Refuge Support Member - Central Washington National Wildlife Refuge Complex

EPIC • Burbank, WA

14d

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking two Refuge Support Members to support various activities under the mentorship of Central Washington NWRC Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: February 2026, April 2026 Estimated End Date: July 2026, October 2026 a 25 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 1000 hours Location Details/Description: Central Washington National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, with a secondary work on Hanford Reach National Monument The Central Washington NWR Complex provides management and support for three national wildlife refuges and one national monument . Our refuges stretch from the picture-postcard Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, with Mt. Adams towering in the background, to the teeming waterfowl of Toppenish. And covering 4 times as much acreage as the rest combined, the Fish & Wildlife Service's first national monument, Hanford Reach, with its majestic elk, rich history, and towering white bluffs. For more information about Central Washington NWRC, 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, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission at Central Washington NWRC. The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the following tasks: Contribute to Refuge's habitat and invasive species management program (70%) Assist with surveying and treatment (mechanical and chemical) of invasive species. Provide a summary of pesticide application that can be used for the annual pesticide usage report. Document each management action area on each station using Field Maps for ArcGIS, and provide data needed for the Refuge Annual Performance Plan (RAPP) report. Assist with repair and removal of barbed-wire or electric fence. Assist with managing water movement and monitoring wetlands for proper water levels and depth. Provide support to the Refuge's visitor services program (10%) Repair refuge signs. Conduct trail maintenance activities on the refuge. Assist with environmental or interpretive programs at the complex Assist with the Refuge's biological and wildlife management programs (20%) Assist in conducting surveys which may include Washington and Townsends Ground Squirrels, Western Burrowing Owls, Northern Leopard Frogs, and other wildlife and habitat surveys associated with Shrub-steppe. Assist with seed collection of native species 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: The schedule will be Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m PT. Depending on the work tasks, this schedule may be adjust to meet the goals/objectives for invasive species treatment or wildlife/habitat surveys such as earlier mornings to accommodate active periods, or to avoid warmer/windier conditions that would be outside of our best management practices. No more than 40 hours a week will be worked.

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
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

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 biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.
• At least one full year of specialized experience to include activities such as basic and applied habitat surveying and restoration techniques of shrub-steppe for the benefit of various species; experience in the practices/techniques and terminology related to wildlife management and habitats; surveying and monitoring a variety of species; knowledge and experience working with laws and regulations, as well as policies pertaining to invasive species and their treatments; using computer technology to maintain and retrieve information from automated data systems, and statistical software programs in order to develop reports; working with others in a natural resource environment.
• Knowledge of vegetation management, especially in the documentation, control and monitoring of invasive plant species.
• Deep interest in field work for conservation

Responsibilities

• Contribute to Refuge's habitat and invasive species management program (70%)
• Assist with surveying and treatment (mechanical and chemical) of invasive species.
• Provide a summary of pesticide application that can be used for the annual pesticide usage report.
• Document each management action area on each station using Field Maps for ArcGIS, and provide data needed for the Refuge Annual Performance Plan (RAPP) report.
• Assist with repair and removal of barbed-wire or electric fence.
• Assist with managing water movement and monitoring wetlands for proper water levels and depth.
• Provide support to the Refuge's visitor services program (10%)
• Repair refuge signs.
• Conduct trail maintenance activities on the refuge.
• Assist with environmental or interpretive programs at the complex
• Assist with the Refuge's biological and wildlife management programs (20%)
• Assist in conducting surveys which may include Washington and Townsends Ground Squirrels, Western Burrowing Owls, Northern Leopard Frogs, and other wildlife and habitat surveys associated with Shrub-steppe.
• Assist with seed collection of native species

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/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 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 Columbia NWR at no cost for the duration of the term.
• Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, sun protection, or other gear appropriate for a field position, 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 m ay include ATV/UTV training, heavy equipment training, saw training (S212) and pesticide applicator licensing.
• Scholarship Funding Opportunity: T he 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

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees