Rare Plant & Pollinator Individual Placement

ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS 

Rare Plant and Pollinator Individual Placement Position Description

Bureau of Land Management – Taos Field Office

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.

Position Type: Seasonal, full time, AmeriCorps member

SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week, May 2025 – November 2025. Exact start and end times will be determined by program funding, Bureau of Land Management needs, and timing of applications received.

TERM:  900 hour AmeriCorps term.

Compensation: AmeriCorps Stipend position: $1,360.00 BIWEEKLY.

Education Award: Segal education award scholarship of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of term of service.

Benefits: All benefits as described in RMYC Individual Placement Handbook. Public Lands Corps Certificate* that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs – both with successful completion of term.

Reports to: BLM staff daily and to Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Upper Rio Grande Program Manager on a weekly basis. 

Location: Bureau of Land Management, Taos, NM (1024 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos NM)

Position Overview:  The Rare Plant and Pollinator Intern position’s purpose is to assist the Bureau of Land Management’s Ecologist/Botanist with rare plant and pollinator monitoring, surveying, NEPA, and other field work. This position will be based out of a field office managing several resources, such as wildlife, range, recreation, noxious weed management and hydrology. Opportunities to cross-train with other programs will be encouraged. 

As a part of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), Individual Placements (IP) are also encouraged to attend the professional development and life skills training that RMYC offers regularly.  In addition, the IP will have direct contact with either the Conservation Program Manager or the Conservation Program Coordinator at RMYC and have regular (monthly at a minimum) one on one meetings to ensure the IP is receiving an enriching experience and to coordinate inclusion with other IPs and RMYC as a whole. 

Major Responsibilities: 

• Conducts rare plant trend monitoring with BLM Rare Plant Crews and surveys with Taos Botanist/Ecologist, following standard protocols
• Conduct surveys for various pollinators and their larval host plants, including monarchs and milkweed, Silverspots and Bog Violets, and Anasazi Skipper and Common Reed populations.
• Serve as a crew leader with a team of volunteers
• Assist in NEPA language for environmental assessments and permit review processes
• Analyze the effects of management activities on natural resources for environmental assessments
• Utilize Collector, Survey123, Field Maps, and QuickCapture for data collection
• Conduct surveys on western bumble bee habitat, following a standard protocol

Other Support & Responsibilities:

• Pursue and participate in relevant trainings to increase professional capacity and expand Knowledge
• Comply with all RMYC and AmeriCorps rules and policies and not participate in any prohibited activities as described in the member contract.

Eligibility:

• Pre-employment background check will be required.
• Must have an insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license. 
• Minimum 21 years of age.
• AmeriCorps members must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Applicants must have a background in plant identification and be able to use a dichotomous key
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Must be able to hike long distances for multiple days a week
• Applicants must have strong project management, written and oral skills and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and ArcGIS online, Survey 123, Quick Captures
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, be self-motivated, and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period
• Applicants must have great attention to detail and be capable of problem solving
• Applicants should have a general understanding of federal land resource management policies (e.g., multiple use management)
• All Rocky Mountain Youth Corps members and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Have a High School Diploma or equivalent or agree to obtain one prior to using the Segal Education Award

  • If you are not capable of obtaining a High School diploma or equivalent or are enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis you may be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091)

• US Citizen or a Permanent Legal Resident 

• Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check:

  • Must consent to the criminal history check

  • Be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history

  • Cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry

  • Cannot be convicted of murder

• Able to complete entire length of service term 
• Strong work ethic and willingness to work within a team of diverse individuals 
• Able to work in supervised environment 
• Required to participate in up to three service events that benefit the community

Skills:

• Ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing environment
• Strong work ethic, and the ability to take initiative and work independently with periodic check- Ins 
• Ability to spend time outdoors for long periods of time in all weather conditions (extreme heat to winter conditions)

Preferred Experience/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (botany, conservation management, environmental science, biology, etc.)
• Experience driving a 4×4 vehicle in backcountry conditions
• Experience with ArcGIS
• Proficiency in scientific writing
• Knowledge or familiarity of Southwest native plants
• Essential physical functions include the ability to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, climb, balance, reach with hands & arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis, and lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

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 individual placement has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the term. This process will determine the placement’s exact start date.

Placements 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. Placements must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety including attending necessary trainings and virtual education where necessary.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, placements must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive (35 for veterans), at the time the individual begins the term of service.

BENEFITS:

• Healthcare coverage is available to all AmeriCorps members at no cost to the member.  This is considered primary coverage and is not available as supplemental coverage.
• A certain number of Non-Scheduled Days (paid days off) are available depending on the length of the term of service (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award)
• RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off, however RMYC reserves the right to have AmeriCorps members work or service hours on certain holidays if necessary to meet program requirements  (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award)
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for those who qualify

EVALUATION:

• Members serving less than a full-time term of service (<1700 hours) will receive only an end-of-term evaluation

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Lift or move up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly.
• Frequently traverse uneven terrain; balance, stoop, kneel, reach, push, pull, and/or grasp.
• Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.
• Receive detailed information through oral or signed communication; convey important instructions accurately and effectively.
• Work outdoors, subject to outside environmental conditions.

To apply, please submit an application to the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps application portal at https://youthcorps.org/get-involved/join-rmyc/ including a resume and cover letter.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is available to all and we will not discriminate or refuse services to any staff or member because of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, military service or pregnancy.

RMYC is a drug free workplace. All positions are dependent upon funding availability.