Fisheries Monitoring Members

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 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: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: May 23, 2022

End Date: August 13, 2020 (or 12 weeks from start date)

*A 12-week commitment is required*

Location: 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 fishes, over 230 taxa of aquatic invertebrates and provide some of the best protected strongholds for native eastern brook trout in the region.

For more information regarding Shenandoah National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm.

For information on Shenandoah's monitoring program please visit: https://www.nps.gov/im/midn/shen.htm.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $200/week to cover the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. They will also receive a $600 travel allowance to aid in the costs of relocation and commuting to the duty station.

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

Housing consists of several homes with double occupancy bedrooms; however, occupancy may be limited to one person per room due to COVID-19. Housing will most likely be 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. If one is not available, there will be a travel allowance provided. 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 remote and there is no reliable public transportation. Members will have use of a government vehicle for work related travel.

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award ($1,687.57) upon successful completion of term hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Position Description: For the first 10 weeks, 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 ten person crew. Members will also take various water quality and stream habitat measurements as a component of the NPS "vital signs" program. The remaining 2 weeks will be spent 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 and educating visitors about bear conflicts, conducting peregrine falcon cliff nesting surveys, and radio tracking whitetail deer. The members must have the ability to walk miles of steep, rugged, wet terrain with packs up to 40 pounds on a daily basis.

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.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with 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 required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• This position is physically demanding. The member must be physically able to walk long distances off-trail in mountainous terrain and serve outdoors for much of the day while carrying a 40lb backpack.
• A personal vehicle is required for transportation related to personal needs.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in ichthyology, 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.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, thoughtful cover letter, and contact information for Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact EPIC NPS Eastern Program Manager, Madison Douthitt at mdouthitt@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Fisheries Monitoring Members Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC