Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is seeking two (2) Upland Vegetation Post Fire Monitoring Crew Members to contribute to habitat monitoring projects alongside BLM staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: April 28th, 2025

Estimated End Date: July 19th, 2025

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Vale, OR

The main duty station for this position will be Vale, OR working throughout the BLM Vale District.

Vale, OR has a rich ranching and rural history; there are ample rodeos and county fairs to attend during the summer. Nearby Weiser, ID annually hosts the national old-time fiddle competition in June. Outdoor recreation near Vale is expansive with public lands surrounding the area ranging from arid desert to montane ecosystems. Although abundant, facilitated trails and access are limited, with just a few established hiking trails, most recreation requires horses or all-terrain vehicles for access. It is 1.5 hours driving to the W, N or E to reach forested recreation. Shopping is limited in Vale (grocery store, hardware store, and gas stations), but Ontario OR, 20 minutes to the E provides a larger selection including a natural foods store. If you are willing to travel 1 hour you are in the Boise, ID area with unlimited cultural events and shopping opportunities. Please visit the Vale District Office website for further location details.

A personal vehicle is HIGHLY recommended for this position to be able to venture outside of Vale, OR and will make the member's day off more enjoyable.

Position Overview: This position will involve monitoring upland vegetation within areas previously burned by wildfire using established AIM protocols. Monitoring will occur at established points within projects, though there will be a need to establish some new plots. Monitoring will entail identifying plants, reading transect lines, and recording data on forms in the field. Other fieldwork may include monitoring upland vegetation in Research Natural Areas. The office portion of this position will include managing the data collected and assisting with summarizing the data for annual reports.

The Vale District is 5.2 million acres and has lands bordering Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Much of the work will be accomplished in very remote locations on rugged terrain that require a 4x4 truck to access, it may take 4 hours of driving to reach a work site. Because of the long drive times, it may be necessary to work 12-hour days to complete the work. Additionally, due to the remote locations members will need to be able to spend multiple nights away in the field, either camping or staying in government-provided bunkhouses. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees from June through August, there are few shade trees at the work sites so sun/heat tolerance is a must.

The goals of this season will be to collect data on 15 burned areas to inform the district on burn area recovery and to successfully monitor 55 established monitoring plots with all other assigned Post Fire Monitoring Plots. Monitoring efforts will be used to provide clear and precise data to use in future decision-making on treatment success and post-fire conditions. All this will be accomplished while providing the individual with the environment to facilitate professional development in upland monitoring and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: The anticipated work schedule will be Monday through Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm Mountain Time Zone. Days and hours may vary throughout the position and there is some room for occasional flexibility in the work schedule for specific circumstances. There is a potential for camping overnight nearby or at monitoring sites within this term of service.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.

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 see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility.

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

Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $200.00/week. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses.

Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500.00 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding the distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies, procedures, and networks for support. Specific training may include BLM Defensive Driving, 4x4 driving, and various protocols for upland monitoring such as modified Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocols. Minimal training in the use of ArcPro (GIS) will be available so a base understanding of ArcGIS/ArcPro is preferred.

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.

BLM Required:

• Must have a high fitness level and an interest in camping, with potential for backcountry work trips
• Ability to work alone/in a small group with minimal supervision
• Experience and/or ability to learn the use of a tablet for data collection and navigation
• Must be able and willing to work outdoors in rugged terrain and be capable of lifting 50 lbs
• Must be able to operate 4x4 vehicles and drive on back country roads.
• Must have completed a plant taxonomy class
• Must be able to take initiative, work independently, and participate in collaborative efforts
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professional
• Pass a federal background check

Preferred:

• All candidates are encouraged to apply, though regional and local candidates will be strongly considered
• Knowledge of and experience with ArcGIS and Database Management
• Ability and willingness to navigate unfamiliar areas with maps and navigation

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 is required for the use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse, and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and camp overnight under field conditions.
• 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 25 pounds, ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Travel: This position will require domestic travel within the Vale DO jurisdiction.

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 themself, 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 BLM or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM and ACE equipment training, certification, and safety protocols is required.