Fisheries Biological Support Members, Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex

American Conservation Experience - Staff • Lacey, WA

33d

About The Position

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking TWO Fisheries Biological Support Members to contribute to fishery resource monitoring projects alongside Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex and Joint Base Lewis-McChord Staff. 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 the mission at Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex while also supporting our Tribal and military partner's conservation objectives. The fish and aquatic monitoring includes providing field, lab, and hatchery support for a diversity of projects. Field sampling and hatchery evaluation efforts (bio sampling and sample processing) will be primary roles. While the member will primarily assist specific biologists, opportunities to support other projects will be permitted when the schedule allows to maximize experience diversification. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in fish and aquatic conservation science. Overnight travel may be required. Overnight lodging and meals during travel will be covered through a travel stipend. 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. The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS and Joint Base Lewis-McChord staff in the following tasks: Field biological sampling, including minnow traps, electrofishing, seines, gill nets, snorkel surveys, funnel traps, crab traps, and screw trapping. Fish and amphibian identification and data collection (length, weight, scale samples, tag scans, etc.). Invasive species monitoring and removals, including European green crabs, bull frogs, and invasive plants. Habitat restoration, including physical removal of invasive plants and herbicide treatments. Abiotic data collection such as substrate sampling, water salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Hatchery fish spawning, fish transfers, and biosampling. Keeping records of all data. Laboratory processing and data collection, including coded wire tag extractions from hatchery salmon samples, fish stomach sample identification, and sediment sample analysis. Supporting upkeep of sampling instrumentation used for core position functions. Relay daily mission, technical skills and safety concerns to other crew members as assigned. Personal contacts are with employees in the agency and immediate organizations. In some situations, personal contacts may be with the public, contractor personnel, or special users, e.g., special interest groups. Contacts are for the purpose of obtaining, clarifying, or exchanging information, and receiving instructions regarding service assignments.

Requirements

• 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 FWS 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 or as defined by AmeriCorps.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold a Bachelor's of Arts or Bachelor's of Science degree in fisheries biology, wildlife biology, botany, natural resource management, or other related discipline appropriate to this position. Exceptions may be made for those who have completed their Junior year.
• Knowledge of the technical methods and procedures for a work area to employ them in carrying out (alone, as crew lead, or as a fully functioning crewmember) a variety of technical duties common to fisheries.
• Knowledge to operate complex equipment systems such as those with numerous components or parts which must be calibrated and synchronized to achieve desired results.
• Ability and willingness to execute specific rules, regulations, or procedures, such as those found in common technical manuals, laboratory handbooks, and administrative manuals.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of a biological science to assess readings and measurements taken, tests executed, observations made, service completed, samples collected, etc.
• Ability and willingness to understand and relate the significance of the results to the higher objectives to which the activity is related.
• Deep interest in assessing the worth of the data by considering its applicability to the higher objective, by assessing and reporting on the characteristics and quality of the source of the data, or by otherwise creatively interpreting the data produced.
• Awareness of work products affecting the accuracy, reliability, or acceptability of further procedures, processes or services, or the quality of day-to-day operations of a significant program in land management.
• Proficient in operating a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged roads and able to navigate using topo maps, compass, and GPS.
• The use of water crafts (motorized and/or human power) may be needed to access sampling sites and/or deploy gear.

Responsibilities

• Field biological sampling, including minnow traps, electrofishing, seines, gill nets, snorkel surveys, funnel traps, crab traps, and screw trapping.
• Fish and amphibian identification and data collection (length, weight, scale samples, tag scans, etc.).
• Invasive species monitoring and removals, including European green crabs, bull frogs, and invasive plants.
• Habitat restoration, including physical removal of invasive plants and herbicide treatments.
• Abiotic data collection such as substrate sampling, water salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
• Hatchery fish spawning, fish transfers, and biosampling.
• Keeping records of all data.
• Laboratory processing and data collection, including coded wire tag extractions from hatchery salmon samples, fish stomach sample identification, and sediment sample analysis.
• Supporting upkeep of sampling instrumentation used for core position functions.
• Relay daily mission, technical skills and safety concerns to other crew members as assigned.

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.
• AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 1200-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2024/25 grant year program, valued up to $5,176.50 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 1200 hrs.
• Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.
• 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.
• Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or FWS.
• Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.
• Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses.
• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees