Vegetation Management Member

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, is seeking One Vegetation Management Member to contribute to the Wenatchee Field Office Vegetation Management project alongside the Bureau of Land Management Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: ASAP

Estimated End Date: 39 weeks after the start date

*a 39-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Central Washington state is the home of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wenatchee Field Office (WFO), part of the Spokane District. The Spokane District manages nearly 450,000 acres of public lands across the state of Washington. The WFO is responsible for BLM lands ranging from the Canadian border to the north, to the Oregon state line to the South. Botanically, plant communities range from extensive shrub-steppe habitats to dry forests and riparian areas.

For more information about the Wenatchee Field Office, please visit the BLM website.

Position Overview: The members will work with the post-fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program and Noxious and Invasive Species Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The ESR and IPM programs are relatively integrated as IPM is a major component of ESR. Approximately 30-40% of time is expected to be spent in the office, and 60-70% of time in the field.

The ESR program is focused on monitoring and implementation of post-fire ESR treatments and includes working within multiple resource fields including botany, weed management, livestock management, wildlife, forestry, soils, ecological restoration, and recreation. The position will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as organization, writing, detail, and communication, as well as field skills including the data collection, plant identification, use of GIS/GPS equipment and maps, integrated weed management, and driving on rough rugged roads. Post-fire monitoring methods include line-point intercept, counting emergent seedlings per square meter, GPS mapping of weed infestations and treatments, walking and mapping fenceline burned by the fire or reconstructed by contractors, and photo documentation. In addition, office work will include report writing, GIS data management/analysis, and data processing, analysis and reporting of post-fire vegetation monitoring data. Field work will be conducted largely in Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat Counties, WA in rough and rugged terrain. Project expected outcomes include monitoring/implementation of treatments/reporting on at least 13 burned areas in central Washington, as well as analysis of several years of data collected by contracted monitoring crews in previous years.

For IPM program work, office work will include mastering the vegetation management computer programs to submit current and historic infestation and treatment data. The members will have the opportunity to work in ArcPro and use multiple mobile applications. Field work will include conducting surveys, inventory, treatment and monitoring of invasive plant species. The members will be expected to obtain their Washington State herbicide applicators license and will assist in chemical and mechanical treatment of invasive species. Chemical treatments are expected to be approximately 30% of field work time. Field work will be conducted throughout central Washington primarily in the shrub-steppe Columbia Plateau.

Every opportunity will be given for the members to express their interests and obtain experience with other specialists in the office. This may include working with the wildlife biologist, range specialist, restoration specialist, botanist, forester, or recreation specialist.

The participant will work out of the Wenatchee Field Office in Wenatchee, WA. Fieldwork will be done in a remote backcountry setting and requires strenuous exertion. Most field sites will require 1-3 hours of driving one way from the office.

Project expected outcomes include monitoring and treating weeds in multiple counties, and submitting 30 treatment records through the Vegetation Management Action Portal (VMAP).

Overnight travel may be required 1 or more times per month due to the travel time to some field sites.

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: 40 hour work week, typically 10 hours days, Monday - Thursday, generally 7 AM to 5:30 PM. The daily schedule is variable according to project needs and applicant desires.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.

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 see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or BLM.

Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $175 per week. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses.

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. BLM will provide basic training such as First AID/CPR, safety, and radio training before completing tasks, and training to complete tasks as assigned (i.e ... monitoring techniques, plant id, navigation). Training may be virtual, self-paced online training, or in-person depending on availability. Applicants will be enrolled in the Washington State Pesticide Applicators license training, which will include taking a pesticide exam.

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.
• 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.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Botany, or Ecosystem Management degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as agriculture or farm management.
• All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered.
• Knowledge of plant ID.
• Ability and willingness to learn and implement noxious weed control
• Deep interest in land management, interdisciplinary work, and understanding the impacts of policy and protocol in on-the-ground actions.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• 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 25 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may require domestic 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 BLM or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM 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 Project Manager, Anna-Louise Calliham.

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 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.