American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is seeking one member to contribute to habitat development and restoration project coordination, as well as activities pursuant to other regulatory authorities, alongside Chesapeake Bay Field Office Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit usaconservation website.

Start Date: January/February 2025
Estimated End Date: July/August 2026
*a 78 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 3120 hours*

*Possibility of extension beyond this commitment.*

Location Details/Description: Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 

Applicants in the greater Baltimore and Washington D.C area are encouraged to apply. This position is telework eligible but will require travel throughout the year to project sites throughout the National Capital Region. 

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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 USFWS realize that mission at Chesapeake Bay Field Office. We work with people, agencies and organizations within Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Maryland to conserve our wildlife resources through projects that help communities be more resilient to a changing climate, restore aquatic systems, conserve endangered, threatened and at-risk plants and wildlife, connect people with nature, and protect and restore wildlife and their habitats on a landscape level scale. For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Field Office, please visit the FWS website.

This position will support the Chesapeake Bay Field Office through both on-the-ground habitat restoration and implementation of Federal environmental laws, regulations, and policies involving natural resources.

The primary duties of this position will revolve around habitat restoration work on Department of Defense partner installations throughout the region. Planned work includes managing invasive species and converting non-native lawn grasses to native meadows and other native landscaping. The position would be responsible for: 

• Overseeing the work associated with managing habitat restoration projects, including 
• Planning and managing project tasks, logistics, and milestones
• Some design decisions
• Working with contracts and contractors
• Coordinating with multiple DoD installation organizations
• Hands-on restoration work.
•  Designing and coordinating the outreach with the local installation community, such as educational signage and events. 

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development, promote exposure to land management agencies, and network with professionals. As time allows, the individual will assist with project reviews, coordination, habitat restoration work, and/or surveying based on their skills and interests and USFWS needs. Work could include:

• Inspecting projects for compliance with policies, standards, guidelines, agreements, and plans; making recommendations for action to assure compliance
• Preparing professional objectives and completing written reports and other documents
• Collecting, managing, and reporting data; generating maps and spatial analyses using ArcGIS 
• Assisting with the implementation of the Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Sikes Act,  and National Environmental Policy Act. The member will work with various partners, such as counties, non-profit organizations, and various Federal and state partners.

Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday (7:30am-4pm).  Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours on average.  A flexible work schedule will be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours, including over 8-hour work days and working on weekends and/or holidays.  Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the USFWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $850/week (depending on experience) 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 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 eligibility information on our usaconservation website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the USFWS.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, socks, pants, outerwear, etc., and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. Additional safety gear required for the work will be provided by USFWS.

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. Specific training may include Defensive Driving,  herbicide application, ATV/UTV driving, heavy machinery use, and/or chainsaw use depending on the candidate and project details. 

Scholarship Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate 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:

• Member must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing to undergo and pass the required criminal history checks 
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• 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.
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit usaconservation website.
• Experience with managing projects and logistics
• Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented approach to tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally to partners and contractors in writing, verbal communication, and in person
• Willingness and ability to work full days outside or in an office setting for multiple days or weeks in a row

Preferred:

• Experience with managing complex projects with multiple partners/customers across multiple geographic areas
• Ability and willingness to independently manage, prioritize, and oversee multiple tasks.
• Knowledge and experience with habitat development/restoration, especially in developing meadows and in the mid-Atlantic
• Understanding and experience with contracting, contracts, and contractors
• Experience with reviewing projects for compliance with policies, standards, agreements, etc.
• Certifications and experience with herbicide application, ATV/UTV driving, heavy machinery, and/or chainsaws
• Education, experience, or interest in outreach, science education, or human dimensions of fish and wildlife conservation 
• Deep interest in habitat restoration and the USFWS.

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 20 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. 
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise from gas-powered chainsaws, hand tools and power tools.
• Travel: This position may 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 USFWS or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the USFWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the USFWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to USFWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.