Kings Mountain Vegetation Management Intern

Location: Kings Mountain National Military Park

Reports to: Diana Bramble, Superintendent

Locations: Based in Blacksburg, SC

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt (900-hour AmeriCorps National Service Term)

AmeriCorps Education Award: upon completion of term $3,447.50.

Stipend: $800/week – paid bi-weekly  

Other Benefits: Housing provided onsite. Public Land Corps Certificate.

Professional Development & Travel Funds: $5,800

Start/End date:  09/03/2024 – 04/11/2025 (30 weeks)

Positions Available: 1

Position opened until filled. 

Southeast Conservation Corps:  
SECC empowering young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.  

The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. The SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.  

Site Description:
Kings Mountain National Military Park (KIMO) is one of the four units that comprise the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution group in the upcountry of South Carolina. These units preserve a shared history and unique stories associated with the military events in the Carolinas, which substantially influenced the outcome of the Revolution. KIMO was established on March 3, 1931, to preserve and commemorate the site of the pivotal Revolutionary War battle fought on October 7, 1780. The battle was fought entirely by militia, and the long rifle (rather than smoothbore musket) was the primary weapon. The Battle of Kings Mountain was the first major patriot victory following the fall of Charleston and was a significant turning point in the war. Today, the National Military Park encompasses nearly 4,000 acres, which includes the battlefield, the historic 1803 Howser House, vast natural resources, and miles of recreational trails. More Information about the park is available at Kings Mountain National Military Park.

Overview: 

KIMO serves as a unique example of a historic site with an abundance of natural resources and recreational opportunities. Native ecosystems are tied to the historic landscape and contribute to cultural landscape values and site interpretation. Managing these resources in order to preserve them for future generations and to contribute to the historic and cultural values requires active monitoring of native plant communities, identifying and eradicating exotic and invasive species, and performing mechanical work to facilitate prescribed fire activities. The vegetation management work performed by this position will contribute towards work that benefits the native ecosystem and cultural landscape improvements at a site that is relatively intact and well preserved (keeping it that way!). Interns are needed to assist with accomplishing the goals of the Vegetation Management branch. Current employee staffing levels are not adequate to achieve current management goals. The interns will benefit the natural resource by restoring the landscape through the control of non-native invasive plant and forest pest species and restoring native species. 

Position Responsibilities:

Control invasive and exotic plants using integrated pest management techniques. 

• Gather and transport supplies and materials: PPE, chemicals, tools, and/or maps/ GPS equipment.
• Travel to and from the treatment site via truck, UTV, and/or foot; apply management techniques; accurately document work performed, such as the number of plants treated and volume of chemicals used.
• Perform manual vegetation management: cut and pile plant materials, apply pesticides as necessary, and transport cut materials. Balance vegetation removal (selective thinning) to protect important ecological areas, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitats.
• Apply backcountry safety and emergency procedures.

Assist with native plant restoration activities and cultural landscape enhancement. 

• Identify and document native plant habitats; make and document field observations of natural resource conditions. Makes preliminary determinations on the cause of any problems noted and provides suggestions for mitigation.
• Planting native plants and controlling invasive vegetation using hand and power tools.
• Contribute towards site restoration project development: identify areas for improvement, scope of work, and develop maps and graphic representation.

Assist with prescribed fire burn unit preparation.

• Identify species to treat with prescribed fire in accordance with fire management plan.
• Cut and pile woody materials in manner which promotes or enhances prescribed fire. Work will be carried out with the guidance of wildland fire management specialist.
• Contribute to GIS mapping and data collection for prescribed fire ecology documentation.

The supervisor will guide overall work assignments (quantity, quality, deadlines, priorities, instructions), and the intern will often independently carry out assignments to completion. Unusual situations are referred to the supervisor Intern will be faced with various choices regarding decisions to make involving their work, requiring the incumbent to recognize the existence of and differences among a few easily recognizable situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Associate Degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife and Fisheries, or a related field.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License – Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years.
• Ability to hike/backpack in mountainous terrain on and off trail up to ten miles per day in hot or cold humid conditions.
  Note: Exposure to poison ivy and biting/stinging insects is likely, so those who are highly allergic should carefully consider this.
• Education or experience in biology, entomology, plant pathology, botany, horticulture, agriculture, or related experience.
• Ability to work cooperatively and safely as a group member and learn new skills.
• Must be able to use pesticides safely following required handling, application, and disposal instructions, including wearing personal protective equipment.
• Ability to learn safe use of cutting tools (manual or powered).
• Agency (SECC) provided uniform is required wear to be identifiable to the visiting public and act as a representative of the National Park Service while serving as an intern.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiar with GIS applications and working within data management systems. Experience with plant identification and performing manual vegetation management work.
• First aid/CPR
• Plant and/or invertebrate identification skills beneficial.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

AmeriCorps Qualifications: 
To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. 

Trainings provided:

NPS vehicle operator protocol and daily check-out procedures. Species identification, management techniques, Hazard communication- Worker Protection-Right to Know information about hazards associated with pesticides, required personal protective equipment and how to properly use it, treatment methods, GPS use, backcountry safety and emergency procedures, first aid/CPR and bear awareness.

Transportation:

A personal vehicle is not required but is recommended due to the limited public transportation. NPS vehicles will be provided for on-the-job transportation only.

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 any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Outdoor Skills (where appropriate):

Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.  

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.

Additional Notes:

All applicants are required to perform a criminal history check, offers of employment are contingent upon results.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.  

To Apply: 

Follow the SECC link and complete the application. Please include 3 references, resume, and copy of your transcripts (unofficial okay). You can put the references in a word doc and upload it alongside your resume. A cover letter is encouraged but not required.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Diana Bramble

Superintendent

Kings Mountain National Military Park

(864) 936-7921 EXT: 202
diana_bramble@nps.gov 

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson

Individual Placement Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

(423) 422-4976

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org