American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, is seeking 4 habitat monitoring field leads and 8 technicians to contribute to New Mexico BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) of our public lands. Each technician will work on a field team comprised of 3 individuals (1 Crew Leader, 2 Crew Technicians) and collect data according to standardized methodologies and protocols. Crews will be split up so that one crew is located in Las Cruces, Roswell, Rio Puerco (Albuquerque), and Farmington, NM. The AIM data is used by various resource specialists and land managers across the Western United States to help inform decisions regarding adaptive range management techniques, Greater Sage-Grouse habitat protection, and other land management issues and strategies.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: Spring/summer 2025 (depends on specific location)

Estimated End Date: Fall/winter 2025 (depends on specific location)

Location Details/Description: New Mexico: Roswell, Rio Puerco, Farmington, or Las Cruces are available

Position Overview: This is a field based position with approximately 100% of the work taking place in an outdoor environment where the climate, weather and terrain can be demanding. Field teams will be expected to work 10 hour days and will be required to camp for 8 day hitches in the field, followed by 6 days off. Travel will be provided from a hub city office (Roswell, Rio Puerco, or Farmington) to field sites and back.

Field work duties include:

• Collecting vegetation data using line-point intercept and species inventory methods
• Measuring shrub density, foliar cover, canopy gap and vegetation heights
• Identifying and describing soil horizons
• Using GPS to navigate to off-trail sampling sites
• Driving 4x4 vehicles in a backcountry setting
• Electronic data collection using a tablet and ArcGIS geo-database

For more information about the AIM program, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/aim/strategy

Schedule: 8 day camping (hitches) in the field from Wednesday to Wednesday, and 6 days off from Thursday to Tuesday.

Position Benefits

Wage: The member will receive $700 per week, plus a camping per diem for each night out. Note that each 8 day hitch counts as two weeks of work for $1400.

Housing: Housing is not provided by ACE. However, we do offer a housing reimbursement up to $200 per week.

Relocation Allowance: A relocation reimbursement up to $500 is available.

Provided Training/Orientation: Crew Leads and members will need to attend a 4 day comprehensive training in AIM methods in Santa Fe in May.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to work in a small group with minimal supervision
• Must be able to communicate professionally with team members and resource professionals
• Familiarity with Leave No Trace principles, attention to field safety, and an overall respect for working in an outdoor setting
• Willingness and flexibility to work an irregular schedule with multiple days of travel
• Must be capable of hiking up to 3 miles while carrying up to 50 lbs packs

Preferred Qualifications:

Applicants should have degree in ecology, botany, soil science range science, wildlife biology, natural resource management, biology, conservation biology, or related field and/or a minimum of 1 year collecting soil or vegetation data in the field

Technical:

• Experience identifying plants in the field using a dichotomous key
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using a GPS unit and topographic maps
• Ability to use electronic tablets to record and manage data
• Ability to safely operate 4x4 vehicles on rough, unpaved road conditions
• Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record and be at least 21 year of age to operate company vehicles.
• Basic tool, equipment and vehicle maintenance knowledge

Even if you do not meet all qualifications listed above, we still encourage you to apply if you have a strong interest in habitat monitoring or natural resource management. Also, please be aware that we are happy to provide any reasonable accommodation necessary to perform the essential duties.