Position Title:  Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Administrative Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

Site Location: Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS)

7851 2nd St. SW. Albuquerque, NM 87105

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 03/31/2025 End Date: 02/20/2026 AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

 

Purpose:

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

Our vision is to lead our Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being by engaging underrepresented Indigenous youth and young adults in conservation service programs that reconnect participants to the land, their cultural heritage, and their traditions. We work to remove barriers to participation, education, and employment by partnering with local community organizations, agencies, and institutes of higher learning to create paid service and career training opportunities, personal and professional development, and pathways to postsecondary education and employment. Native American applicants are encouraged to apply.

 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The mission of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is to carry out the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), which is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. In addition, it must further carry out the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR System) and follow and incorporate the 8 Standards of Excellence for Community Engagement. 

The Refuge’s vision is to use an innovative and collaborative approach to connect people with wildlife, plants, and the land by providing equitable and just ways to deepen personal relationships with nature. The Refuge balances healthy natural habitat management with opportunities for education, visitor engagement, youth employment, community involvement, and stewardship.  

At the Refuge, the Intern, or Individual Placement (IP), would work for the Administrative Program (Program). The Program’s purpose is to contribute to budget/finances tracking; personnel, program, and property support; general office assistance; and setup of the Program for the Refuge. The Program is a support backbone of the Refuge. By doing so the Program supports the overall Refuge goal to balance healthy, natural habitats opportunities for education, visitor engagement, youth employment, community involvement, and stewardship. The Program also further advances the mission of the Service and its NWR System and further implement the 8 Standards of Excellence.

Description of Duties:

To support the goals of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge’s Administrative Program in budget/finances tracking, personnel, program, and property support, and general office assistance, and setup of the Administrative Program, Valle de Oro NWR Administrative Individual Placement will work with the refuge’s Administrative Officer to accomplish the following by the end of their internship: 
 
o Be introduced the Federal Government and how it (i.e., work and agencies) is all connected.
o Understand how funding at the federal level works.
o Understand and build up skills in record keeping as a federal agency and our responsibility to the American public.
o Learn how Valle de Oro NWR fits into the bigger picture of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and its Urban Wildlife Conservation Program while applying the goals and objectives of an Urban NWR into specific program planning and other work aspects of the refuge.

Administrative Individual Placement projects support overall Refuge planning and Administrative Program setup to meet the Refuge’s vision to use an innovative and collaborative approach to connect people with wildlife, plants, and the land by providing equitable and just ways to deepen personal relationships with nature. They will also balance healthy natural habitat management with opportunities for education, visitor engagement, youth employment, community involvement, and stewardship.

 

Qualifications:

Experience with, or an interest in, administrative or human resource related field, ability to be flexible and adaptive in both office and field work and telework, knowledge of the principles and practices of filing and record keeping, of modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers, familiarity with methods and techniques of word processing, and concepts and techniques of safety and risk management are preferred. Ability to take detailed notes, write professional emails/letters, basic report preparation, and preparation of a variety of correspondence and documentation and perform a variety of general clerical work and maintaining a variety of files and records. More requirements will be outlined in a separate document.

United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien At least 17 years of age Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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.

Knowledge

Principles and practices of filing and record keeping.Basic knowledge of issues facing the local community.Familiarity with techniques and concepts of safety and risk management.Basic knowledge of modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.Familiarity with methods and techniques of word processing.

Experience

Experience with, or an interest in, administrative or human resource related field.Community volunteer experience or a history of service-based learning.

 

Skills

Strong organizational and communication skills.Ability to be punctual and reliable.Ability to take detailed notes, write professional emails/letters, basic report preparation, and preparation of a variety of correspondence and documentation.Ability to deploy/use modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.Performing a variety of general clerical work and maintaining a variety of files and records.Operating a variety of office machines.Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors and contractors.

Behavioral Competencies

Open to constructive feedback.Flexibility and adaptability.Can work independently and safely once provided instructions, guidelines, and materials.Problem solving and decision-making skills a plus.Maturity level that allows for supervision and motivation of others.Ability to take initiative and follow through with project goals.Consistent positive mental attitude and work ethic.

Travel Requirements

Participate in occasional offsite meetings, trainings, and presentations.A valid driver’s license. A REAL ID or otherwise compliant ID needed to fly within the U.S.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly.Occasionally traverse uneven terrain; walk, balance, stoop, kneel, bend, reach, push, pull, and/or grasp. Reasonable amount of physical exertion. Ability to sit for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).Have a visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.Receive detailed information through written and/or oral communication; convey important spoken and/or written instructions accurately and effectively.Work indoors in an office and/or outdoors and may encounter variable weather conditions.

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:

Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break 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.

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional qualifications

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Member will receive orientation to Valle de Oro NWR (USFWS) space, history and development. Member will receive orientation relevant to position

Benefits:

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7395.00 Living Allowance of $640 per week. Additional Benefit of $60 per week. Healthcare Coverage if Eligible Loan forbearance if Eligible Interest Payments if EligibleProfessional Development funds $3000

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.

 

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Glen Catlin "Cat" Ami Contact information: gami@conservationlegacy.org

Melanie "Mel" Dabovich, Valle de Oro NWR (USFWS), Administrator Officer Contact Information: melanie_dabovich@fws.gov

 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.