Position Title:  Fish & Wildlife Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements- BIA WaterCorps Program

Site Location: US Fish & Wildlife Service, 170 N. 1st St, Lander WY 82520

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by Feb 15, 2025

Terms of Service:

Ideal Start Date: June 2, 2025 End Date: November 28, 2025 AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hour, 26 weeks

 

 

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 Lander Office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

 

The Fish and Wildlife Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will help us provide fish and wildlife conservation to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes on the Wind River Reservation. Wind River is blessed with large, diverse landscapes that support an abundance of fish and wildlife – many species that are very important culturally to both Tribe’s members. The Lander Office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service has a Trust Responsibility and a deep desire to help the Tribes conserve and enhance their fish, wildlife and landscapes. The Assistant is expected to work diligently with us in meeting the fish & wildlife needs of the Tribe. The Assistant will gain exposure to opportunities within the Fish and Wildlife Service for future career opportunities.

 

 

Description of Duties:

 

The Assistant will work with staff from the Lander Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service on projects that include:

 

Surveying lakes and streams for native species like Yellowstone cutthroat trout, burbot, sauger and fat mucket mussels to look at trends in populations. Will also assist with one multi-day backpacking trip to survey remote backcountry lakes.

 

Stocking fish from trucks, helicopter and by backpacking fingerling fish into lakes

 

Surveying bighorn sheep, mule deer and wolves

 

Installing trail cameras and interpreting images to survey wildlife and assess the number of backcountry fishery users

 

Investigating mortalities of GPS collared mule deer to determine cause of mortality and to retrieve GPS collars.

 

Restoring wet meadows by building hand-placed rock structures to minimize erosion and head cutting that threaten to drain meadows

 

monitoring upland range sites for forage use and production

 

Inputting data into spreadsheets and writing basic reports

 

Qualifications:

 

Must 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 States.  Descendants 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 alien Has 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 award. Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for Conservation Legacy and potentially the host site.

 

 Preferred Qualifications:

 

Has a can-do attitudeHas a keen interest in fish and wildlife and knowing more about their habitats and conservation Enjoys working outdoors, hiking, camping and fishingIn good physical conditionExperience using GIS and Excel spreadsheetsCan work both with a team and independently in remote areas

 

 

Additional Position and Community Information:

 

Lander, a rural community of 7,500, and the surrounding area provide many areas to explore, including world-class rock climbing, historical mining districts, Native American cultural centers, Pioneer Museum, and local art galleries. Many summer community events occur including music in the park, Native American traditional dance, and festivals. Local habitats include sagebrush, grasslands, and the rugged Wind River Mountains, with elevations ranging from 4,500 feet to 13,000 feet. Lander has an urgent care, medical clinic and hospital, several grocery, automotive and hardware stores. The Larger community of Riverton, 30 miles away, includes access to a WalMart and other larger stores. A vehicle is recommended. A 28-foot camper trailer with furnace and air-conditioning is available on-site.

 

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:

Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  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 February 15, 2025 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will close on March 1, 2025

 

 

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Program Contact & Site Supervisor: Pat Hnilicka at pat_hnilicka@fws.gov or   307-332-2159 extension 1 Stewards Program Coordinator contact: Ali Jones at ajones@conservationlegacy.org

 

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. Defensive Driver Training 4-wheel drive training Safe and Proper use of ATVs Electrofishing training Boating safety training

 

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.