Seed Crew Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Seed Crew Individual Placement – AmeriCorps (2 Openings)

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – Taos Field Office

1024 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos NM, 87571

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 7/7/25
• End Date: 11/21/25
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

The Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Conservation Corps New Mexico seeks to fill a need for two Seed Crew Members out of the Taos BLM Field Office. The BLM Botany Department provides botanical expertise in rare plant conservation, restoration efforts and plant material development. The primary focuses for these positions include but are not limited to landscape-level ecology, native seed collection, landscape restoration, special status plant species surveying and monitoring, and consultation for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. A large portion of the Botany Department is dedicated to surveying for and minimizing impacts to special status plant species (SSPS), Native Plant Material Collection, and Restoration.

The Seed Crew Member will serve as a three-person cohort on a project centered around Native Plant Materials Collection, development, restoration, and monitoring within the Taos Field Office. Specific duties include but will not be limited to native plant population mapping, seed scouting, native seed collection, seed production, and restoration using native seeds. Crews will also monitor restoration sites post-treatment and design techniques to improve restoration methods within the Taos Field Office.

Native Plant Materials Collection (seed collections) are crucial for the development of genetically appropriate and adapted seeds that can be used to restore landscapes after major and often catastrophic events. Currently, the BLM National seed warehouse lacks local seed from Northern New Mexico that could be used in the event of wildfire or after a large-scale disturbance. The seeds collected by this crew will go into seed production that can be used for future restoration. This crew will also seed and restore previously identified sites (at least 2,000 acres) to minimize the presence of noxious weeds on the landscape and improve overall ecosystem health.

The Seed Crew Member will work directly with the BLM botanist, Botany Support Specialist, Rare Plant Intern, and BLM state seed Crew to study, scout, and collect native seed throughout the Taos Field Office. The Seed Crew will gain exposure to technical skills in data management, data collection, different restoration methods, and monitoring. This position will be based out of a field office managing several resources, such as wildlife, range, recreation and hydrology. Opportunities to cross-train with other programs will be encouraged.

 
Description of Duties:

• Native Plant Materials Collection
  • Use seed collection protocols (Seeds of Success aka SOS)
  • Scout and map native plant populations that might be suitable for seed collection and seed processing
  • Plant Identification
• Ecological Restoration
  • Operate seeding equipment
  • Identify ecologically at-risk sites
  • Help research and design restoration techniques
• Site Monitoring and Botany Department Deliverables
  • Monitor treated sites
  • Run simple statistical analyses on site datasets to detect changes in treated sites
  • Write final project reports

 Working Conditions:

Driving on uneven terrain; hiking off-trail; exposure to rattlesnakes, insects, extreme heat, and rain; packing up to 40lbs of gear to collection sites; lifting more than 50lbs at one time.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service
• Minimum of 1 field season working in a biologically relevant field (ecology, botany, range, restoration, etc.)
• Experience with plant identification and using technical keys
• Experience with ArcGIS and various ESRI data collection applications (Survey123, FieldMaps)
• Experience driving a 4x4 vehicle in backcountry conditions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in scientific writing
• Knowledge or familiarity of Southwest native plants

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

• SOS Protocols
• GIS relevant to project
• Guidance and direction for project activities
• Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Protocols
• Field training in Plant ID
• Access to herbarium and taxonomic keys
• Examples of past reports for reference

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week
• Travel & training budget $1,000
• Public Lands Corps Certificate* (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs) – available upon successful completion of term
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Program Name and Contact Information:

SamJean Simmons Contact information:

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Consideration will be given as resumes are received and this position may close at any time.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Salary : $200 - $600