Pollinator Science Members – Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking two pollinator science members to contribute to pollinator projects alongside FWS Staff. Major duties will include organizing and conducting sampling events to collect data on pollinator communities, synthesis of pollinator monitoring data and research findings, and development of a project summary. The goal of this project is to increase sampling and data coverage to thoroughly document the pollinators (i.e., bees and butterflies) across several National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast to better inform habitat management.   

For more information about ACE, please visit usaconservation dot org.

Start Date:  March 2025

End Date: October 2025

**32-week commitment required, approximately 1280 hours**

Location Details/Description: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is located in north Alabama within a rapidly developing landscape along the Tennessee River between Huntsville and Decatur. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.  A diversity of habitat types provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for 50,000 wintering waterfowl and 25,000 sandhill cranes , as well as nesting sites for neotropical migrant birds and many species of resident wildlife. Although designated as a waterfowl refuge, the 35,000 acre refuge provides for a wide spectrum of wildlife. Its great diversity of habitat includes deep river channels, tributary creeks, tupelo swamps, open backwater embayments, bottomland hardwoods, pine uplands, and agricultural fields. The refuge is also home to 115 species of fish, 74 species of reptiles and amphibians, 47 species of mammals, 38 species of freshwater mussels, and 26 species of freshwater snails. This project will contribute to a greater understanding of insect pollinator species that reside within the Wheeler Refuge system.

For more information about Wheeler NWR, please visit the FWS website. 

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the accomplishment of:

• Generate, archive and synthesize raw pollinator observation data;
• Conduct surveys for bumblebees, other bees, and butterflies
• Learn and apply basic bee taxonomy skills to pre-process samples
• Enhance butterfly and plant identification skills
• Coordinate and oversee “pollinator-blitzes” with community scientists
• Curate data collected during individual and group surveys
• Work with data managers and other I&M staff to ensure data quality, management, and archiving
• Other duties may include:
• Intermittent travel within the Southeast to conduct surveys across multiple Refuges.
• Work with professional scientific staff within the Inventory and Monitoring program on a variety of monitoring related surveys occurring on the host NWR
• Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System.

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.

Work 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: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/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 and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. 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: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing will be located on Wheeler NWR land in a 3 bed, 2 bath bunkhouse. It is fully furnished with wifi and good cellular reception.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear 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. 

Position-specific training entails: 

• training on specimen preparation (bees, especially)
• site-specific training on sampling procedures (e.g., pollard walk, deployment of bowl traps)
• participate in online trainings (e.g., GIS, database management)

Scholarship Funding Opportunity:  The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE’s Access and Inclusion Scholarship. This is a $500 scholarship  which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Scholarship recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of scholarships 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 will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• Ability to keep work organized and communicate orally to determine needs and follow procedures.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Time and workload management skills, including the ability to assess and implement task priorities given program priorities and time-frames.
• Organizational and information management skills, particularly in regard to information and data management for accurate and efficient accomplishment of data entry, QA/QC, basic visualizations, summary and reporting.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website at usaconservation dot org.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an advanced degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, entomology, or a related subject and/or have relevant experience in similar subject areas.
• Experience with insect sampling.
• Experience in scientific literature reviews and information synthesis.
• Experience accurately documenting, entering and managing data and documents, using programs including Microsoft and ArcGIS.
• Research and/or monitoring experience specific to pollinator habitats or species.
• Experience with field data collection electronically (e.g., using iPads) and taking appropriate notes/data on paper and with data curation and archiving
• Experience in insect identification and sample preparation
• Interest in/affinity for insects and their habitats
• Experience and/or knowledge of the mission of the USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System and other federal land management agencies
• Experience with scientific outreach to the public – comfort leading small groups in data collection, ability to coordinate programs with partners (e.g., arrange, schedule logistics for group sampling events)

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• 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 35 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. During inclement weather, members  will conduct office tasks (e.g., data entry) in indoor office conditions.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position will 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.