Inventory and Monitoring Biological Specialist, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

EPIC • Fremont, CA

21h

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking one Inventory and Monitoring Biological Specialist to assist in preserving natural resources for future generations by implementing Inventory and Monitoring Programs on National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin of Oregon. This internship includes inventory and monitoring plan implementation and natural resource monitoring to inform science-based resource management. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career in natural resources management on our public lands. The purpose of the internship is to perform a variety of biological technical and operational duties essential to manage ecosystems, protect vulnerable species and provide hunting and recreational opportunities at refuges. These duties that integrate science and data documentation into refuge management decisions cannot be accomplished by existing staff alone. This internship will last 47 weeks. The starting and ending dates are flexible to some degree. Start Date: April/May 2026 Estimated End Date: March/April 2027 at 46 week minimum commitment is required Location: USFWS Pacific Southwest National Wildlife Refuges. The positions will be stationed at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Fremont, CA) and will include up to 12 weeks of travel. Travel may include short residences (1-4 weeks) at other National Wildlife Refuges within the Pacific Southwest Region. Project Website: For more information on the Pacific Southwest, please visit their USFWS website. For more information regarding ACE/EPIC, please visit our website. Compensation: The ACE/EPIC Biological Specialists will complete 40 hours/week and receive a living allowance of $1075/week paid out biweekly for food and incidental costs. Housing at the primary duty station and during travel will be provided at no cost to the intern. A travel budget is provided for travel and training opportunities. 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. Position Description: Duties Overview 40% – Inventory and Monitoring Plan Implementation Biological Specialists will assist the Division of Natural Resources, Conservation Planning, Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) and refuge staff in implementing refuge I&M Plans. This includes documentation of at least two high-priority protocols for habitat management activities or natural resource surveys, which will be developed in collaboration with refuge and I&M staff. Refuge staff need assistance to complete this documentation due to limited technical or operational capacity. The focus will be on essential information for managing wetlands and other refuge ecosystems-data that would not otherwise be available without this additional support. Potential projects may include documentation of water management practices, species monitoring, or habitat restoration protocols. Biological Specialist responsibilities include: Preparing, editing, and preserving survey protocols, management guides, training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other documentation to support consistent and transparent data collection by refuge biologists and technicians. Editing and maintaining existing protocol reports to ensure they are usable for future management decisions. Following I&M documentation standards and templates to ensure consistency and quality. Using knowledge of biological systems, databases, ArcGIS, and R to compile documentation based on review of existing materials, field observations, and communication with refuge staff and non-refuge partners involved in the surveys. Assisting in the implementation of survey protocols and management plans and using observations from the field to develop or refine documentation. These efforts will directly support the collection, analysis, and documentation of critical natural resource and management data that refuge staff currently lack the capacity to manage on their own. 20% – Data Preservation Biological Specialists will document and archive at least four high-priority natural resource datasets for the refuge. This work ensures that valuable data are preserved and accessible for future use in management and planning. Tasks include: Reviewing existing datasets and assessing data quality. Writing and editing metadata to meet USFWS standards. Archiving final data products in the USFWS centralized data system, ServCat. Training and support will be provided by I&M and refuge staff to ensure proper procedures are followed. 40% – Refuge Support Biological Specialists will assist with a variety of refuge operations and resource management tasks that support the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These duties will focus on essential activities that contribute to the preservation of natural resources, enhancement of visitor experiences, and protection of vulnerable or listed species. Duties may include: Participating in habitat restoration projects, invasive species control (e.g., weed management, herbicide application), and other habitat management efforts. Supporting visitor services and public outreach programs. Assisting with maintenance of refuge facilities and infrastructure. Applying knowledge of natural resource monitoring and management techniques, species identification, public engagement, GIS, statistical analysis, and data management to support refuge goals. This hands-on work will complement the specialist's documentation and data preservation duties, providing a well-rounded experience in both field and technical aspects of refuge management. Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking up to 2 miles over wet and rough surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching and carrying a 50 lb backpack. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments, or exact measurements. Work Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday-Friday. Specialists may have projects that begin very early and/or go late into the day and may have weekend duties as well. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. Time off will be granted including an allowance of paid time. Biological Specialists will be expected to safely and professionally operate a vehicle on site with a clear and valid license. As outlined by the USFWS protocol, Vehicle Use: "Participants under the age of 21 shall not be allowed to operate any motorized vehicle. Participants and partner organization staff 21 and older may be allowed to drive a vehicle owned, rented, leased or loaned by the USFWS only when: 1. The vehicle is used with written permission from the USFWS's field manager and only for official agency use; 2. The driver is properly licensed and qualified to operate the vehicle, and all such vehicle use, maintenance, training and operation is in compliance with 243 FW 1, Safe Operation of Motor Vehicles and Motor Equipment and all other applicable policies for usage of USFWS motor vehicles; 3. The driver has completed a defensive driving course within the last three years; 4. Before field work requiring the use of a motorized vehicle begins, the USFWS site coordinator provides written documentation that all of the above criteria have been met to the partner organization contact. Such documentation may be provided electronically; and 5. Both the driver and the vehicle will be covered by insurance policy maintained by the partner organization covering the use of such vehicle." Equipment Use: The Refuge will provide a vehicle and the tools required to accomplish the tasks the Biological Specialist is asked to do. Training will be provided for all equipment that the specialist is asked to use. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Heavy equipment (tractors, dozers, graders, backhoes, front-end loaders, etc.) may not be used by Specialists unless the Official U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service training and certification process is completed. Local training is allowed for small equipment such as lawn mowers, weed-eaters, ATVs and UTVs. A valid state driver's license is required for any (highway legal) vehicle use. Position Environment: Duties are performed both indoors and outdoors. Temperature and weather extremes can be encountered in the performance of outdoor duties. The Biological Specialist is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff or resources.

Responsibilities

• Assist in implementing refuge I&M Plans.
• Document high-priority protocols for habitat management activities or natural resource surveys.
• Prepare, edit, and preserve survey protocols, management guides, training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other documentation.
• Edit and maintain existing protocol reports.
• Follow I&M documentation standards and templates.
• Compile documentation using knowledge of biological systems, databases, ArcGIS, and R.
• Assist in the implementation of survey protocols and management plans.
• Document and archive high-priority natural resource datasets.
• Review existing datasets and assess data quality.
• Write and edit metadata to meet USFWS standards.
• Archive final data products in the USFWS centralized data system, ServCat.
• Participate in habitat restoration projects and invasive species control.
• Support visitor services and public outreach programs.
• Assist with maintenance of refuge facilities and infrastructure.
• Apply knowledge of natural resource monitoring and management techniques, species identification, public engagement, GIS, statistical analysis, and data management.

Benefits

• Living allowance of $1075/week paid out biweekly for food and incidental costs.
• Housing at the primary duty station and during travel will be provided at no cost to the intern.
• A travel budget is provided for travel and training opportunities.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees