Legacy Placement Partners

Description
Position Title: Botany Support Specialist - NEPA (AmeriCorps)
Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico
Site Location: Bureau of Land Management - Carlsbad Field Office
520 East Greene St, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Terms of Service:
• Start Date: 9/28/26
• End Date: 6/18/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours
COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION
First review of applications will take place by 8/10/26. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.
Purpose:
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation's most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.
Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)
As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas/Oklahoma that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.
Mentorship
These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.
Position Summary
The Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Conservation Corps New Mexico seeks to fill a need for a Botany Support Specialist - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Individual Placement out of the Carlsbad BLM Field Office (CFO). The successful candidate will provide support to the Botany Program including but not limited to support field-going Botany crews, assist with NEPA actions, and monitor/manage for Special Status Plant Species (SSPS).
BLM New Mexico (including Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas) has one of the largest oil and gas programs in the Bureau. The four-state area has over 45 million acres of mineral estate and more than 2 million acres of Native American mineral estate. Two of the most prolific oil and gas basins in the United States are in New Mexico--the San Juan Basin in the northwest corner and the Permian Basin in the southeast. The Carlsbad Field Office is located within the Permian Basin and manages oil and gas lease sales to ensure orderly, effective, timely, and environmentally responsible leasing of oil and gas resources. The CFO focuses heavily on permitting and Individual Placement will learn how BLM navigates and balances conservation efforts with oil and gas management.
The selected individual will work with BLM staff under the mentorship of Conservation Corps New Mexico and the BLM field office botanist. These positions are intended to be entry-level botany with opportunities for professional development such as shadowing various BLM departments and attending training/conferences. Individual placements must provide their own personal transportation to the duty office; however, the individual placement will be provided with a vehicle for use between the office and the field. Housing may be available; more information will be provided during the interview.
Below are 2026 priorities and focus projects for the BLM-CFO. These projects will come with a deliverable depending on the length of the participant's term and project schedule.
• Manage Special Status Plant Species ArcGIS Pro Database including spatial data editing, attribute updates, quality control and conservation planning efforts.
• Mange CFO's Special Status Plant Species email by uploading survey results into ArcGIS Pro along with maintaining a fast response service.
• Complete "SurveyRx's" on a request basis from the CFO email.
• Work with project leads, third party contractors, and operators to identify and communicate the need for Special Status Plant Species surveys
• Review, analyze and potentially approve oil and gas development projects within the Permian Basin.
• Write NEPA language for approval of Environmental Assessments and Categorical Exclusions via Special Status Plant Species determinations.
• Work with project leads, third party contractors, and operators to determine mitigation measures to ensure approval to oil and gas development projects.
• Participate in and lead project meetings with multiple resource staff to determine best management practices for each natural resource.
• Conduct inventory and monitoring efforts of our "Playa" project.
Additional Duties:
• Assist CFO Botany Department with designing and implementing monitoring projects for Threatened and Endangered plant species.
• Provide SSPS identification training to project leaders, interns, and third-party contractors.
• Provide support (logistics, plant ID, field support) to field-going Botany crews, including Seeds of Success (SOS), Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM), and SSPS Survey crews.
• Work with BLM Botanist and Botany crews to study and collect data for Carlsbad Field Office.
• Provide botanical expertise to Carlsbad Field Office.
• Alongside BLM Botanist, represent BLM Botany Program in interdisciplinary team contexts.
• Assist with identification of plants and local community flora.
• Assist with a variety of Botanical protocols and monitoring efforts.
• Assist with data entry and travel preparation.
• Assist other natural resource staff with project implementation.
Conditions: General hazards associated with driving and being outside; driving in uneven terrain; hiking off trail; exposure to rattlesnakes, insects, extreme heat, wind, and rain; hydrogen sulfide may be present in areas where the oil and gas industry is active - BLM will provide training to members for field work in these areas and require members to wear personal protective equipment and monitors for safety.
Qualifications:
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 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.
• Valid U.S Driver's License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Experience with plant identification and using technical keys.
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro and various ESRI data collection applications (Survey123, Field Maps, Collector).
• Field navigation skills and experience using GPS software.
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive truck on rugged gravel or dirt roads.
• Experience with data entry and data management.
• Familiarity with flora of Southwestern U.S. (preferred).
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check and should possess a valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
Preferred Qualifications
• Proficient in GIS applications.
Participation and Expedition Behavior:
• Due to BLM-CFO's heavy focus on permitting for various projects that impact resources and habitat, this position may not be suitable for candidates whose primary career objective is in conservation.
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, Bureau of Land Management and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
Safety and Judgment:
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.
Substance Free:
• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
Background Check:
A Department of Interior background clearance may be required before the selected candidate reports for service. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process could take a few months to complete and may impact participant's exact start day and/or access to BLM property and systems once participant starts their term.
Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.
Our Commitment:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, 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.
Orientation and Training:
• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.50
• Living Allowance of $700 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $230 per week.
• Professional development funds of $1,500.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 1200-hour term.
• Eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).
• Healthcare Coverage.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
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.
For questions about the interview process please contact Individual Placements Program Coordinator SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org
For specific questions about the position and/or Carlsbad area please contact BLM CFO Botanist Renae Cox, rflynncox@blm.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.