Land Management Support Member, Modoc National Wildlife Refuge

EPIC • Alturas, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking two Land Management Support Members to contribute to invasive plant management projects alongside Modoc NWR Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: April/ May 2026 Estimated End Date: 17 weeks later a 17-week minimum commitment is required, approximately 680 hours, some start date flexibility Location Details/Description: Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Alturas, California The 7,021-acre Modoc NWR is located along the South Fork of the Pit River in Modoc County, southeast of the town of Alturas, in extreme northeastern California. The refuge is located on the western edge of the Great Basin, a high elevation, cold desert environment. The refuge consists of wetland, wet meadow, reservoir, riparian, sagebrush-steppe, and cropland habitats. The refuge is part of a larger complex of mid-elevation wetlands and lakes of northeastern California and is strategically situated to meet the needs of waterfowl and other migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway. Modoc NWR acts as a migration and staging area for ducks, geese, and other wetland birds on the southward migration funnel into this region. After feeding and resting on the refuge, they continue to the Central and Imperial Valleys of California and other wintering areas. This pattern is reversed in the spring. The refuge's wetlands and adjacent uplands are also an important nesting area for ducks, geese, greater sandhill cranes, and other species of marsh birds. For more information about Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, please visit their 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, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission at Modoc NWR as management of invasive species is essential to maintaining quality habitat for a variety of wildlife species that depend on Modoc NWR. 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 staff in the following tasks:

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 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).
• 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.
• Members may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement or as defined by AmeriCorps.
• Must take all measures possible to ensure the safety of yourself and others and understand all safety precautions involved.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with all ages and diverse audiences.
• Ability to speak to the public.
• Ability to operate independently and in remote areas.
• Competent in Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an associate's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resources, biology, ecology, wildlife management, natural resource management, parks and recreation, rangeland management, or other related disciplines appropriate to the position.
• Ability and willingness to apply herbicide treatment for invasive plant control.
• Ability to follow assigned protocols to perform tasks with many steps.
• Skills and ability to resolve a full range of problems or situations when performing a variety of tasks in the field or office setting.
• Skill in safely operating motorized vehicles and specialized equipment including: highway vehicles, backpack sprayers, weed eaters, ATVs, etc.
• Experience and/or knowledge with GIS equipment.
• Experience and/or knowledge with plant identification.
• Strong desire to enter the public service field as a natural resource professional.
• Experience and/or knowledge in the mission of the USFWS and other federal land management agencies.
• Ability to embrace travel opportunities as they arise to other nearby Refuges.

Responsibilities

• Invasive Plant Management (75%): Use mechanical and chemical treatments to treat invasive plants including perennial pepperweed, hoary cress, poison hemlock, Mediterranean sage, scotch thistle, Canada thistle, and others. Chemical herbicide application using various methods including handheld sprayers, backpack sprayers, and ATV/UTV sprayers. Tracking and documenting herbicide use.
• Invasive Plant Surveying: Surveying areas for invasive species. Operate Field Maps on iPads and use ArcGIS Pro to document plants sprayed and surveyed. Contribute to written invasive plant management reports.
• Assist with other biological and land management duties (25%) As opportunity, time, and environmental conditions allow Use GIS in the office to produce maps for the field and reports.
• Facilities maintenance (cleaning trails & bathrooms, weed whacking/weed eating auto tour pull outs, oiling signs, etc.)
• Waterbird banding
• Waterbird surveys
• Bird nest box maintenance
• Vegetation monitoring
• Community outreach events

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $500/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 will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term. The Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is located in remote Northeast California off of Highway 395. It is near the town of Alturas, where basic amenities can be accessed.
• Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, outerwear, rain gear, backpack, work boots, etc., and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.
• 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 will include USFWS ATV/UTV training.
• 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. Scholarship recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of scholarships are available.

What This Job Offers

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