Maintenance and Biology Support Member - Sherburne NWR

EPIC • Zimmerman, MN

17d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking one (1) Member to contribute to a variety of refuge maintenance duties, wildlife and habitat surveys, environmental education programs, and habitat management activities under the mentorship of Sherburne NWR Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: May 2026 Estimated End Date: August/September 2026 a 12-17 week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Sherburne NWR- Zimmerman, MN Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in Sherburne County, in east central Minnesota, about 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The 30,700 acre refuge was established in 1965 at the urging of local conservationists and hunters interested in restoring the wildlife values of the St. Francis River Basin, which had been altered by a series of drainage ditches and agricultural production. Following that, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge became and remains the largest public land holding in Sherburne County. The refuge is now a wild remnant at the meeting of the western prairies and the northern woods, with oak savanna, prairie opening, forest, wetland and riverine habitats. In addition to work at Sherburne NWR, the ACE member may occasionally assist with projects at other FWS sites within the Sherburne NWR Complex. This complex includes Crane Meadows NWR (Little Falls, MN), Rice Lake NWR (McGregor, MN), and Mille Lacs NWR (Lake Mille Lacs). For more information about the refuge, please visit the FWS website. Position Overview: The member will primarily assist with weed whipping and mowing lawns around refuge infrastructure, including buildings, upland trails, kiosk areas, water control structures and roads. Once certified, the member is approved to use herbicide to control vegetation on trails, parking lots and for invasive species purposes. Other duties include: Install, repair and replace boundary and trail signs, gates, trail markers and road signs along hiking trails, boardwalks and kiosks. Maintenance includes repairing and replacing missing, broken and rotten boards, handrails, steps, roofing, etc. Maintain and operate Refuge vehicles, trailers, weed eaters, chainsaws, brush cutters, hand tools, lawn mowers, agriculture tractors, skid steers, backhoes and various implements. Vehicle and equipment operation to occur once fully trained. Work with Volunteers and other staff to perform maintenance on walking trails, boardwalks, roads and other refuge facilities. As needed, assist with a variety of refuge operations and resource management tasks which may include participating in habitat restoration projects, invasive species control, habitat management efforts, and support visitor services and public outreach programs. Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System. 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 be carried out Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:30pm Central Time, averaging 40 hours per week, with every other Friday off. Some evening and weekend hours may be required for assistance with refuge events and outreach opportunities.

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.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a 4 year college degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resources, biology, ecology, or a related field.
• Knowledge of trailering or willing to learn.
• Able to walk and stand for long periods.
• Ensure quality of the data collected.
• Drive a vehicle and navigate to new destinations
• Ability to work in a team and accept guidance from supervisor and other refuge staff
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to perform work activities in a clean and respectful manner
• Willingness to participate in training
• Comfortable operating boats and UTVs or willing to learn
• Deep interest in ecology and natural resources related work.
• Please note that members will need to bring a personal vehicle to the refuge daily. A refuge vehicle will be available for work activities on the refuge.

Responsibilities

• Assist with weed whipping and mowing lawns around refuge infrastructure, including buildings, upland trails, kiosk areas, water control structures and roads.
• Use herbicide to control vegetation on trails, parking lots and for invasive species purposes.
• Install, repair and replace boundary and trail signs, gates, trail markers and road signs along hiking trails, boardwalks and kiosks.
• Maintain and operate Refuge vehicles, trailers, weed eaters, chainsaws, brush cutters, hand tools, lawn mowers, agriculture tractors, skid steers, backhoes and various implements.
• Work with Volunteers and other staff to perform maintenance on walking trails, boardwalks, roads and other refuge facilities.
• Assist with a variety of refuge operations and resource management tasks which may include participating in habitat restoration projects, invasive species control, habitat management efforts, and support visitor services and public outreach programs.
• Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System.

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $850/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.
• Gear Allowance: 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 f or support. Specific training may include refuge orientation, safety plans, defensive driving, UTV, boat safety, equipment training and pesticide application training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed