Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service Pacfish Infish Biological Opinion (PIBO) Monitoring Program, is seeking three Wilderness Monitoring Technician Members.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 5, 2025

Estimated End Date: October 3, 2025

Location Details/Description: Selected applicants will be placed in one of the three following locations

• John Day, OR
• Leadore, ID
• St. Regis, MT

Members will report to one of three remote duty stations in ID, OR, or MT. Field projects will take place in various locations on Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service (NPS) lands in OR and WA (east of the Cascade Mountains), ID, MT, and northern NV.

For more information about the PacFish Infish Biology Opinion (PIBO) monitoring program, please click here.

Position Overview: The PIBO Monitoring Program is seeking to fill multiple positions to conduct one of two monitoring tasks on remote sites throughout the interior Pacific Northwest. Members will conduct either stream assessments or riparian vegetation monitoring on streams and adjacent floodplains located in the Columbia and Missouri river basins. Members are selected, and trained, to perform a single assessment role for the full length of the position. Members are selected for either stream assessment or vegetation monitoring based on interest and prior experience. These monitoring efforts are used to help guide management on federal lands to conserve bull trout and anadromous fishes. The PIBO program collects data on approximately 450 streams each year.

This is a field-based job. Members will spend 95% of their time living, hiking, and working in remote areas with uneven terrain and inclement weather conditions. Members will work with Forest Service Fish Biologists and Biological Technicians to monitor watershed conditions on USFS, BLM, and NPS lands.

Members monitoring riparian vegetation will conduct riparian vegetation surveys including green-line and riparian sampling transects, species-specific ground cover estimation, and native and invasive plant species identification. Members will make extensive use of regional dichotomous keys for plant identification.

Members monitoring stream habitat will conduct stream habitat surveys including channel morphology, habitat typing, substrate measurements, large wood surveys, and potentially collecting benthic macroinvertebrates or identifying aquatic invasive species.

All members will also conduct long-term photographic monitoring throughout sites, measure stream gradient, collect environmental DNA (eDNA), deploy/retrieve in-stream temperature sensors in watersheds, and assist with extensive planning and logistics which involves mapping routes, finding campsites, and navigating to remote sites.

Highly qualified applicants will have course work or experience in using dichotomous keys for plant identification and coursework in botany (vegetation monitoring) or natural resource management, especially fisheries, water resources, and stream morphology (stream assessments).

Members will work on a crew with two to three Biological Technicians and/or members. Crews will work 8 consecutive 10-hour days (Tuesday to Tuesday) to conduct surveys, followed by 6 days off. During this time crews will camp in rustic dispersed campsites (no bathrooms or running water) in remote areas. Many sites will require backpacking into watersheds to set up a remote camp where surveys will be conducted. Field surveys will involve extensive hiking and bushwhacking off-trail on steep slopes to reach survey sites in streams. Hiking to sites may involve hiking up to 10 miles in a day. Once at the stream, members will work in cold water, walk on uneven surfaces, and climb over logs while carrying field equipment. Members can expect to work in variable weather conditions including cold, rain and 90+ degree days throughout the summer and may even see some snow at the end of the season. This is a physically demanding position where members will spend 95% of their time living, hiking, and working in remote areas with uneven terrain and inclement weather conditions

While working, members will be provided with camping gear including tents and cooking gear. Members will be responsible for providing their own sleeping bag, rain gear, and other personal gear. Wading boots and waders will be provided. Members will be responsible for buying their own food prior to leaving for field stints.

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.

For further information on the position, please review this Powerpoint. It provides an in depth look into the day to day of the position.

Schedule: The member should anticipate serving eight 10-hr days for each work hitch (6 subsequent days off), with potential to work holidays. Calendar can be found here.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~80 hours/biweekly and will receive a living allowance of $760/week, to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. All members receive a 60 days per diem of $33/day while in the field for food and incidentals.

Project travel assistance: ACE members will receive an amount of $125 for 7 nights.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or PIBO. Government housing is not available. Members will camp during their 8 days while conducting field surveys.

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. Members will receive four weeks of training prior to heading out into the field to conduct surveys, including technical aspects of completing PIBO surveys and comprehensive safety training. You will learn to use data tablets, survey equipment, GPS units, and satellite communication devices.

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 two-part criminal history check
• 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 https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Experience with position specific duties (e.g., plant identification, stream assessment).
• Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions.
• Experience hiking over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions (cold/hot temps, light rain, etc.).
• Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices as well as map and compass.

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, 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 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: [Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws 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 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 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 Pacfish Infish Biological Opinion (PIBO) Monitoring Program. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the PIBO Monitoring Program. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the PIBO Monitoring Program, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to Pacfish Infish Biological Opinion (PIBO) Monitoring Program and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.