ACE EPIC USFWS KS: One Visitor Services - Deepening Community Connections with Nature/Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Intern
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking ONE Visitor Services - Deepening Community Connections with Nature Intern to advance the Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge System Urban Wildlife Conservation Program efforts of developing a more connected conservation community. The overall project will help establish community connections and allow increased outdoor recreation opportunities while providing communities with culturally relevant programs. The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program focuses on engaging diverse communities in nature-based experiences in cities across the country.
Start Date: September 2019 (ASAP, negotiable)
End Date: 52 weeks later
Location: Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is located in Pleasanton, Kansas
Project Website:To learn more about the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/marais_des_cygnes/
To learn more about ACE EPIC Internship Program, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
Compensation: The ACE interns will receive a living allowance of $600 week for food and incidental expenses, paid bi-weekly. Housing will be provided.
PLC Competitive Hiring Authority: This position is authorized by the Public Land Corps (PLC) Act of 1993 and expanded by the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013. Interns who meet basic requirements during their term of service may be eligible to receive their Noncompetitive Hiring Eligibility Certificate to be used when applying to future federal jobs. Requirements are: (1) Intern must be between the ages of 18 to 30 and (2) Intern must complete at least 640 hours on a federally approved PLC Project. More information can be provided upon request.
Duties for this position will include:
Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge System Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Development:
- Develop and conduct research for educational programs and products including a program outline and resource materials, pamphlets and brochures, utilizing interpretive techniques for communicating refuge management messages
- Advance the Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge System Urban Wildlife Conservation Program efforts of developing a more connected conservation community. The overall project will help establish community connections and allow increased outdoor recreation opportunities while providing communities with culturally relevant programs.
- The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program focuses on engaging diverse communities in nature-based experiences in cities across the country. The Urban Program approach is to empower local organizations, partners, cities, and towns across the country to seek innovative community-based solutions for wildlife conservation.
- Using the Standards of Excellence and the Urban Evaluation tool, each intern will develop a plan including goals, objectives, action items and evaluation methods for meeting their goal and engaging target audiences.
- Implement 3 5 new initiatives discussed in their plan.
- Work with the Refuge staff to ensure all the projects align with the Regional priorities. This project will allow each intern to develop awareness and knowledge of the local culture and community, help broaden and deepen the connections with nature of the Refuge target audiences, and increase knowledge of engagement opportunities that are culturally relevant to the target audiences.
- At Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, urban outreach efforts will be directed to the Kansas City area. Duties will involve working on the refuge and in various Kansas City locations.
Qualifications: Applicants must have a degree (or be pursuing a degree) in the following field of study: education/outreach including visitor services/interpretation, environmental education, community outreach, or communications; social sciences/humanities including human dimensions, community development, geography, environmental philosophy, or ecology and society; biological sciences including conservation biology or natural resource management; or other closely related field.
Required:
- Knowledge of natural sciences
- Ability to work independently as well as part of small teams
- Desire to work with children and diverse audiences in an Urban Refuge setting
- Writing skills with an understanding of basic grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Attention to detail
- Ability to effectively communicate with supervisor, coworkers, FWS partners and audiences (groups and one-on-one) of various ages
- Flexibility
- Ability to work in very hot, dry, and changing weather conditions
- Willing to work varying hours including before sunrise or at night
- Ability and willingness to work self-directed and, at times, alone at off-refuge meetings or events.
- Ability to record accurate field data
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office software
- Basic tool skills, to set up and facilitate interpretative displays
- Ability and willingness to undergo a Federal criminal background check
- Must have a valid driver's license, be 21 years of age to drive a vehicle, provide documentation of a clean driving record, and have a personal vehicle (required)
- Must take all measures possible to ensure the safety of yourself and others and understand all safety precautions involved
- Must represent ACE/FWS professionally at all times and properly wear uniform components
Further Notes on the internship:
- The intern has contact with supervisor/mentor, other Refuge biologist, research associates, interns, refuge staff, visiting research personnel, refuge volunteers, local private landowners, and the general public.
- The intern is supervised by senior onsite staff. The supervisor specifies objectives, scope of assignments, methods, and techniques as well as advises on new policies and procedures. Work progress is reported to supervisor on a daily basis with periodic review for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to instructions.
- Physical demands vary with the task being performed. The work may involve moderate to strenuous physical exertion including bending, climbing, stretching, sitting in small blinds for long periods, walking long distances over rough, wet, uneven surfaces. Work may involve lifting items up to 50 pounds.
- The duties require a mix of indoor and outdoor work. The intern is expected to perform duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, co-workers, or property when entrusted.
- Interns will be required to work weekends with variable schedules including travel to other locations.
- The Marais des Cygnes NWR office and intern housing are located in a rural and somewhat remote setting. Local amenities are a minimum of 10 miles away.
The applicant must be willing to represent ACE and the FWS in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. Drug users should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.
EOE: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
To Apply: Please submit a thoughtful resume, cover letter, and transcript (required), along with 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing on our website, found through the external application link on Handshake.
NOTE: Early consideration will be given as applications are received. If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact ACE EPIC USFWS Recruitment and Member Manager, Melissa Early, 801.573.8984, or mearly@usaconservation.org.