Science in the Service Fellow, NWRS Infrastructure Management and Visitor Services- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

Science in the Service Fellow, NWRS Infrastructure Management and Visitor Services- 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 Social Analysis of Wildlife Refuge Visitation projects alongside Pacific Southwest Region staff.

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

Start Date: September September 2023Estimated End Date: December 2023*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: Region 8 Regional Office, Sacramento, CA (but can work virtually/teleservice- preferably located within Region 8)

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

Position Overview:

The US Fish & Wildlife Service 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 (formerly called the HACU Internship) 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 fellow will review literature and current studies analyzing cultural, social, financial and other significant barriers to participation in wildlife-dependent recreation activities at National Wildlife Refuges. The fellow will iInterview refuge staff, visitors, and academic professionals with expertise in this area. The fellow will develop recommendations in support of an existing regional vision document to make NWR sites more welcoming and attractive to audiences who are not historically typical refuge visitors. The fellow will assist regional refuge staff with internal communications related to the regional vision for building an inclusive experience at all sites' programs under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fellow will also assist regional refuge staff with other developmental duties as assigned related to visitor services, planning, and infrastructure management.

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

• Review academic literature related to cultural barriers for people accessing outdoor recreation and develop a bibliography of relevant studies.
• Interview agency staff and academics as well as visitors to collect first-person accounts of existing barriers to wildlife refuge access as well as best practices for removing barriers.
• Assist visitor services planning staff in communicating best practices for welcoming and orienting new visitors to field staff.
• Key deliverable will be a literature review, analysis of common barriers, and brief recommendations to remove barriers to access for people who do not currently feel welcomed at national wildlife refuges and similar sites.

Schedule: Duties will tentatively be carried out between 6am and 6pm 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 education level and work schedule to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

For example, a graduate student working 20 hours/week would receive a stipend of $340/week. An undergraduate student working 20 hours/week would receive a stipend of $320/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. 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.

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.

Developmental Opportunities:

Please note that the Science in the Service working group will assist stations in developing fellows via the following mechanisms:

• Virtual orientation
• 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

In addition, the fellow will be provided networking opportunities to work with Service Social Scientists from the Inventory and Monitoring Branch of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The fellow will be given assignments and have opportunities to work with both Visitor Services (environmental education, interpretation, outreach) and Infrastructure Management staff. The fellow will be offered short-term details and assignments to field locations nearby home station. The fellow will be given opportunities to interview and job shadow staff at various levels of the regional organization.

The fellow will be provided with necessary tools to perform research including a laptop suitable for accessing the internet.

The fellow will be mentored by senior visitor services staff in the region.

The fellow will be given opportunities to travel within the region (near home station) to perform first-person research related to the key deliverable.

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 driving is required: 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.
• Experience conducting independent research, bibliographies, and providing clear citations.
• Fluency in Spanish
• Candidates will not be evaluated based on prior work experience, as none is expected.

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. Eligible areas of study include:

• Communications/Marketing-i.e., Public Relations, Graphic Design, Social Media, Advertising, Campaign Management, Journalism, Videography/Photography, Science Illustration, Literature/Writing, Foreign Language
• Education/Outreach- i.e., Environmental Education, Community Outreach, Visitor Services/Interpretation, Citizen Science, Environmental Engagement
• Geographic and Information Sciences- i.e., GIS, Cartography, Geography, Hydrology, Statistics, Modeling, Engineering, Land Survey, Geology, Spatial Analysis, Remote Sensing
• Social Sciences/Humanities-i.e. Human Dimensions, Behavioral Science, Social/Environmental Justice, Native American Studies, Law and Policy, Environmental Policy, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Political Science/Government

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Position is primarily based indoors. 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 10 lbs., occasionally moves up to 25 pounds.
• Environmental: Primary indoor conditions. When indoors, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: 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.

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 Member Manager Nich Jackosky at njackosky@usaconservation.org or 628-888-9336.

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 Science in the Service Fellow, NWRS Infrastructure Management and Visitor Services Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8 Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC