Vegetation Monitoring Team Members, Vale District Office

Summary

The American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Vale District is seeking Two Monitoring Team Members to contribute to vegetation monitoring projects alongside the BLM..

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

Start Date: 05/08/2023

Estimated End Date: 11/03/2023 *a 26 week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Vale, OR ( Malheur Field Office)

Vale, OR has a rich ranching and rural history; there are ample rodeos and county fairs to attend during the summer. Nearby Weiser, ID annually hosts the national old-time fiddle competition in June. Outdoor recreation near Vale is expansive with public lands surrounding the area ranging from arid desert to montane ecosystems. Although abundant, facilitated trails and access are limited, with just a few established hiking trails, most recreation requires horses or all-terrain vehicles for access. It is 1.5 hours driving to the W, N or E to reach forested recreation. Shopping is limited in Vale (grocery store, hardware store, and gas stations), but Ontario OR, 16 miles to the E provides a larger selection including a natural foods store. If you are willing to travel 1 hour you are in the Boise area with unlimited cultural events and shopping opportunities. There is no public transportation in the Vale area, if you want to venture outside of Vale you will need a car.

For more information on the BLM Vale District, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/office/vale-district-office

Position Overview: The ACE Team Members will work with the Vale District monitoring team lead to accomplish vegetation monitoring throughout the Vale District. Duties include establishing and revisiting post-fire monitoring sites to assess the success of natural recovery, seedings, herbicide treatments, and shrub plantings. Site visits will entail navigating to pre-identified coordinates in remote locations, which may entail 1-3 mile hikes on rocky terrain. Pre-determined monitoring protocols will utilize a variety of monitoring methods including line-point-intercept that will be used to assess the vegetation. Vale District will provide vegetation monitoring training for methods and data recording. Data will be collected on paper and electronic forms. Due to the remoteness of some locations overnight camping may be necessary. Other field duties include, but are not limited to, collecting and drying vegetative material to assess live fuel moisture, as well as assisting with flagging fuel treatment unit boundaries. In office work will include downloading data, filing data in electronic files, and labeling photos. There may be opportunities to assess the data and assist with annual monitoring reports.

Monitoring is essential to assess the recovery of the vegetation communities post-fire. This information is used to assess the success of any treatments that were implemented to assist in the recovery, or to assess the success of the vegetation recovering on its own. This information also helps inform future treatments by showing what was successful and what was not.

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct monitoring and collect data on vegetation in burned areas.
• Conduct Quality Assurance/Quality Control on the data.
• Enter data in appropriate databases and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

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.

Schedule: Anticipated work schedule will be Monday through Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm Mountain Time Zone. Days and hours may vary throughout the position and there is some room for occasional flexibility in the work schedule for specific circumstances.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $570/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. Per-diem is available for a flat field rate of $40/day

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.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or BLM. The member will be responsible to find their own housing. However, a Housing Allowance is included of up to $100/week. There is limited no public bus service within the Vale area. A car is necessary if you want to venture outside of Vale.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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. Specific BLM training may include various protocols for field methods, safety, and defensive driving.

Qualifications

This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in land management.

ACE Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• 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 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.

BLM Required:

• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation .
• Proven ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals
• Ability and willingness to hike long distances on rugged terrain in temperatures that may exceed 100℉ and work 10 hour days.
• Pass a federal background check

Preferred:

• Applicants for the position must hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as ecology, botany, or natural resource management.
• Knowledge of vegetation monitoring.
• Deep interest in ecology, fire ecology, or rangeland management.
• Experience with ArcGIS and database management.

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 Member Manager Celia Demers, at cdemers@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 Vegetation Monitoring Team Members, Vale District Office Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC