Position Title: LiDAR Monitoring Technician Intern (Region 4) – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements – East

Site Location:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region

7300 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, FL 32327

Terms of Service: 18 Weeks

• Start Date: 05/19/2025
• End Date: 09/19/2025 (End Date Flexibility)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placement Program (STE) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants within the program work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to build institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards Individual Placements, an AmeriCorps affiliated program, is partnering with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to host a LiDAR Monitoring Technician Intern.

STE in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Region 4 is looking for individuals to serve in the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Monitoring Program. The monitoring program integrates the latest forest vegetation and ecosystem surveying technology into land management practices.

These interns will be using remote sensing technology and establishing long-term monitoring plots at national wildlife refuges across several states in the Southeast Region. These monitoring plots collect data that can justify land treatments and provide empirical data for land managers to use while making decisions for ecosystem improvement. This data will benefit wildlife biologists, foresters, fire management officers, and refuge managers, and lead to the restoration of critical habitat. It will also quantify the reduction of hazardous fuels and document the environmental change over time, improving the understanding of long-term impacts of fuel treatments and conservation efforts. This data could contribute to understanding climate changes, since it records any vegetative and forest structure transitions.

Click here to visualize and learn more about the Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging Monitoring Program!

Description of Duties:

• Operate the BLK360 LiDAR sensor to collect point cloud of plot.
• At each plot the technician will operate the laser to take a scan. Technician will be responsible for protecting and maintaining sensor as well as troubleshooting any issues.
• Establishing Long Term LiDAR Monitoring Plots.
• Individuals must coordinate with supervisor, refuge staff, and teammate to prioritize plots and plan efficient routes. Navigating to plots will require ArcGIS FieldMaps tools, which is also used to record information about scan location. At plots they will follow vegetative surveying protocols.
• LiDAR Data Management: Offload scans from laser, perform quality data management, and convert it in the proper format.
• Individuals will use multiple software to offload, rename files, and convert the file type. They will also be responsibility for quality control of point clouds and proper data management practices. Files will also need to be uploaded correctly for the data to be analyzed.

In-person training will be provided to use and understand the software. Beyond the in-person training, technicians will be given step-by-step guides to follow.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Between the ages of 18 – 30, Veterans up to 35 years of age
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• A degree or progress towards one in forestry, biology, natural resources management, wildlife management, GIS, or related field preferred. (Relevant experience or classwork can be substituted)
• Geospatial Information Science area (ARCGIS/GPS) Spatial Analysis of Natural Resources/Geomativs experience preferred.
• Forest Menstruation/Resource Inventory/Forest or Biological Surveying Experience preferred.
• Familiarity with forest or biological survey protocols (such as timber cruising).
• Ability to conduct field work involving hiking and carrying equipment.
• Must have a resilient work ethic and ability to maintain a positive attitude.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills while working on a team.
• Organizational Skills
• Attention to Detail

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Working Conditions/Physical Effort:

The LiDAR Interns may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on varying terrain and potentially under physically demanding circumstances.

These conditions:

• Present the possibility of injury and exposure to hazards such as heat, humidity, snakes and insects.
• Require long hours in isolated settings
• Require physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions on potentially difficult or hazardous terrain
• Require the ability to occasionally use hand tools and/or light machinery
• Require the willingness to travel frequently, work varying shifts, and potentially overnight stays.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half-hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
•  Members must commit to a 36-to-40-hour work week schedule to meet AmeriCorps Ed Award Requirements.

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
•  Members will receive a Stewards New Member Orientation with assigned program support.
• Stewards will provide Stewards 101 Training within the beginning of the term ‘s start to familiarize members with Stewards Model and service expectations amongst peers.
• Members will receive training by collaborating with staff throughout organization and meetings with local organizations with a shared mission.
• Members will participate in a weeklong program/project specific training with USFWS staff.
• UTV Training

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Field Gear Stipend of $500 as needed
• Relocation Stipend of $500 ($250 at the start and $250 at the end of service)
• Housing Provided at each refuge

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

STE Program Staff:

Kahla Stewart

Program Coordinator

Stewards Individual Placements

(423) 402-6004

kstewart@conservationlegacy.org

Service Site Staff:

Emily Link

Fire Ecologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Region 4

emily_link@fws.gov

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.