Invasive Species Removal Specialist - Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge   

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 2 Members to contribute to invasive plant management and refuge support projects alongside Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: March 2025
Estimated End Date: November 2025
*a 36-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty, Texas

The 30,000-acre Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1994 to protect what was once a much larger, frequently flooded, bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity River. It is one of only 14 priority bottomland sites identified for protection in the Texas Bottomland Hardwood Preservation Program. Although not fully surveyed, the refuge contains more than 635 plant species and another 350 vertebrate species, including more than 200 birds, 60 fish, 40 mammals, and 50 reptiles and amphibians. Over 980 moth species have been documented within one acre of the refuge administrative office. The refuge primarily consists of a broad, flat floodplain, but also features numerous sloughs, oxbows, artesian wells, and tributaries. 

The purpose of Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is for the conservation, management and restoration of the wetlands of the Trinity River floodplain in order to maintain the public benefits they provide for present and future generations of Americans. 

For more information about Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, please visit the FWS website. 

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 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 FWS realize that mission at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge. 

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.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the following tasks:

• Invasive Plant Management (75%) 
• Use mechanical and chemical treatments to treat invasive plants including trifoliate orange, giant salvinia, and water hyacinth.
• Chemical herbicide application using various methods including backpack sprayers, tank sprayers, and ATV/UTV sprayers. 
• Operate 4WD Trucks and UTVs safely. 
• Trailer UTVs and boats behind a 4WD truck. 
• Chemical herbicide application on water by the usage of canoes, kayaks, and boats.
• Use hand tools such as lopping shears to mechanically remove invasive plant species.
• Operate the Field Maps app on iPads to document invasive plant surveys and plants treated with herbicide.
• Trail maintenance (15%)
• Marking and clearing trails.
• Wildlife surveys (5%)
• Conduct wildlife surveys, such as mobile acoustical bat monitoring surveys, colonial waterbirds surveys, forest bird surveys, water quality surveys, invasive tawny crazy ant surveys, and salvinia weevil surveys.
• Public outreach (5%)
• Conduct public outreach and environmental education. 

Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week 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 for Members 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 website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, a multitool, sun protection gear, work boots, work pants, etc., and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. 

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 UTV training, Defensive Driving Training, and trailer training.

Scholarship Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate(s) 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:

• 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).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks. 
• 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. 
• Comfortable working independently with little or no supervision after adequate training is provided. 
• Ability to perform hard physical labor related to natural resource management in challenging environmental conditions such as 100+ degrees Fahrenheit and 100% humidity.
• Comfortable working on the water, such as paddling a canoe and/or kayak, and being a passenger on a boat. 
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website. 

Preferred:

• Experience and/or knowledge of plant identification.
• Experience working outdoors in challenging environmental conditions. 
• Experience paddling watercraft, such as canoes or kayaks. 
• Experience and/or knowledge in chemical or mechanical invasive plant management.
• Deep interest in natural resource management.
  
  

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, paddling, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of hand various tools, and tablets. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain.
• 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 40 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Mainly outdoor conditions with high temperatures and humidity. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as boat engines and other hand 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, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife such as venomous snakes. 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 FWS or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.  

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website at usaconservation dot org. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager, Saige Ruleau.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.