Invasive Plant Control and Fuel Reduction Team Members – Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Complex

Invasive Plant Control and Fuel Reduction Team Members – Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Complex

Summary:

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking four (4) Team Members to contribute to a variety of fuel reduction projects on refuge lands and adjacent open space areas alongside USFWS Staff.

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

Start Date: 04/15/2024

Estimated End Date: 10/12/2024* (current funding supports 15 weeks until 7/27)

*15-week minimum commitment is required (7/27) with the potential to extend to 26 weeks (10/12) if funding allows.

Position Overview: The Team will support the USFWS with the herbicide treatment of non-native grasses (e.g., cheatgrass) and forbs that increase fire intensity, mowing and thinning to reduce hazardous fuel loading, and with general wildfire preparedness and prevention activities. Activities will include heavy equipment operation, mowing, seeding, backpack spraying and UTV spraying of herbicide, and ground disturbance work. Thinning fuels in shrub/woodland/riparian areas will include chainsaw use and will require lifting heavy objects and working in various weather conditions on rough terrain. Projects will be developed by fire management and habitat restoration staff and guided by modeling and risk assessment.

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.

Location Details/Description: Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex

The Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of Rocky Flats NWR, Two Ponds NWR, and Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR.

A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs.

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a 5,237-acre refuge in Golden, Colorado, and has striking vistas of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and rolling prairie grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. It is home to 239 migratory and resident wildlife species, including prairie falcons, deer, elk, coyotes, songbirds, and the federally threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is located in Arvada, Colorado and is the smallest urban refuge in the country. At 72 acres, the Refuge’s habitat hosts over 120 species of birds and a variety of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is located just northeast of Denver and is a 15,000-acre expanse of prairie, wetland and woodland habitat. The land has a unique story – it has survived the test of time and transitioned from farmland, to war-time manufacturing site, to wildlife refuge. It may be one of the finest conservation success stories in history and a place where wildlife thrives.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky-flats/about-us;

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky-mountain-arsenal/about-us;

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/two-ponds/about-us

Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday-Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

• Living Allowance: ACE Members are expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $810/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
• 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 at ​​https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
• Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or USFWS.
• Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, jackets, and hats, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.
• 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 training may include heavy equipment training, chainsaw training, fire management training, herbicide applicator training. ACE members are not permitted to serve as red-carded wildland firefighters.
• Grant Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE’s Access and Inclusion Grant. This is a $500 grant which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Grant recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of grants are available.

Qualifications

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.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• 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.
• For full eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an Associate’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as commercial herbicide application, chainsaw use, and tractor operation.
• Knowledge of fire management practices, invasive species control techniques, safety mindset, and grassland management.
• Ability and willingness to work in various weather conditions and meet the physical demands of the position, handle and work with herbicides and operate heavy equipment.
• Deep interest in range management, grassland management, and fire behavior.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools. Required to stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain.
• 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 50 lbs., ability to move up to 70 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• 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.