Natural Resource Management Individual Placement

Position Title: Natural Resource Management Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Pecos National Historical Park

1 Peach Drive, Hwy 63, Pecos, New Mexico 87552

COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 4/14/2025
• End Date: 10/10/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is 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, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change 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 work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas 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; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The purpose of Pecos National Historical Park (PNHP) is to interpret the history of the Pecos area and its “gateway” role between the plains and the Rio Grande Valley as well as to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources of the Pecos Pueblo, Spanish missions, Santa Fe trail, Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass, and Forked Lightning Ranch.

The individual placement will serve directly with the park Biologist and assist the Natural Resource Management team including the Chief of Resources, Archaeologist, Biologist, and Biological Science Technician with tasks necessary to manage the natural resources of the park. Due to the small staff size, this individual placement will be critical to completing important project work that will benefit the community and environment.

The individual placement will be exposed to a wide variety of tasks and skills related to resource management of an NPS Unit. The participant will also have the opportunity to work and network with various NPS groups such as NPS Inventory and Monitoring Team and Invasive Plant Management Team as wells as U.S Geological Survey monitoring bat populations and various researchers.

Description of Duties:

• Removal of invasive tree species from historical pastures using rechargeable reciprocating saws and pruners
• Non-native plant management including:
  • Removal of non-native plants with brush cutters and weed eaters
  • Pulling and/or digging up non-native plants
  • Potential for individual placement to assist staff with spraying non-native plants using herbicide in a backpack sprayer (ability for individual placement to apply herbicide will be determined by several factors. More information will be given during the interview.)
• Map non-native plant treatments with GPS units
• Removal and maintenance of fencing within the park
• Native Plant Restoration project using native seed and hydro mulching/hydroseeding equipment
• Collect data and map work using GIS programs on tablets
• Edit and store field data using GIS programs
• Monitor work completed by taking photos and establishing photo points
• Write daily logs and reports of work completed
• Support youth conservation crews with removing invasive trees from pastures, maintaining beaver exclosures, and removing exotic plant species
• Learn plant identification skills
• Monitor vegetation plots and transects
• Place game cameras throughout the park to document wildlife
• Conduct bird surveys
• Thin trees in archaeological sites and photo monitor work within sites

Conditions: Uneven terrain, hiking off-trail/unmarked paths, tripping hazards, hauling/carrying slash, hauling with a wheelbarrow, sharp saw blades, barbed wire, herbicides, flying objects from weed eaters

Trainings provided:

• UTV training provided (if available)
• GPS/tablet mapping, GIS related to position
• Reciprocating saw training
• Safety training
• Fence training
• Use of wire cutting tools
• Herbicide training
• Weed eater training

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 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 years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Personal vehicle for use during time off

Preferred Qualifications:

• Landscaping experience
• Experience working outdoors
• Experience with weed eaters, pruners, saws, hand tools
• Familiarity with weed removal (pulling, weed eaters, backpack sprayers)
• Plant identification skills
• GPS & GIS experience
• Detailed note taking
• Crew work

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the NPS and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

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
• 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
• 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

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 DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The NPS 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 gov’t 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.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 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.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week
• Healthcare Coverage
• Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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.

Program Name and Contact Information:

SamJean Simmons

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org 

Consideration will be given as applications are received and this position may close at any time.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. 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.

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