Visitor Services Members- Biscayne National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking SIX Visitor services Members to contribute to visitor services projects alongside NPS staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our usaconservation website.

Start Date: July 2024

End Date: (or 43 weeks after start)

*a 43-week commitment is required for ONE member*

Start date: July 2024

End date: (or 23 weeks after start)

*a 23-week minimum commitment is required for ONE member*

Start date: July 2024

End date: (or 9 weeks after start)

*a 9-week minimum commitment is required for FOUR members*

Location Details/Description: Homestead, FL

Dante Fascell Visitor Center, 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033

To learn more about Biscayne National Park, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The interns will help the park expand its capacity to conduct youth programming and activities, educate visitors on the natural and cultural resources, and conduct stewardship focused activities. The interns will help the park engage local, underrepresented communities by helping to lead free local youth summer camp programs, teach fishing clinics, guide paddling tours for beginners, conduct science labs, and represent the NPS at offsite community events. The interns will also increase NPS online presence through the creation of visual media that promotes park resources and invites the public to engage with the resources in a responsible manner.

• Interns will help conduct summer youth camp programs and general interpretive and educational visitor services through activities such as fishing clinics, paddling classes, and science labs.
• Interns will help staff the visitor center and share information about Biscayne's natural and cultural resources with park visitors
• Interns will work with other divisions to conduct creel surveys at local marinas, collecting recreational fishing data as well as assisting with lobster mini-season data collection.
• This position will assist with answering visitor, telephone, and written inquiries
• Interns will work with NPS staff to rove park sites.

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: 5 days per week, likely including weekends.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE member is expected to contribute ~ 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week for the 43 & 23 week internships and $680/week for the 9 week internships to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: The 23 and 9 week positions may be eligible for a 300-hour (for the 9 week positions) and 900-hour (for the 23 week position) AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $$1,459.26 (300-hour) and $3,447.50 (900-hour) upon successful completion of a complete service term and either 900-hours or 300-hours depending on position length. The 43 week position is not AmeriCorps eligible.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Qualifying Child Care Coverage: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage. Additional enrollment steps are required.

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 on our usaconservation website.

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

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.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Driving is NOT required: A current and valid form of ID will be required upon hiring.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• 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 or as defined by AmeriCorps.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our usaconservation website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an undergraduate degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as education, life sciences, social sciences, leisure studies, outdoor recreation, graphics design, business management, marketing, and public policy and planning.
• Knowledge of marine sciences, outdoor recreation, teaching techniques and lesson plan development.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in South Florida weather with school groups and general public while conducting environmental education programming with minimal supervision.
• Deep interest in education, outdoor recreation, marine sciences, and national parks.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires [frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing]. Manual dexterity required for [use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment]. Required to [stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch]. [Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.]
• Vision Requirements: Requires [close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus].
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Mainly work outdoors in South Florida maritime conditions. Temperatures can exceed 100 F in the summer and bring strong storms with heavy rain. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are prevalent year-round.
• Noise Environment: Light noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique 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 NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS 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 ACE's online application page for this position on Select one: [the usaconservation website] [our website at usaconservation dot org]. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Member Manager, Maya Opara-Nadi.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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 Visitor Services Members Biscayne National Park Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC