2022 NPS Academy Fire Effects Member - Grand Teton National Park - AmeriCorps Eligible
Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, is seeking one Fire Effects Monitoring Crew Member to work with Grand Teton Fire Management under the Visitor Resource Protection Division. The Crew Member will collect vegetation and fuels data in the field to study the impacts of wildfires and thinning treatments on the ecosystem. They will have an opportunity to train as a wildland firefighter and learn about the National Park Service (NPS) and Wildland Fire as career paths.
For more information about NPS Academy, please visit: npsacademy.org.For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
Position Start Date: May 16th, 2022
Position End Date: September 30th, 2022
*a 20-week minimum commitment is required and participation in the orientation March 21st-25th*
About NPS Academy: The National Park Service (NPS) Academy is an innovative and immersive program designed to introduce a diversity of participants, ages 18 to 30 (or Military Veterans up to 35) from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities with the NPS. Participants come away equipped with knowledge about the NPS mission and the NPS Universal Competencies that are considered the foundation of all careers in the NPS and are critical to all park service employees. The NPS Academy maximizes career opportunities with NPS through training and hands-on experiences. This program is generously funded by Grand Teton National Park Foundation.
Program Goals:The major goals of the NPS Academy are to:
- Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
- Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationship
- Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
- Create a more inclusive future for public lands
Location: Grand Teton National Park- The town of Jackson offers a variety of amenities and services in close proximity to Grand Teton National Park. Jackson is only four miles from the southern boundary of Grand Teton, 12 miles from Moose, 20 miles from Jenny Lake, and 41 miles from Colter Bay. The year-round population of Jackson is about 10,000 people. However, millions of visitors come through every year, which means that Jackson offers many amenities that you don't normally see in a town of that size. The Teton Range is a magnificent mountain range in this northwestern region of Wyoming, with the small town of Jackson in its foothills. The Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet, 7,000 feet above the valley floor. Numerous peoples have roamed these lands, showing first signs from various Native American tribes around 11,000 years ago, from the ranchers and trappers of the 1800's, to the homesteaders and modern-day conservationists that support the park. Grand Teton National Park is rich in history of human cultures and biological diversity, being a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $480/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
Housing: Housing and travel assistance to and from park location will be provided. The
ACE Member will be accommodated in park housing at no cost for the duration of the position.
AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award $1,678.57 upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.
Scheduling:This position will consist of a mixture of Mon-Fri 8 hour days and Mon-Thurs 10 hour days.
Position Description:The Fire Effects crew is responsible for collecting fuels and vegetation plots to measure the success of prescribed burns and forest thinning for fuels reduction. The crew works mostly outdoors, and navigates to plots in a variety of forest and shrub vegetation types in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) and the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Western Wyoming. Hiking to the plot locations using GPS, maps, and compasses is required. Plant ID, tree measurement, and data entry in the field is the bulk of outdoor duties.
In the office, the Crew Member will assist with organization of field data for quality assurance. Other duties include data input and analysis, hazard fuel removal, fuel sampling, wildfire assignments, equipment organization, and physical fitness activities. Field work may take place in remote backcountry areas, on steep terrain, and in many types of weather. Field work sometimes involves travel and camping for multiple days. The Fire Effects Crew Member must be able to hike several miles each day carrying moderate loads in the mountains. They may also be exposed to stinging insects and other hazards found in the field. The Crew Member will be encouraged to secure and maintain a red-card firefighter certification (This training will be provided at no cost).
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.
Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service.
Skills:
An important reminder: all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job; a good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success. Essential skills: Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group, experience in subject areas such as Environmental Studies, Forestry, or Geography, Ability and willingness to work outdoors in uncomfortable weather and challenging terrain, and learn to identify trees, shrubs, and other plants, Deep interest in Teamwork, Ecology and Wildland Fire
Additional skills that are helpful: Knowledge of Field Data Collection and comfortable working in remote outdoor settings.
Skills that members will gain from this position:
- Develop an understanding of fire ecology in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
- Develop an understanding of tactics used to complete fuels treatments.
- Develop an understanding of wildfire suppression tactics and how they're used.
Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle, feel, indicate directions. Manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard/mouse and other routine office equipment as well as hand tools and interpretive props. Often required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Must be able to walk over 3 miles on uneven ground and/or trails with or without reasonable accommodation.
Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 10 pounds, occasionally moves up to 25 pounds. Rarely lifts larger loads with another person or assistance from a tool such as a dolley.
Environmental: Approximately 15% of the work will be in a climate controlled, shared office setting or standing at a desk in the climate controlled visitor center. Currently any worked done in a shared office or with the public requires wearing a mask. This policy may be updated before or during the season. The other 85% will be primarily outdoors. Wildlife hazards include moose, black bears and grizzly bears which are found throughout Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest
Summers are typically mild to cool with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s and evening temperatures in the 30s or 40s. Temperatures become cooler and winds stronger at higher elevations in the park. Carrying layers is suggested. We typically see afternoon thunderstorms which pose a hazard at high elevation. The sun is strong and can burn quickly when shade is unavailable.
Travel: This position requires nearly daily travel within Grand Teton National Park and the neighboring Bridger Teton National Forest. Several overnight camping trips lasting up to three nights will occur throughout the summer season.
ACE Requirements:
- Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
- Attendance of the NPS Academy Orientation held March 21st-25th, 2022 (travel costs covered by ACE)
- Participation in summer workshopsWilling 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 required criminal history checks.
- 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.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and NPS Academy, as well as 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 ACE EPIC NPS Member Coordinator, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@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.