US Fish and Wildlife Service Salt Plains - Invasive Species TechIndividual Placement-AmeriCorps

Position Title: US Fish and Wildlife Service Salt Plains - Invasive Species Tech

Conservation Legacy Program: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

Site Location: Jet, Oklahoma

71189 Harper Road, Jet, OK 73749

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: May 19, 2025
• End Date: July 25, 2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 Hour
• Benefits:
• Housing provided on site
• Professional development budget for each crew member. $500.00
• AmeriCorps education award after successfully completing term of service, $1,565.00

Purpose:

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ Mission

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to "lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being." The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup (Navajo Nation), Zuni, and Hopi. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local Indigenous communities in the regions we operate.

USFWS Wildlife Refuge System Mission: 

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Description of Duties:

Individual Placement (IP) Overview: 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service's is seeking two (2) Individual Placements (IP) to work out of the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Admin Building And Visitor Contact Station. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1930 as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds. The refuge contains the largest saline flat east of the Rocky Mountains. The refuge is estimated to support one of the largest and most dense breeding populations of snowy plovers in North America.

The Individual Placements (IP) will play an important role to help with the management and control of salt cedar that threaten the refuge's salt flats. Loss of salt flat habitat reduces breeding habitat for snowy plovers and other shorebird species. It also reduces the quality of habitat available for whooping crane stopover habitat. Interns will perform hands on control of salt cedar through herbicide application and/or mechanical removal. Interns will also help with monitoring of previous treatment locations by mapping efficacy within GIS applications. The primary role of this intern would be to conduct outreach to tribal partners and help build a comprehensive education and outreach plan to meet this need.

Essential functions and responsibilities: 
IP's will apply herbicide and use hand tools to control salt cedar around the periphery of the salt flats of the refuge. Interns will also use herbicide and hand tools to control other invasive species on the refuge. IP's will use GIS apps to track treatments and monitor previous treatment efficacy.

The Invasive Species Technicians will work to complete tasks and projects outlined below. 

1. Control salt cedar on or near salt flats through the use of herbicides or hand tools. Track treatments applied through GIS applications.
2. Treat invasive plant species across the refuge to benefit habitat conditions and aid in habitat restoration. Track treatments applied through GIS applications.
3. Monitor previous treatment areas for re-sprouts and new infestations. Input any invasive species found into GIS mapping application.
4. Participate in other refuge activities to include: visitor services, maintenance and biological surveys.

Required Skills:

• Ability to interpret professional and scientific reports/documents, write and understand agency plans and reports based upon agency requirements, and ability to write and understand scientific reports and documents are preferred but not required.
• The successful applicant must be reliable, punctual, and self-motivated and able to work independently, with limited supervision after initial training and assignment of tasks.
• The applicant must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly. The applicant must be able to maneuver and operate in a mixture of office work and fieldwork. This includes frequently traversing uneven terrain and the ability to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, bend, reach, push, pull, and/or grasp in variable weather conditions and situations that may require a moderate amount of physical exertion.
• Applicant must have a visual acuity and valid license to operate motor vehicles and to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned. 
• Applicant must be able to receive detailed information through written and/or oral communication and convey important spoken and/or written instructions accurately and effectively.
• Ages 18-30, 35 if veteran

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.

Required Experience:

• ATV certification is a plus but will be provided upon start
• Valid driver’s license (clean driving record within last 3 years)
• S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Card, INS form I-551
• A passport indicating that the INS has been approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence A departure record (INS 194) indication that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence.

Physical Requirements:

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 May 19, 2025 to July 25, 2025, 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.

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional qualifications

Orientation and Training:

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

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of - $1,565.08
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $260.00 per week

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Cody Fetty, IP Coordinator Contact information:

cfetty@conservationlegacy.org

Site supervisor contact information: 

glen_hensley@fws.gov

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 : $260 - $600