Invasive Plant Management Member - Southeast Coast Invasive Plant Management Team - Stones River National Battlefield

EPIC • Murfreesboro, TN

28d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Stones River National Battlefield, is seeking ONE Invasive Plant Management Member to contribute to IPMT projects alongside NPS Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: Anticipated February 2026 Estimated End Date: 16 weeks after start date a 16-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Murfreesboro, TN Stones River National Battlefield preserves and protects a cultural landscape consisting of 700 acres of forests, grasslands, cedar glades, savannas, and barrens, and includes one of the earliest national cemeteries. The park is located in the historic city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. Murfreesboro offers all amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, pharmacies, and department stores. The park is in a suburban area, served by public transit but most easily accessed by car. Tennessee can be very hot and humid. The work environment at the park is heavily field-based, and interns may spend considerable time standing and hiking. They may be subject to full sun, high heat, biting and stinging insects, and the potential for dehydration during fieldwork. For more information about Stones River National Battlefield, please visit the NPS website. One of the many ways the NPS is addressing invasive species is through the Invasive Plant Management Program. The program assists parks in preventing introductions of new species, reducing existing infestations, and restoring native plant communities and ecosystem functions. In 2000, the NPS created the Invasive Plant Management Program that now supports 18 teams contributing in over 300 park units. Invasive Plant Management Teams (IPMT) are led by individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in invasive plant management. Each field-based team operates over a wide geographic area and serves over a dozen parks to increase operational efficiency. The IPMT uses multiple strategies to create a work plan specific to the needs of the individual partner park. All treatment, control and restoration methods are reviewed and approved by the partner park and the NPS Integrated Pest Management Program. Position Overview: The member will control non-native plants using both manual and chemical methods (75%), perform distribution mapping of non- native plants using GPS (10%), and assist with additional resource management field, GIS, and data management projects (15%). Because of the travel intensive nature of this internship, we are looking for adaptable applicants willing to work in an environment requiring a lot of flexibility. At times our travel plans change suddenly due to unforeseen weather or training opportunities. This position is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management and networking with professionals at various parks. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Interns will potentially receive training on many resource management aspects: herbicide safety and handling, truck and trailer driving, hand tool use, GIS skills, and see a variety of beautiful parks located in the Southeast. The crew will be manually removing exotic invasive vegetation in both urban and rural NPS sites. The team will live together while in travel status, so the ability to get along with others is vital. The accommodation will vary from rustic park housing to hotels, but while traveling camping will not be required. The program is interested in crew members with initiative, leadership ability, patience, and an intense work ethic who have a desire to expand their resumes. Schedule: Week1: Monday-Friday 6:30am-4:00pm CST, Week2: Monday-Wednesday 6:30am-4:00pm CST, Thursday 6:30am-3:00pm CST

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 can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as botany, ecology, biology, natural resources, environmental science, or a related field.
• Experience with invasive plant management or restoration.
• Experience identifying and managing native and non-native plants.
• Experience using GPS and GIS software.

Responsibilities

• Control non-native plants using both manual and chemical methods (75%)
• Perform distribution mapping of non- native plants using GPS (10%)
• Assist with additional resource management field, GIS, and data management projects (15%)

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $650/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 provided in shared NPS Housing at no cost to applicant
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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