GIS and Data Management Member - USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team

EPIC • Bismarck, ND

5d

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking one member to contribute to GIS and data management projects under the mentorship of FWS Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: February 2026 (flexible) Estimated End Date: August 2026 a 26 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 1040 hours Location Details/Description: Habitat and Population Evaluation Team, Bismarck, ND, Fergus Falls, MN, or other DOI facility locations (negotiable). The Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The HAPET offices support the conservation mission of the Service by integrating scientific data and landscape-scale conservation planning with a focus on migratory birds. This enables the Service to more effectively conserve and manage wildlife and their habitats for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation partners. HAPET was established to conduct waterfowl population and habitat monitoring, program assessment, and support landscape-level conservation delivery for refuges (NWRs and Wetland Management Districts) and the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture within the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota, Montana, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. HAPET has since evolved to include many other migratory bird issues as well as assist or lead special projects associated with other trust resources for the Service. HAPET's role is to conduct and support scientific investigations, data gathering, and analyses that focus on solving priority problems and issues that are generally landscape-oriented and appropriate for solving with spatially explicit information, analyses, and associated technologies. For more information about the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team, 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, and plants for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission. The Member will become familiar with the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team and ongoing biological monitoring and data analysis projects. The Member will support a project to migrate historical wetland data from the four-square mile survey from an obsolete platform and to a new format for archival and use. This project is critical to make data publicly available and useful. The Member will also have the opportunity to work with HAPET and other USFWS staff on projects critical to the National Wildlife Refuge System and in support of the priorities of the Department of the Interior. The Member will primarily gain experience in data management/analysis using geospatial tools, but the member may have the opportunity to support other projects as available, including conducting field surveys and collecting bird, wetland, and other biological data. The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and daily supervision of USFWS staff in the accomplishment of: Data management and analysis (Primary Duties) Digitizing wetlands and grasslands using ArcPro Data entry and management of biological data using Microsoft Excel, AGOL Survey123, R, and other software Data summarization and basic data analysis using Program R or other software. Work will require sitting at a computer terminal for long periods (up to 8 hrs daily) and using multiple screens and digitizing tablets. Field surveys (Secondary Duties, as project allows) Collecting bird abundance, wetland surface water extent, and other related field data over uneven terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Surveys may require walking on foot several miles, walking in waders, riding on UTV/ATVs, using binoculars and spotting scopes, and data entry into electronic tablets. 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.

Requirements

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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).
• Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in the natural resources field and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resource management, GIS, wildlife biology, and/or other related disciplines related to this position.
• Knowledge of data management, data analytics, data entry, and data summarization
• Experience using various data management software: Microsoft Excel, AGOL Survey 123, ArcPro, Program R
• Experience identifying birds by sight and sound
• Deep interest in wildlife conservation and the USFWS mission.

Responsibilities

• Digitizing wetlands and grasslands using ArcPro
• Data entry and management of biological data using Microsoft Excel, AGOL Survey123, R, and other software
• Data summarization and basic data analysis using Program R or other software
• Collecting bird abundance, wetland surface water extent, and other related field data over uneven terrain and in adverse weather conditions.

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1000/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.
• 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.
• 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 certification, job hazard assessments, information and technology awareness, ethics, harassment awareness, and others.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees