoy nature study, camp, or stay overnight in one of the Park's rustic lodges or backcountry cabins. The Park supports approximately 1,400 vascular plant species, numerous state-rare plant species, and a variety of forest community types. The mountain streams are inhabited by 40 species of fish, over 230 taxa of aquatic invertebrates.

For more information regarding Shenandoah National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The members will assist in backpack electrofishing roughly 70 sites on 30 or more streams throughout Shenandoah National Park assessing coldwater fish populations as part of a nine-person crew. The members will take various water quality and stream habitat measurements as a component of the NPS "vital signs" program. The members may also be removing exotic fish from park streams to benefit native species within the park. Any additional free time will likely be spent patrolling the developed areas of the park for nuisance black bears, educating visitors about bear conflicts, conducting peregrine falcon cliff nesting surveys, and other natural resource monitoring activities.

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: Monday-Thursday 6:30am-5:00pm

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $500/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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: The selected ACE members will be accommodated in park housing at no cost to the member, for the duration of the term.

Housing consists of several homes with double occupancy bedrooms; housing will most likely be at Park Headquarters in Luray, VA or within 10 miles. If housing is located further than 10 miles from Luray, VA, a government vehicle is intended to be provided for transportation to and from the work site. Luray, VA is 5 miles from Park Headquarters and has all of the standard amenities (grocery stores, movie theater, shops, restaurants, library etc.). Laundry facilities are also available at park housing locations.

Cell phone reception is not reliable. A personal vehicle is required for transportation related to personal needs (e.g., food shopping). The site is rural and there is no reliable public transportation. Members will have use of a government vehicle for work related travel.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to (NTE) $400 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.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• 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 website located on our really homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in fisheries, ecology, biology, wetland sciences, natural resource management or a related discipline.
• Deep interest in a career in fisheries, ecology, biology, wetland sciences, natural resource management or a related discipline.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: See in Position Overview above.
• 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 40 pounds, ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: See in Position Overview above. This individual will serve in outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently, working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment, light traffic, and fast-flowing rivers.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE Member(s) 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 NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS 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 our 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 ACE EPIC NPS Eastern Member Manager, Corinna Mokotoff.

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 or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, 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, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, 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.