Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Eldorado National Forest, is seeking TWO Wildlife Technicians to work alongside Forest Service staff. 

Local candidates are encouraged to apply!

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: March 10, 2025
Estimated End Date: August 22, 2025
*a 24-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Georgetown, CA - Eldorado National Forest, Georgetown Ranger District 

The Eldorado National Forest is located in the Central Sierra Nevada region within California and encompasses a total of 798,279 acres, which includes 193,027 acres of private ownership.

The Eldorado National Forest is bordered on the north by the Tahoe National Forest, on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Humboldt-Toiyabe, and to the south by the Stanislaus National Forest. The Eldorado is within 3 - 4 hours of the San Francisco Bay Area and about 1 - 1 1/2 hours from Sacramento. It ranges in elevation from 1,000 feet in the foothills to more than 10,000 feet above sea level along the Sierra crest. The mountainous topography is broken by the steep canyons of the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, and Rubicon rivers. Plateaus of generally moderate relief are located between these steep canyons.

The forest is also home to 297 lakes and reservoirs (including both public and private acreage), which total 11,994 surface acres. 11 large reservoirs account for 9,000 acres. The rest are mostly small, high mountain lakes. Both the rivers and lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities. The Eldorado National Forest provides diverse recreational opportunities to the public. The Forest offers every visitor the chance to enjoy nature and be outdoors. In addition to two popular wilderness areas (Desolation Wilderness and Mokelumne Wilderness), the forest offers more than 70-day use and overnight developed recreation facilities across the forest for the individual, families and groups.

For more information on the Eldorado National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service website.

Position Overview: 

• The Wildlife Technician will support the wildlife program by conducting California spotted owl, and northern goshawk surveys, with potential work with amphibian surveys. 
• Field work will vary from nighttime, early morning, and daytime depending on surveys. 
• March-June will primarily focus on night work for owl surveys. Starting in June there will be some alternating between night and day work (weekly) to start goshawk surveys. 
• Additional surveys may include bat acoustic monitoring, black-backed woodpecker, and bald eagles.
• The member must be prepared to hike (10+ miles) steep, arduous terrain in adverse weather conditions for long periods of each day. 
• The member will be responsible for completing surveys to protocol and providing accurate and timely documentation. 
• This position will require close coordination with the project leader, but most duties will be performed independently, which at times will require the member to take initiative and problem solve to determine priorities. 
• As needed, a percentage of the technician's time may be scheduled to assist in other program areas (Wildlife, Botany, and Archeology), in order to accomplish high priority project needs and provide cross-training opportunities. 
• Experience in other program areas is not required but a willingness to work across programs and learn is essential.

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: Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio); example shifts include: 7 am – 5:30 pm, 4 pm – 2:30 am, or 1 pm  - 11:30 pm

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $795/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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members may be accommodated in USFS Barracks depending on availability. Each member will receive reimbursement for housing costs up to a weekly rate not to exceed $100 per week.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. 

Provided Training/Orientation: The ACE member will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. The Forest Service will provide the member with Avenza and Collector/Survey123 field data collection systems training. Additional training may include cross-training with other departments. 

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 US Forest Service 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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.
• Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio); example shifts include: 7 am – 5:30 pm, 4 pm – 2:30 am, or 1 pm - 11:30 pm
• Strong experience hiking long distances (10+ miles) over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions (off-trail) daily
• Experience and/or training in navigation with map/compass, GPS, mobile device
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field, and have experience with wildlife, either in the field or through coursework. 
• This is a highly demanding outdoor position that requires substantial physical fitness and mobility, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions.
• Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions
• Strong experience hiking long distances over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions (off-trail) on a daily basis
• Competency with data entry, summarizing and compiling data
• Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and paper maps/compass
• Knowledge of the basic theories and practices of biological science sufficient to analyze findings
• Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis
• Ability to work as part of a team to meet project goals, as well as independently to complete survey tasks
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products
• Experience conducting field work and biological surveys with established protocols
• Ability to work independently, and in small groups with minimal supervision, at day or night including hiking, driving, following survey protocol
• Experience with raptor and/or amphibian field work is a plus