Position Title: Biological Technician - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements - BIA WaterCorps Program
Site Location: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, 100 Brown Farm Road, Olympia, WA
Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by March 1st, 2025
Position Openings: 1
Terms of Service:
Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
The Biological Technician is an AmeriCorps position that will help administer the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position is incorporated into the National Wildlife Refuge System, more specifically the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex with guiding principles of a “wildlife first” approach to resource management.
The purpose of the member’s service is to primarily benefit the federally threatened Oregon spotted frog by surveying for and removing invasive American bullfrogs from the Black River Unit of the refuge. The member also supports the refuge’s biological program in a wide variety of ways such as amphibian surveys and freshwater management data gathering. The member will also be partnered with the Nisqually and Squaxin Island Indian tribes as well as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation to assist those programs with fish hatchery work, European green crab trapping and other water related projects.
Description of Duties:
Work nighttime hours (approximately 8-10 weeks of term) removing American bullfrogs by means of air rifle, gigging, and hand nettingSafely operate a canoe/kayak at night on a river Walk in wetlands in waders through tall grass/cattails searching for and removing bullfrogs Walk across tidal marsh and mudflats to deploy, retrieve and process European green crab traps Map sweetgrass locations within the refuge Work along riverbanks to control invasive yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife (manual and herbicide) Collect sediment measurements in the Nisqually River delta Perform habitat enhancement for Oregon spotted frogs Participate in public events, such as the Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival and the Nisqually Watershed Festival
Qualifications:
A strong interest in a career in natural resource conservation science Willing to euthanize invasive frogs to benefit the federally listed Oregon spotted frog Willing to use herbicides to enhance habitats Willing to complete a WA State hunter safety course and pass air rifle field proficiencyMust be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions: Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United StatesDescendants of members of federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 - shown by completing BIA Form 4432 United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alienApplicants must be at least 18 years of age or olderHas received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education awardAgrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
Preferred Qualifications:
Applicants with science related educational backgrounds and an interest in conservation Educational, professional, or other experience with amphibians Non-motorized boating experience (canoe/kayak)
Additional Position and Community Information:
This position is in an urban community located between Tacoma and Olympia, WA with all the amenities a mid-sized city providesThe member will need to organize transportation to and from work. While at work, the member will be permitted to operate a government vehicle after passing the National Safety Council’s Defensive Driving
Benefits:
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697 awarded upon successful completion of position.Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week.Professional Development fund of $2,255.00 for entire term.Option to choose Healthcare Coverage and Childcare Coverage Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
How to Apply:
In addition to your resume, you must upload a copy of your Tribal ID proving you are enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe, Band, or village. Please also submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.
Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by March, 1st 2025. However, we will accept applications on a rolling basis due to the flexible start date (anytime before the beginning of July)
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
Program Contact information: Andre Nguyen at anguyen@conservationlegacy.org Service Site Contact information: Kurt Roblek at kurt_roblek@fws.gov
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Additional Details
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary. Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
Member will receive an orientation that includes program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Member will receive job training for our field, hatchery, and lab methodologies and protocols. Field methods include electrofishing, minnow trapping, beach seining, invertebrate sampling, and snorkel surveys. Member will receive safety training. This includes staff led training as well as opportunities through outside sources. Professionally sourced safety training could include First Aid & CPR, Swiftwater Rescue, and/or Wilderness First Responder certifications. Member will receive professional development training. This includes resume building and counseling, job searches and applications, networking, interview preparation and strategies.
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.