Range Monitoring Intern

Title:  Range Monitoring Intern (1 opening)

Start/End Date: June 3, 2024- August 2, 2024 (anticipated)

Living Stipend: $500/week

Term: 9 weeks

Reports To: Barbara Witmore (Range Management Specialist)

Location: BLM Farmington Field Office (6251 College Blvd. Farmington, NM 87402)

Status: 300-hour AmeriCorps Service Term; 40 hours/week (85% field work and 15% office work)

Benefits: Weekly housing allowance $200; AmeriCorps Education Award $1,459 with successful completion of the internship. Housing contacts will be available; more information will be given during interview.

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)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, 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 Individual Placement Program is managed from the CCNM office in Las Cruces.

Mentorship

These Individual Placement Positions are unique development opportunities. Interns 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 experiences for interns.

Position Summary:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office (FFO) manages over 1.4 million acres of surface estate and 2.7 million acres of mineral estate. The office is comprised of a diverse group of specialists who all serve the public and work to fulfill our agencies multiple use mission. The BLM is an integral part of the community, we work closely with our public land users to allow for responsible use and work to improve public lands.

The Rangeland Management Program’s overall goal is to ensure the health and productivity of public rangelands for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. Summer Range interns have been an integral part of maintaining consistency with necessary monitoring on various vegetative treatments and assessments for grazing permit renewals. Benefits from monitoring and assessments include the ability for Range staff to determine from monitoring what treatments work best for a given issue and environmental matters can be addressed with the renewed permit, maintaining the sustainability of grazing lands for future ranchers.

The FFO Range staff desires a motivated intern to help accomplish 2024 monitoring goals while gaining experience in multiple use management. This project will focus on the completion of post-monitoring of sagebrush treatments. Intern will receive training on monitoring protocol during the first week of service.  Intern will also assist Range Staff with scanning and filing written and photo documentation performed in previous field seasons as well as adding documents to hard copy folders. As time allows, the intern may assist staff with other monitoring projects such as rangeland health assessments (RHAs) livestock grazing utilization, forage production collections and flagging of new projects.

Intern will work out of the main BLM-Farmington office and have the opportunity to network with other natural resource specialists. Other opportunities may include attending National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) meetings and learning the basics in GIS/ArcPro for visual presentations.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Use GIS to set up GPS or other data collection devices, create maps for described sites.
• Become familiar with monitoring protocol.
•  Travel within 2-hour driving radius from the FFO office to sagebrush and trend plot monitoring areas.
• Complete post-vegetative treatment monitoring with a target of 11 allotments.
• Attend Rangeland Health Assessments on 3 to 5 allotments.
• Assist with administrative follow-up of monitoring data completed in surveys.
• Organize data for electronic and hard copy databases.
• Assist with additional range monitoring as assigned.

Possible Training Provided:

If available during term, intern will attend Southwestern Noxious, Invasive Plant Short Course (paid by BLM).

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Per federal grant requirements, this internship is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• A working knowledge of GIS (ArcPro 3.1.3) and GPS data collection techniques.
• Using maps/GPS to find monitoring or project locations.
• Ability to drive 4-wheel vehicle comfortably in remote areas.
• Organizational skills, attention to detail on data sheets, & time management on assignments.
• Native plant identification including local weeds (or ability to learn quickly).
• Ability to follow monitoring protocols for trend and vegetative surveys.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.

Preferred Qualifications:

Pursuing or holding an undergraduate degree in range science, ranch management, or related natural resources field.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Obtaining clearance from BLM for building and computer access (direction from BLM staff).
• Ability to work outdoors in semi-isolated areas and summer weather conditions, including ability to walk moderate distances over difficult or uneven terrain.
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.                                      

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 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.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

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 winds.
•  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 crises.
• 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 others.

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 to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns 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. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal 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.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.