Upland Monitoring Member, Burns BLM Field Office

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Burns BLM District Office is seeking a One Upland Monitoring Member to contribute to an Upland Monitoring project alongside BLM Staff.

This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in ecology, botany, rangeland management, weed management, or wildlife management. The Members will assist in completing a variety of monitoring tasks associated with ecological conditions and rangeland management.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: May/June 2023 potential for flexibility

Estimated End Date: *Dependent on start date, A minimum 17-week commitment is required

Location Details/Description: Hines, Oregon

The Burns District is located in southeastern Oregon, extending from the Oregon-Nevada border on the south into the Blue Mountains on the north, a distance of nearly 200 miles. There are over 3.36 million acres of public land and it is divided into two Field Offices: Three Rivers, roughly 1.68 million acres in the northern portion of the District; and Andrews/Steens, 1.68 million acres of public land in the south. Within the District boundary there are also large areas of private, other Federal and State lands. The Burns District is in the Northern Great Basin, which has a high-desert climate and is dominated by sagebrush habitats, including over 1 million acres of Wilderness and Wilderness Study Area. Hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, bird watching, and many other outdoor activities can be found throughout the county.

Northern Paiutes or their ancestors, have lived in the region for thousands of years. Since the arrival of Euro-Americans in the 19th century, cattle ranching and other forms of agriculture have dominated land use in the area. In addition to ranching, a variety of private and public enterprises support the Burns-Hines economy in the 21st century. Annual events include a migratory bird festival, a gravel bike race, the county fair, and a country music jamboree.

The Burns/Hines area has a population of just over 4,000 people, and is home to about 60 percent of the people in the sparsely populated Harney County, which is by area the largest in Oregon and the ninth largest in the United States. Burns/Hines has all required amenities including multiple grocery stores, restaurants, vehicle service stations, coffee shops, banks, a movie theater, and other local businesses that provide multiple goods and services. As Burns/Hines is a small community, additional amenities can be found approximately 2.5 hours west Bend, OR and 3 hours east in Boise, Idaho. The closest commercial airport is located in Redmond, OR.

For more information about Burns District Office please visit https://www.blm.gov/office/burns-district-office for further location details.

Check out this great video of the area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrSwmWXBVJ8.

Position Overview: Members will be able to participate in a variety of upland monitoring related tasks that support multiple disciplines on the district; some riparian monitoring may also occur. Tasks may vary day to day and will be conducted as a team with other ACE Members or working with BLM specialists. On occasion ACE Members may work alone.

Vegetation ranges from forests dominated by Ponderosa Pine to sagebrush systems. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 9,700 feet and temperatures range from a high of over 100 degrees in the summer to a low of below 0 degrees in the winter. Average annual rainfall is approximately 11 inches, with 22 inches average snowfall. Much of the terrain is steep and uneven. Ticks are common, especially in grassy or shrubby areas. Some field locations have poor or no cell-phone reception; however, the BLM will supply two-way radios with excellent coverage and dispatch support. Most BLM roads are natural dirt or gravel-surfaced.

This position will support the Burns District's natural resource programs, specifically the range, weed, botany, and wildlife programs, though ACE Members may assist in other programs as well. The work will be in support of various activities taking place in the district, including range, restoration, wildlife, and fuels projects.

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Step transects
• Line-point intersect transects
• Photo monitoring
• Observed apparent trend
• Soil surface factor determination
• Utilization monitoring
• Cole browse
• Use supervision
• Livestock counts
• Wildlife habitat monitoring
• Weed monitoring/documentation
• Wilderness Study Area monitoring
• Project inspection
• Project repair
• Data entry

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: The work schedules will generally be four 10-hour days during the field season and five 8-hour days during the remainder of the year, with weekends off. This will be primarily a field going position.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $575/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. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here.

Housing: The housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or BLM. There is limited public bus service within the Burns/Hines area. While bike commuting may be a reasonable option in town. A car is necessary to enjoy the majority of the region.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

The BLM will strive to provide the members with opportunities to shadow conservation professionals to learn about multiple ecological disciplines and develop a variety of skills while learning about multiple uses in rural America. While specific training will be provided, a foundational knowledge of plant identification is required for this position.

The members can expect to learn (or improve upon) the following skills - plant identification, use of a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit and GIS (Geographic Information System) software, and multiple vegetation survey and monitoring techniques. In addition, the Members will have opportunities to interact with a variety of BLM specialists (including range, wildlife, weeds, and riparian/fisheries specialists) and learn about public land management issues.

Qualifications

Applicants will hold (or be pursuing) at least a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, and have some experience with plant identification, either in the field or through coursework. This is a demanding outdoor job that requires substantial physical fitness and mobility, participation in the field, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions.

ACE Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• 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).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required [two-part criminal history check]
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.

BLM Required:

• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals.
• Members must have experience with plant identification in an academic and/or field setting.
• Pass a federal background check.

Preferred:

• Applicants for the position must hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as rangeland management, ecology, plant identification, or natural resources.
• Knowledge of sagebrush steppe vegetation.
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills while being able to be self-motivated and have flexibility.
• Deep interest in ecology and rangeland management, including working with and interacting with public land users including ranchers.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Manager, Celia Demers at cdemers@usaconservation.org

EEO: 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.