Seeds of Success Member, Mother Lode Field Office

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, is seeking two (2) Seeds of Success Members to contribute to the BLM Seeds of Success project alongside BLM staff at Cosumnes River Preserve. For more information about ACE, please visit the American Conservation Experience website. Start Date: Early-Mid March, 2025 Estimated End Date: Late September/Early October, 2025 *a 30-week minimum commitment is required * Location Details/Description: Cosumnes River Preserve - Galt, California The Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) lies within the BLM Mother Lode Field Office range of interest. The BLM Mother Lode Field Office manages over 230,000 acres of public land in Central California and these lands are scattered all over the Sierra Nevada and Gold Country regions. The Cosumnes River Preserve consists of over 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands owned by seven land-owning Partners. The Partners include The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Sacramento County Regional Parks, Department of Water Resources, Ducks Unlimited, and the California State Lands Commission. The Preserve is centered along the Cosumnes River, its floodplains, and riparian habitat. This habitat is buffered by a variety of agricultural operations. The Preserve provides numerous social, economic, and recreational benefits to local communities and to people residing in the larger Sacramento and San Joaquin areas. The habitat supports wildlife, including birds that migrate throughout the Pacific Flyway. The Preserve promotes low-impact recreation and offers naturalist-lead activities that include: hikes, bird monitoring, paddles, photography walks, and more. A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. For more information about the Mother Lode Field Office or the Cosumnes River Preserve, please visit each of their websites. Position Overview: Seed collection would involve following the BLM Seeds of Success protocol. Seeds of Success (SOS) is the national native seed collection program, led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in partnership with a variety of federal agencies and non-federal organizations. SOS's mission is to collect wildland native seeds for research, development, germplasm conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Much of the work will be accomplished in the field on rugged terrain that requires a 4x4 truck to access. Duties: * Learn and implement seeds of success seed collection method * Identify target plant species with training * GIS: identifying collection sites * Data collection using a digital tablet and GPS * Photograph plants in the field and collect high-quality images * Collaboratively work in a team setting Past seed collection projects at the CRP have shown that they need to begin in the early spring rather than later to allow for more potential success with seed collection. Thus members in this position will start roughly a month earlier than the typical seeds of success season/training. A crash course on the protocol will be provided by BLM staff initially however a formal, virtual training will be provided to the member in April. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Schedule: Monday - Friday, generally 8 AM to 5 PM. During the summer, the work schedule will shift to starting earlier in the day to avoid working during the hottest part of the day. Position Benefits Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible. 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 and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or the BLM. Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $200.00/week. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses. Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive an orientation outlining ACE policies, procedures and networks for support. Specific training via the BLM may include Seeds of Success protocol training, field training on 4WD, project-specific training, and field equipment training. Qualifications 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 criminal history checks * Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. * 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. Preferred: * Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of an undergraduate degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, botany, or similar studies and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as plant identification and keying. * Knowledge of California native plants. * Knowledge of field note recording. * Ability and willingness to take high-quality images. * Ability and willingness to work in inclement weather conditions. * Ability and willingness to operate a 4X4 vehicle on unpaved roadways. * Ability and willingness to meticulously follow the SOPs of the Seeds of Success program. * Ability and willingness to be very detail-oriented and organized. * Ability and willingness to use GPS and InReach equipment. * Deep interest in botany and plant science and are very science-driven. * Previous First Aid training would be a valuable asset. Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions: * Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, stooping, kneeling, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing. Manual dexterity is required for the use of various tools. Ability to hike over rough terrain. * Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. * Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 50 pounds. * Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Extensive poison oak, ticks, bees/wasps, high temperatures during summer months and freezing conditions in the winter months, and steep/rugged terrain. * Travel: This position may require domestic travel. Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger themself, fellow staff/members, or resources. Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the BLM or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM and ACE equipment training, certification, and safety protocols is required. To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on the American Conservation Experience website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact BLM/FS Division Member Manager, Ian McGufficke - imcgufficke @ usaconservation dot org. ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Created: 2025-01-26