Off-Highway Vehicle Restoration Members

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, is seeking Two (2) Off-Highway Vehicle Restoration Members to dedicate 52 weeks in assisting BLM Ridgecrest Field Office of the California Desert in off-highway vehicle restoration, natural resources management, and conservation.

For more information regarding American Conservation Experience, please visit: www.usaconservation.org

State Date: September 1st, 2023 (Flexible for the right candidate - candidates will NOT be able to start until successful completion of the BLM background check. This process generally takes 1-3 months)

End Date: 52 weeks after state date

*a 52 week minimum commitment is required

Location Details/Description: Ridgecrest, CA. The BLM Ridgecrest Field Office has stewardship responsibility of public lands from the eastern edge of the White Mountains outside of Big Pine, CA to the eastern Scodi Mountains outside of California City, CA. The Field Office oversees roughly 1.8 millions acres of Public Land, with the highest and lowest points within the continental U.S. a short drive from the office.

For more information on the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office please visit their website at: www.blm.gov/office/ridgecrest-field-office.

Position Overview: This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic professionals with a background in Recreation or Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field, with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in the public sector outdoor recreation planning, park ranger, or visitor services professions.

The ACE Restoration Members will maintain a close interaction with the BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner to develop work plans for the incoming restoration crews, volunteer events, and developing outreach materials.

Most of the work performed by the members will consist of:

• Effectiveness monitoring of previous OHV restoration projects
• Monitoring OHV recreation areas for new incursions
• Mending fence lines and/or installing new fences and other hard barriers
• Planning restoration projects for future crews utilizing GIS-based field apps such as FieldMaps and Survey123
• Coordinating OHV restoration projects with archeology, biology, and other resource staff
• Maintaining the OHV Restoration GIS Database
• Organizing outreach events for the OHV community and updating existing OHV Recreation outreach materials
• Assisting with restoration crew training
• Coordinating work plans for the current and future restoration crews
• Working with the restoration crews during their season, providing feedback on restoration and data quality as needed
• Organizing and running 1-2 volunteer events

In addition, the members will complete inventories, prioritize and coordinate work with resources staff, and initiate NEPA as needed. Members will be responsible for coordinating and completing projects on the ground. The emphasis would be placed on preserving and enhancing recreational opportunities by curbing problems before they become unmanageable.

Work is performed in an outdoor environment that ranges from very cold and wet to very hot and dry. This work may require physical exertion over very steep, wet, muddy, slippery, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; and may include bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, and similar activities. Work time is split between an office and outdoors.

Opportunities for training will be provided if they are necessary for the position. Other opportunities may be provided on an as-requested basis by the member and will be discussed with the supervising Outdoor Recreation Planner and potentially ACE and additional BLM Staff as needed.

The ACE members will gain an understanding of the NEPA process, working with crews from an agency perspective, experience planning restoration and recreation projects and volunteer events, and a variety of other land management skills.

The standard schedule is 40 hours per week and will require some weekend work to do visitor outreach during the busy season. The primary holiday weekends worked will be Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, and President's Day weekend. Additional non-holiday weekends may also be required to do outreach and volunteer events.

The Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Restoration program's goal is to implement current BLM Land Use Plans and Travel Management Plans by clearly identifying the legal routes and restoring the unauthorized routes. The program primarily focuses on using vertical mulch methods for restoration, hard barriers, and other camouflaging techniques that have been developed and successfully used in the desert for decades. Through restoration of the unauthorized routes, the surrounding habitat for a variety of species is kept in larger intact acres. This allows for increased connectivity and decreased likelihood of accidentally being crushed by a recreational vehicle. This aids recreationists by ensuring responsible OHV recreation will be able to continue throughout the desert.

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.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing Assistance: ACE Members will receive up to $138.46/week in housing assistance to offset the cost of housing.

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. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required byU.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
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• 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.
• 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 here.

Preferred:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to interact with the public.
• Ability to hike long distances and work alone/in a small group with minimal supervision.
• General computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Must be able and willing to work outdoors and be capable of lifting 30 lbs.
• Must be able to take initiative, work independently, and participate in collaborative efforts.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals.
• Ability to safely operate a 4X4 vehicle in rugged terrain, and make judgment calls on your own technical driving ability in a variety of environments
• Experience with interpreting USGS topographic maps of various scales and using GPS units and ability to apply GIS and related technology.

• Experience in resources management and restoration, preferably in California, Great Basin and/or Mojave Desert.
• Practical knowledge of the general land use-planning process and land management programs.
• Ability to communicate clearly with planners, resource specialists, managers, and peer professionals in Federal, State, and local agencies.
• Familiar with the NEPA and Section 106 process.
• Plant identification (field work may require identification of threatened and endangered plant species).
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities in ArcGIS and GPS use.
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged and welcome.
• Strong writing, research, public speaking, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of California's public lands, cultural and historic resources, and natural environments is desired, especially the California Desert.

To Apply: 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 Elyse Cogburn at ecogburn@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 Off Highway Vehicle Restoration Members Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC