Plover Monitoring Member - Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 3 Members to contribute to the Western Snowy Plover monitoring project alongside Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website at usaconservation dot org.

Start Date: 03/03/2025
Estimated End Date: 09/12/2025
*a 28-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA 

The Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office (AFWO) is a field office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their work in northern California includes scientific assessments, habitat restoration, and conservation of listed species. Their work spans the beautiful towering redwoods of northwestern California, the foggy shores of the Pacific, and includes majestic watersheds such as the Klamath River.

The AFWO staff consists of fisheries and wildlife biologists, technicians, and support personnel who conduct a variety of conservation activities applicable to Northwest California. AFWO's diverse workload responsibility includes field research and monitoring, regulatory and advisory roles in various federal agencies, habitat conservation planning on non federal lands, permit review, and many other biological related activities.

For more information about the Arcata Field Office, 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 the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office. 

The Member will become familiar with the FWS and on-going monitoring  and wildlife protection projects. The Member will have the opportunity to work with a variety of state and federal staff, and other partner agencies. The Member will gain experience in monitoring, surveying, and data management. 

Duties for this position include: 

• Conducting breeding season surveys of the federally threatened Distinct Population Segment of western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), which involves estimating the population of breeding adults, recording color band combinations of individual plovers, locating nests, recording nest fates, and observing chicks through fledging
• Entering survey data into databases
• Analyzing survey data
• Managing files and recordings
• Assisting with the creation of a range-wide western snowy plover database
• Traveling throughout Humboldt County to conduct surveys
• Assisting other departments with their projects on fish, butterfly, coastal marten and other species
• Tabling and assisting with outreach events 

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: 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 $700/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 at usaconservation dot org. 

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, backpack, hiking boots, work pants, rain gear, 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 defensive driving, egg floating and handling, reading and identifying color bands in the field, outreach and public interaction, and other relevant training to the position. There will be additional opportunities for training to work with other listed species through the tenure of the position.

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. 
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website on usaconservation dot org. 
• Ability to walk long distances in beach habitat with field gear in adverse weather conditions such as high winds and rain.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work well in small teams.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Wildlife, or Natural Resources and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as wildlife conservation.
• Experience with GIS/GPS.
• Ability to count large bird flocks.
• Ability to identify water birds and local plant species.
• Database management experience.
• Deep interest in wildlife conservation and endangered species recovery.

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. Ability to hike over rough terrain, with the possibility to camp overnight if desired under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Excellent color vision is required. 
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves 50 lbs., ability to move up to 60 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 may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, high winds, rain, rocky terrain, beach conditions, biting insects and ticks, 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 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, sruleau at usaconservation dot org. 

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.