Vegetation Monitoring Member – NPS Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network (Various Southeast National Parks)

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking ONE Vegetation Monitoring Member to monitor significant natural resources in National Parks as part of the NPS Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network (APHN).  

 For more information about ACE and to apply, please visit: 

https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1064938 

 Start Date: Mid/late April anticipated start date

Estimated End Date: 26-weeks after the anticipated start date  

* A 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Stationed at APHN office on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC

*This position will have the opportunity to travel across multiple NPS site locations. See details below.

Program Background: The Appalachian Highlands Network primarily serves three NPS units in the southeastern US: Blue Ridge Parkway, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, and Obed Wild & Scenic River. Network parks are divided between two ecologically distinct physiographic regions: the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, lush with vegetation, old-growth forests, rocky ridges, and deep gorges, are characterized by high levels of biological diversity and endemism. 

The nation-wide NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program was created to acquire the information and expertise needed by park managers to protect park resources and maintain ecosystem integrity in the face of multiple threats. The primary goals of the NPS I & M program are to inventory NPS natural resources to determine their nature and status; monitor park ecosystems to better understand their dynamic nature and condition and provide reference points in comparison to other environments; and to establish baseline inventory and monitoring practices throughout the National Park system.   

For more information regarding the Appalachian Highlands Inventory & Monitoring Network please visit the APHN website at: https://www.nps.gov/im/aphn/index.htm. 

Position Overview:  This position will be serving with the NPS Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network as a member of a team that conducts field-oriented natural resource monitoring. 

Primary duties include assisting APHN staff with a variety of field-oriented projects, including:

• Vegetation monitoring, including exploited plants and rare plant communities
• Entering and quality checking monitoring data and species occurrence information in databases and spreadsheets, using Microsoft Access and Excel
• Occasionally providing field and data management assistance for other long-term monitoring projects, which may include freshwater mussels, water quality, and/or forest health monitoring
• Field operation and basic management of Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments and data, including uploading and downloading GPS data
• Organizing and carrying out field logistics to support monitoring teams of two or more people
• Occasionally assisting with formatting and editing technical reports produced by the Networks, using Microsoft Word
• Depending on the interests and background of the intern, occasionally assisting with creating Geographic Information System maps (with ESRI’s GIS Pro software) to be used for natural resource inventory and monitoring projects

 The position will be approximately half field work and half office work. The ACE Member should expect field work through May, June, and September, and be flexible to travel during those months. The ACE Member may occasionally be asked to travel on weekends. Some additional field work and travel is possible in July and August.

 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.

 Schedule: The ACE Member will be primarily on a compressed schedule (5/4-9), working 9 hours a day on weekdays with alternate Fridays off. Exact hours are somewhat flexible for office work, usually 8:00am – 5:30pm Eastern. Field work hours will vary depending on project requirements. Some field days may exceed 9 hours and/or start before 8:00am. Telework may be an option when not in the field.

Position Benefits

 Living Allowance: The ACE member will serve approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to cover the cost of housing, food, and incidental expenses, disbursed bi-weekly. While traveling for projects, ACE will pay for lodging, and will provide Member a per diem for meals & incidental expenses. Travel accommodations may include motels, cabins, or park housing; The Member may occasionally be asked to pay for lodging and later be reimbursed by ACE.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the intern and not provided by ACE or NPS, however, while traveling for projects, ACE will pay for lodging, and will provide Member a per diem for meals & incidental expenses.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 900-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2022/24 grant year program, valued up to $3,447.50 upon successful completion of a service term and 900 hours.

 Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

 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.

 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. 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 here.

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. NPS will provide field training and experience in a variety of methods and instruments used to carry out several long-term monitoring projects. Training or practical experience may also be provided in data manipulation using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and other proprietary software, including Garmin GPS software, ESRI GIS Pro software and National Park Service natural resources inventory and monitoring databases. Training may also be provided in Wilderness First Aid and/or Operational Leadership (a safety awareness course).

 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).
• A personal vehicle
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-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.
• The Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement or as defined by AmeriCorps.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an associate’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as a background or coursework in botany, ecology, natural resource management, or a related discipline and have a demonstrated interest in this field.
• Knowledge, interest, and/or experience conducting vegetation sampling and monitoring
• Experience in various field data collection methods using standard protocols
• Experience in backcountry hiking and navigation in steep, uneven terrain
• Interest and ability to work in remote field areas
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Garmin GPS units, and/or ESRI’s GIS Pro

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 steep slopes, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain while carrying a backpack and field equipment.
• 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 25 pounds, ability to move up to 45 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position will require domestic travel. The Appalachian Highlands Network primarily serves three NPS units in the southeastern US: Blue Ridge Parkway, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, and Obed Wild & Scenic River. Network parks are divided between two ecologically distinct physiographic regions: the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

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. Job Hazard Analyses will be provided for each monitoring activity.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.