Science in the Service Fellow, Ecological Services- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

Science in the Service Fellow, Ecological Services- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking one Science in the Service Fellow to contribute to projects determining the breeding system and implications for recovery of the federally endangered Contra Costa wallflower (Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum, Brassicaceae) alongside Pacific Southwest Region staff.

For more information about the Science in the Service Fellowship, please visit: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic-fish-and-wildlife-service/

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: August 2024

Estimated End Date: November 2024

*a 640 hour commitment is required. May be completed in as little as 16 weeks if working full time but fellowship can extend 32 weeks or longer to meet hours requirement and fellow's schedule needs

Location Details/Description: San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento, CA (but some work can be completed virtually/teleservice- preferably located within Region 8)

Established in 2009, the San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office serves as a public partner supporting the conservation of wildlife, plants and their habitats in the Bay Area, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries, and the Central Valley of California. Our scientists work to protect a wide range of at-risk species including fish, flowers, butterflies, birds, snakes, mammals and amphibians.

Guided by the best available science and a commitment to public service, we collaborate with other agencies and members of the public in all of our efforts to help sustainable populations of species thrive. This includes conducting research, restoring habitats and shaping development plans that balance growth with conservation.

For more information about Kern National Wildlife Refuge, please visit:

https://www.fws.gov/office/san-francisco-bay-delta-fish-and-wildlife

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 is headquartered in Sacramento, California, and has federal fish and wildlife management responsibilities in California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon. The Region includes one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States, ranging from the arid sand dunes in the Mojave Desert to the snow-capped crags in the high Sierras; from rich farmland in the Central Valley to rain-soaked redwood forests along the Pacific coast. This highly diverse geography provides habitats for a vast array of wildlife. More than 42 million people live within the Region, and expanding population centers such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Reno, San Diego, and Las Vegas are increasing demands on natural resources, presenting unique challenges to the Region's conservation mission.

The Service is responsible for managing the National Wildlife Refuge System, operating fish hatcheries and fishery resource offices, enforcing federal wildlife laws, managing migratory bird populations, conserving and restoring habitats, and overseeing a federal aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars to state, fish and wildlife agencies.

For more information about the Pacific Southwest Region, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/about/region/pacific-southwest

In-Person Reporting Expectations:

Fellows will be expected to report to our office in Sacramento, CA an average of 1x/week. Occasional field opportunities will also be available and travel to and from field sites will be supported. Fellows must be available for a 1-week (M-F) in-person orientation from 8/5/24-8/9/24.

Position Overview:

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) strives to increase diversity in its workforce and maintain its relevance to a new generation of conservationists. Therefore, the Service's Region 8 has established the Science in the Service fellowship to promote job training and fellowship opportunities for students; expose students to the Service's conservation mission and develop in them an understanding of career opportunities in conservation; as well as to coordinate educational opportunities between affiliated colleges and universities and the Service to facilitate experiential opportunities that enhance student career development.

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.

The proposed project will determine the breeding system for the federally listed, endangered Contra Costa wallflower (CCW; Erysimum captitatum var. angustatum, Brassicaceae). In the most recent 5-year review (dated 2021), it was suggested that the Contra Costa wallflower is self-incompatible based on findings in an evolutionarily close relative, the Ben Lemond wallflower (E. teretifolium) that demonstrated a genetically based self-incompatibility (SI). The evolution of SI is known to vary in the Brassicaceae family, even varying among species within a genus; yet, SI has not been tested for directly in the Contra Costa wallflower. Such a test is necessary to understand how genetic diversity is generated and maintained in CCW, which will aid in devising targeted recovery strategies for this federally endangered species. The project deliverables will be a determination of CCW's breeding system and mode(s) of reproduction, and a preliminary estimate of the species' current genetic diversity, which will directly inform on how to: (1) maintain current levels of diversity in the CCW population at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (ADNWR), (2) design reintroductions that support the future generation and continued maintenance of genetic diversity, (3) design seed sampling strategies that best represent current levels of diversity for both short-term uses (e.g., reintroductions and restorations) and long-term storage (i.e., seed banking). Overall, the results from this project will allow us to devise more targeted recovery strategies for this federally endangered species that we can begin incorporating into ongoing recovery efforts immediately.

The Fellow will gain direct training and experience through every stage of the research project, which will include a field experiment (controlled hand-pollinations), lab work (DNA extraction and genotyping), data management and processing (file and data organization, quality control and filtering), bioinformatics (coding and statistics), and preparation of a scientific manuscript. The Fellow will be responsible for expressing their scientific curiosity and asking questions, organizing their schedule, maintaining scientific records and data, communicating project status, and being collegial and professional throughout the project. The Fellow will have a well-rounded professional development experience as they will be integrated into the San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (BDFWO) and, specifically, the Recovery Listing & Conservation (ReLiC) team where they will engage directly with a range of conservation professionals and scientists as a ReLiC team member. The Fellow will be invited to join BDFWO recovery biologists on field/site visits to experience and learn firsthand about the ecosystems and species that we work to conserve and recover. They will be invited to join in meetings with partners and collaborators within and outside of the Service and they will be provided opportunities to participate in normal Service events and activities (such as, educational webinars, relevant program meetings, and similar events). Additionally, the knowledge gained from the Fellow's work will be used to support recovery efforts of CCW at ADNWR.

The fellow will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the following tasks:

• Duties coming soon- will be updated here in March 2024

Schedule: Duties will tentatively be carried out between 8 am and 5 pm Pacific, flexible within Monday-Friday, with schedules built around fellow's availability. Supervisor and member will collaborate together on setting member schedules. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance:

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute between 15-40 hours/week, depending on fellow availability and will receive a living allowance adjusted based on work schedule to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

For example, a fellow student working 20 hours/week would receive a stipend of $360/week.

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

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 contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

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.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $100 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Grant Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE's Access and Inclusion Grant. This is a $500 grant which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Grant recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of grants are available.

Developmental Opportunities:

• 1 week in-person orientation
• Field opportunities
• Training opportunities
• Networking with federal biologists and administrative professionals
• Resume workshops
• Individual resume reviews
• Career advising
• Bi-weekly facilitated calls (near peer forum, leadership Q&A, career overviews, etc.)
• Informational interviews
• Mentorship program
• Administrative support
• Special Hiring Authority and USAJOBS training
• Regional symposium for final presentations

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements for Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Please see the following link for more information on eligibility requirements: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
• 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• If eligible to drive, a valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check
• 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: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
• Candidates will not be evaluated based on prior work experience, as none is expected.
• Local to the duty station (able to commute to the work site on a regular basis)
• Interested in the work the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does
• Able to complete 640 hours of work
• Due to the self-paced nature of this fellowship, it is also critical that fellows are able to demonstrate time management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Current 3rd year or higher undergraduate, graduate student, or recent graduate (graduated in last 2 years)
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• In an education program which will qualify for the 401 series upon graduation (Degree: environmental science or policy, biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.)
• Available to work part/full-time (based on availability) beginning in August 2024.

Preferred:

• Projects are developmental opportunities and should be suitable for undergraduate students. Applicants will be solicited primarily from 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students, and we may receive applications from graduate students, including Master's and Ph.D.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Position is based primarily outdoors. Demands may include stooping, lifting, reaching, talking, hearing, regular and recurring hiking, walking, and bending. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment, and may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.

• 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 40 lbs., occasionally moves up to 40 lbs.
• Environmental: When outdoors, work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. When indoors, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Outdoors- moderate to high noise such as hand and power tools. Indoors- moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• 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. Temperature and weather extremes can be encountered in the performance of outdoor duties.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS 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 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 ACE EPIC FWS Program Manager Nich Jackosky at njackosky@usaconservation.org.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee 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, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.

Current Openings for Science in the Service Fellow, Ecological Services Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8 Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC