Refuge Support Members - Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge

EPIC • Craig, CO

2d • 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 (2) Refuge Support Members to contribute to invasive species removal and upland restoration under the mentorship of Browns Park NWR Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: April 2026 Estimated End Date: August 2026 a 20-week minimum commitment is required, approximately 800 hours Location Details/Description: Browns Park NWR, Maybell, Colorado Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 by Public Land Order to provide sanctuary for migratory birds, conserve endangered and threatened species, and offer wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities. The Refuge encompasses a wide variety of habitat types from upland sage steppe and pinyon/juniper forests to wetlands and wet meadows. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge provides valuable habitat for birds to rest and feed as they migrate each spring and fall, and forage for elk and mule deer that browse the uplands and grasslands each winter. Bald eagles and ospreys nest in the cottonwoods and nesting platforms along the Green River. Browns Park NWR is a remote refuge located in NW Colorado. The Refuge Office is located 1.5 miles from the Utah border and 10 miles from the Wyoming border. There are three cities with full services in the general area. The nearest are Craig, CO (pop. 9,000) and Rock Springs, WY (pop. 23,000), both of which are 90 miles from the Refuge and require a 1.5-hour drive. Vernal, UT (pop. 10,000) is 80 miles away and requires a 2-hour drive, although there is an alternate route that is approximately 50 miles and 1.5 hours for a high clearance 4x4 vehicle. Maybell, CO and Dutch John, UT are closer to the Refuge but only have gas station convenience stores available for shopping. Employees must bring a personal vehicle to drive outside of work hours, as there is no public transportation here. This Refuge is remote and therefore does not have convenient access to stores or social events. The Post Office delivers mail on Monday and Thursday, while FedEx Ground and UPS deliver packages Monday through Friday. For more information about Browns Park NWR, please visit the FWS website. Position Overview: Duties include working on all aspects of the Refuge invasive plant control program. This includes applying herbicide (ATV, backpack, and hand sprayers) to target areas throughout the Refuge, and mechanical methods (pulling, digging, and cutting) to control invasive herbaceous and woody plant species. This work also includes native plant restoration such as greenhouse work, seed collection and planting grass plugs. The employee will assist with mapping vegetation communities and using GPS and GIS software. They support cottonwood restoration efforts such as transplanting cottonwood saplings from existing nurseries to riparian locations throughout the Refuge. Duties also include assisting the Refuge staff with routine work such as repairing fences, vehicle and structural upkeep, grounds maintenance, and other related tasks. Refuge work involves standing, bending, walking and a moderate to strenuous amount of physical exertion. The employee will lift and carry heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) on a routine basis. The employee will primarily work outdoors where they may encounter variable weather conditions, stinging and biting insects, nettles and other noxious plants. Additional opportunities include but are not limited to assisting hatchery staff at Ouray National Fish Hatchery, assisting refuge staff at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, working with Colorado State University Larval Fish lab, assisting BLM site manager at John Jarvie Historic Ranch, and assisting hatchery staff at Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery. 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 are expected to be performed Monday-Friday 7am-4:30 pm MDT with every other Friday off. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

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 bachelor of science degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as wildlife & fisheries mgmt., rangeland mgmt., ecological studies, other conservation oriented degrees.
• Knowledge of plant and bird identification.
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills and brainstorm creative solutions.
• Deep interest in conservation, habitat management, and biology.

Responsibilities

• Working on all aspects of the Refuge invasive plant control program.
• Applying herbicide (ATV, backpack, and hand sprayers) to target areas throughout the Refuge, and mechanical methods (pulling, digging, and cutting) to control invasive herbaceous and woody plant species.
• Native plant restoration such as greenhouse work, seed collection and planting grass plugs.
• Assist with mapping vegetation communities and using GPS and GIS software.
• Support cottonwood restoration efforts such as transplanting cottonwood saplings from existing nurseries to riparian locations throughout the Refuge.
• Assisting the Refuge staff with routine work such as repairing fences, vehicle and structural upkeep, grounds maintenance, and other related tasks.

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $773.20/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.
• Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.
• Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases.
• Provided Training/Orientation: Specific training may include 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 may include Defensive Driving, ATV/ORUV training, safe herbicide use and equipment calibration.

What This Job Offers

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