Science in the Service Fellow,North American Bat Monitoring and Tribal Bat Education and Outreach- Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8

Science in the Service Fellow,North American Bat Monitoring and Tribal Bat Education and Outreach- 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 bat monitoring and tribal engagement projects alongside Pacific Southwest Region staff.

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

Start Date: September September 2023

Estimated 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: Arcata Fish & Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA (but some work can be completed virtually/teleservice- preferably located within Region 8)

Field work to be conducted in and around Arcata or on the Klamath River (there may be occasional elements that can be completed while at home community). Reporting to the duty station will depend on specific tasks for that week or meetings to attend, etc. Some of the work will be with external partners or FWS staff not stationed in Arcata.

The Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office (AFWO) is located in Arcata, California. This office was established in 1977 by Gary Rankel. The AFWO staff consists of fisheries and wildlife biologists, technicians, and support personnel who conduct a variety of conservation activities applicable to Northwest California. AFWO's diverse workload responsibility includes field research and monitoring, regulatory and advisory roles in various federal agencies, habitat conservation planning on nonfederal lands, permit review, and many other biological related activities.

For more information about the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/office/arcata-fish-and-wildlife/about-us

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: Ideally over the course of the fellowship, the fellow will be able to have face-to-face visits with staff with the Migratory Bird Program. This may include traveling to Sacramento or some other appropriate location once or twice during the term of the fellowship.

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.

As the listing for little brown bat is in process, the Klamath Dam removal project proceeds with little brown bats being addressed in the final plan, and having baseline data becomes more important as the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome creeps ever closer to our Region, this fellowship would provide USFWS an opportunity to expand participation in bat work by our Tribal partners.

In close collaboration with Cal Poly Humboldt's Inter-tribal Student Services program, Trevor Super (Yreka FWO, tribal education and outreach) and Bronwyn Hogan (RO, White-nose Syndrome and NA Bat coordinator), the fellow would develop a tribal bat and outreach plan, and would learn about and train to conduct both river-specific bat activity surveys and how to conduct and expand North American Bat Monitoring Projects on refuges and/or tribal lands.

The fellow would have the opportunity to gain skills that would allow them to be able to teach others, and possibly became a part of proposed tribal NA Bat monitoring training being developed in coordination with USGS, as well as provide data for use by the USFWS as we evaluate how to monitor and track at-risk species such as little brown bat and hoary bat.

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

• Taking part in the planned Sept 2023 Cultural and Bat Education and Outreach weekend held at the Ah Pah Yurok Cultural Center. Using this as a model for developing bat education and outreach programs to offer to other tribes.
• Learning about and become an NA Bat "ambassador": this could include assisting tribes interested in becoming involved with NA Bat surveys, learning about grants and training opportunities or establishing an NA Bat cell at Humboldt Bay NWR.
• Assisting Ted Weller of partner agency US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station in Arcata, with bat field work which will include hands-on training in bat ecology and survey techniques, from acoustic detector and mist net set-up, and could include training in bat handling if the fellow is willing to get rabies vaccination series.
• Working with other Cal Poly Humboldt tribal student(s) doing pre-dam removal bat surveys on the Klamath River in coordination with the Service and the Yurok Tribal Wildlife Department, with the aim of expanding baseline bat surveys along other rivers in the Region
• Creating a tribal bat education and outreach plan, following the blueprint of the Sept 2022 Cultural and Bat Education and Outreach weekend held at the Yurok Ah Pah Cultural Center, and one of the following:
• Contacting at least two tribes to introduce them to bat research, explain the options for grant and/or training support for NA Bat work on tribal land or by tribal students/community members and inviting them to host or attend a bat education event.
• Learning Echoclean and process (using provided acoustic software) a set of up to two weeks of bat data from bat detector deployment provided by FWS staff from a location of interest. Note if any little brown bat, Yuma myotis or hoary bat calls are identified by the software and observe how to manually vet those calls.

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:

USFWS staff will provide introductions if needed (though we encourage the fellow chosen, if their home community is in or associated with Region 8, to begin with their home community and neighbors).

USFWS staff will provide introductions, information and access to additional needed training in coordination with the NA Bat program tribal outreach coordinator at USGS (Rachel Shively)

Forest Service Pacific SW Research Station staff in Arcata have agreed to provide training in bat acoustic survey techniques and, if the fellow is able and willing to receive rabies vaccinations, how to handle bats in mist nets.

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

Opportunity to attend National and Regional WNS and NA Bat community of practice meetings/calls (~4-6 hours per month as schedule allows)

Opportunities to attend and present at Arcata (virtual or in-person) and RO staff meetings (virtual), as well as attend other available presentations as interest and schedule allow (~4 hours per month)

Opportunities to learn about other federal and state agencies doing bat and other wildlife work (Forest Service, USGS, CDFW) (hours TBD depending on schedule and availability)

Opportunity to visit national wildlife refuges such as Humboldt, others as opportunity allows (hours TBD depending on schedule and availability)

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.
• Ability to conduct field work involving hiking and carrying equipment
• 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:
• Biological Sciences- i.e., Natural Resources Management, Biology, Wildlife Conservation, Fisheries, Zoology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Genetics, Microbiology, Chemistry, Land Management, Botany, Soil Science, Forestry, Invasive Species management, Plant Development
• 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 based indoors and 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.

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,North American Bat Monitoring and Tribal Bat Education and Outreach Pacific Southwest Region, Region 8 Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC