Biological Science Technician Individual Placement

Position Title: Biological Science Technician Individual Placement – AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service – Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

40 Refuge Road

San Acacia, NM, 87831 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 1/18/27
• End Date: 5/21/27
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 
• 18 weeks

COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

First review of applications will take place by [2 weeks from posting]. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.

Purpose:

AmeriCorpsis the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas/Oklahoma that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program. 

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. 

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)- National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is unique in that it was set aside “to preserve and enhance the integrity and the natural character of the ecosystems of the property by creating a wildlife refuge managed as nearly as possible in its natural state.” The refuge is not managed for specific wildlife species but instead focuses on letting natural processes such as flood and fire to prevail.

The selected candidate for this individual placement will support refuge staff with wetland water management for wintering waterbirds, oryx surveys, waterfowl counts, invasive species fence out projects, invasive plant removal, permitting and environmental compliance work, willow planting and wetland restoration, desert vegetation surveys, and endangered tortoise releases.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone beginning their career in wildlife conservation. There will be many opportunities to develop important technical skills such as study design, data organization, report writing, construction and equipment maintenance, GIS use, plant and animal identification, and numerous survey methods. The participant will also have opportunities to collaborate with various departments and network with professionals in the conservation field.

 
Description of Duties:

• Wetland water management - learn from the refuge biologist how to flood moist soil units in the winter to mimic the natural flood regime of the river and create habitat and food for waterbirds.
  • Open and clean out screw gates
  • Monitor water levels
  • Adapt management
  • Slowly fill units to provide access to food
  • Draw down to concentrate invertebrates
  • Close off water according to water rights
• Oryx Survey – support refuge biologist and other refuge staff with estimating

the population of oryx on the refuge

• Sign up and train participants.
• Conduct surveys.
• Enter data.
• Arroyo Fence construction – build specialized fence
  • Support maintenance team with designing a specialized fence that can withstand monsoon floods through arroyos.
  • Build example fence and test as a prototype
  • Create a statement of work for the contract construction of the same fence design in other arroyos.

Conditions: Uneven terrain, cold weather, driving in various conditions; exposure to electrical current, burns, crushing, pinching, sharp tools, physical labor.

 
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Personal vehicle for use outside of service hours.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for anyreason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A Department of Interior background clearance may be required before the selected candidate reports for service. The FWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.  

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service 
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Water management knowledge and techniques.
• Survey design and methodology, population size estimation. 
• Design, construction, and fabrication relevant to project, government contracting protocol.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $640 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $125 per week.
• Free housing available onsite; more information will be shared during the interview process.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.
• Members are eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs). 

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Program Contact information: 

SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.