National Park Service Academy Vegetation Resources Member

Job Description
Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Acadia National Park, Glacier National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park, is seeking FOUR members as part of the 2023 National Park Service Academy cohort. During these 12-16 week positions and additional one week March Experience, the members will learn various field techniques for managing natural resources on public lands with a specific emphasis on vegetation and wildlife habitat while simultaneously learning about the National Park Service (NPS) as a career path.

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

About NPS Academy: National Park Service Academy aims to support the development of a more representative NPS workforce by connecting dynamic, young adults through an experiential program designed around three themes - Connections, Diversity, Legacy. Through participation, members build their conservation ethic, intercultural awareness, and career readiness skills and competencies. NPS Academy introduces participants to the NPS Universal Competencies that are foundational to all NPS career paths within a cohort of like minded peers.

Program Goals:The main goals of NPS Academy are:

• Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
• Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationships
• Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
• Create a more inclusive and representative future for public lands

Locations and Start Dates:
This posting is for THREE distinct locations.

Please indicate the location(s) you would like to be considered for in your cover letter.

Acadia National Park : Bar Harbor, ME (1 Member), 5/08/23-8/25/23, 16 wks

Glacier National Park : West Glacier, MT (1 Member), 5/08/2023-8/12/2023- 14 wks (flexible start)

Rocky Mountain National Park : Estes Park, CO (2 Members), 5/22/23-8/11/23, 12 wks

For more information on Acadia, Glacier, and Rock Mountain National Park, please visit their respective sites: www.nps.gov/acad | www.nps.gov/glac | www.nps.gov/romo

*the full date commitment and participation in the orientation March 6th-10th are required for these positions*


Living Allowance: Members are expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $560/week, less any applicable taxes, to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. NPS Academy allowances are designed to prepare members for similar allowance structure at entry level positions at their service site and some variation exists due to local cost of living differences.


Housing: NPS Academy members will be accommodated in provided park service housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing varies by park site.


Scheduling: The typical work week is 7am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday, with Friday-Sunday off.


Position Description:
This posting is for THREE distinct locations.
Please indicate the location(s) you are interested in in your cover letter.

Acadia National Park : Bar Harbor, ME (1 Member), May 8th, 2023 - August 25, 2023, 16 wks
This position will be primarily invasive plant control with native plant restoration as a secondary commitment. This member will participate in native plant salvage and revegetation efforts. Invasive plant management activities include manual and chemical removal as well as herbicide applications.

Glacier National Park : West Glacier, MT (1 Member), June 5th, 2023 - August, 25th, 2023, 12 wks
This position will assist in carrying out field activities involved in Native Plant Restoration. Activities include seed collection, seed cleaning, plant propagation, nursery maintenance, out-planting plant materials and invasive plant control. The incumbent participates in revegetation activities such as site preparation, transplanting and seeding.

Rocky Mountain National Park : Estes Park, CO (2 Members), May 22, 2023 - August 11, 2023, 12 wks
This position will be a mix of both manual and herbicide based invasive plant control, vegetation monitoring, outplanting and seeding of native plant species, mulching and erosion control, and nursery and greenhouse operations specific within the vegetation program. In addition there are usually opportunities to work on other park based projects depending on interest of the member and availability of projects.

In order to give Academy members a well-rounded experience to develop a variety of job skills, they may also have opportunities to work on other projects, and with other work groups and park staff from natural and cultural resources, facility management, interpretation, and visitor and resource protection. Members will work with both park staff and volunteers to accomplish tasks, and may be given opportunities to present their work to groups in informal settings.


Skills and Experience: An important reminder: all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job; a good attitude, curiosity for learning and plants, and a willingness to positively contribute to the team are the only skill prerequisites to finding success.

Essential skills and experience: Ability to work well with others, general interest in natural resource management, plants, and botany

Additional skills and experience that are helpful: Willingness to learn about plant identification, restoration ecology, plant propagation and/or natural resource management

Skills and experience that members will gain from this position: plant identification, native plant propagation, native plant restoration, invasive plant species identification and management specific to various regions in the US (Rocky Mountain, northeast, etc)


Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions: Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical Demands:
-The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required.
-Requires the ability to walk up to five miles over uneven terrain in extreme weather conditions and stand on their feet for lengthy periods of time, and sometimes in wetlands (Acadia-waders provided)

Weight Lifted or Force Exerted:
-Frequently moves up to 25 pounds, occasionally moves up to 50 pounds.
-Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be moved and carried on a routine basis (for Rocky Mountain and Glacier only)

Vision Requirements :
-Must have adequate vision to walk on uneven, rocky, or terrain covered with vegetation.
-Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

Environmental :
-The work environment varies constantly. Most work is outdoors, and is performed in temperatures from 90 degrees F to below freezing. Severe mountain weather conditions can result in extreme heat, rain, snow, and high winds. At Acadia, summer temperatures range from 40-85 degrees.
-Work takes place both in indoor and outdoor settings. Work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g., exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and insects.)

Travel:
-Overnight backcountry travel is optional but available. Backcountry overnight trips could vary from one night up to four nights if interested and could include tent camping or stays in a backcountry patrol cabin.
-Occasional overnight travel to other areas of the park may occur.

Additional Benefits:
AmeriCorps : This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award (~$1718.25) upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authorit y: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects are subject to specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the PLC, you are still eligible to apply for the NPS Academy position with ACE. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility.

Outdoor Perks : As an ACE EPIC member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.


ACE Requirements:

• Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with 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.
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo a criminal background 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and the NPS Academy program, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/?keywords=academy. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time but will close by January 10th at the latest. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Academy Program Manager, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@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.