Science in the Service Fellow, Habitat Restoration and Endangered Wildlife Monitoring- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

Science in the Service Fellow, Habitat Restoration and Endangered Wildlife Monitoring- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

SummaryAmerican 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 habitat restoration and endangered wildlife monitoring projects 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: Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Delano, CA (but some work can be completed virtually/teleservice- preferably located within Region 8)

Kern National Wildlife Refuge was established on November 18, 1960 and consists of 11,249-acres of natural desert uplands, a relict riparian corridor, and developed marsh. The visitor center and office complex opened in late 1999. The refuge headquarters is at the junction of Garces Highway and Corcoran Road. Situated on the southern margin of what was once the largest freshwater wetland complex in the western United States, Kern Refuge provides optimum wintering habitat for migratory birds with an emphasis on waterfowl and waterbirds.

Through restoration and maintenance of native habitat diversity, the refuge preserves a remnant of the historic valley uplands in the San Joaquin Desert, an ecosystem known to provide habitat for several endangered species. Approximately 8,200 visitors annually participate in refuge programs ranging from wildlife viewing to waterfowl hunting.

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

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kern/

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 Kern, CA, with limited telework available. Regular field opportunities will also be available and travel to and from field sites will be supported. Bunkhouse lodging may also be available. 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 selected candidate for this fellowship would contribute to ongoing efforts to restore habitat for alkali-scrub associated threatened and endangered species in upland desert management units of the Kern NWR. Since 2019, much of our restoration work has focused on the removal of invasive salt cedar, or tamarisk, via mechanical and chemical treatments. The fellow would spend part of their time retreating salt cedar resprouts using foliar or basal bark applications of herbicide. For this portion of the fellowship, the candidate would be trained in how to safely prepare an herbicide mix, use a backpack sprayer, wear personal protective equipment, clean herbicide equipment, and access remote field sites using field vehicles. Herbicide treatment will be conducted alongside a team of ACE crew members whose primary responsibility will be invasive species removal.

When not participating in invasive species treatment, the primary responsibilities of the Science in the Service fellow would pertain to endangered wildlife monitoring using remote surveying methods. To evaluate wildlife response to our habitat restoration project, we have over two dozen wildlife cameras deployed across our upland desert units. In particular, we are interested in the occupancy and movement of the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. The selected fellow will be trained in how to deploy wildlife cameras, bait them with canine lure, check batteries and SD cards, and process camera trap photos. The fellow will also assist with monitoring the endangered Buena Vista lake ornate shrew using wildlife cameras. This camera project will require similar training and field responsibilities to the kit fox study. Besides camera trap work, wildlife monitoring projects will include conducting local habitat surveys of shrub density and vegetative ground covers, and searching for kit fox scat.

Finally, the selected candidate will participate in vegetation surveys of refuge wetlands to assess habitat quality and food availability for migratory waterfowl and waterbirds. No written or oral deliverables will be required for this position. However, if the fellow seeks experience with data analysis and spatial land-mapping, the fellow will have the opportunity to receive a basic training in relevant software, such as ArcGIS Pro, RStudio, and PRESENCE. Along the same lines, we aim to cater field work and natural resource experiences to the individual interests of the selected candidate. We will do our best to diversify the fellow's toolkit to better prepare them for their career goals, and to foster their interest in wildlife conservation.

• 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: 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: On site bunkhouse lodging may be provided free of charge for fellows. The bunkhouse is a shared space and has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with full amenities: electricity, running water, heat, AC, showers etc. Each bed has sheets, a pillow, blanket, and a towel. There is a large, shared kitchen that has a full set of pots and pans, stove, oven, microwave, 2 refrigerators, coffee maker, potable water, and cleaning supplies.

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, Habitat Restoration and Endangered Wildlife Monitoring Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8 Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC