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Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking TWO Invasive Plant Members interested in dedicating time to an invasive plant species management and habitat restoration in support of preserving native plant communities alongside Point Reyes National Seashore staff.

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


Start Date: late April or early May 2022 (some flexibility may be available for the right candidate)

End Date: mid-September 2022 (or 20 weeks from the start date)

*a minimum commitment of 20 weeks is required*


Location: Point Reyes National Seashore - California

From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover. Home to several cultures over thousands of years, the Seashore preserves a tapestry of stories and interactions of people. Point Reyes awaits your exploration.

For more information regarding Point Reyes National Seashore, or the National Park Service, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm.


Living Allowance: The ACE member will work ~40 hours/week and receive a living allowance of $560/week dispersed bi-weekly for food and incidentals.


Housing: The Members will be accommodated in provided NPS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.


Position Description

Project activities include the following:

• Invasive plant control: The Members will survey for and treat invasive plants using mechanical, manual (such as weed whipping or weed whacking), and chemical means, all of which may include the use of power equipment, hand tools, and herbicide application using backpack and hand sprayers. This work will be done at multiple sites throughout the park as identified by NPS staff. The goals of this work are to control non-native species and promote the conditions necessary to support the restoration of native plant communities. The Members will support park staff to complete work in rangeland communities focused on thistles, and in dune and coastal habitat focused on glandweed, iceplant, and European beachgrass, with particular attention paid to supporting the protection of rare plant communities. Work will also include management of Scotch broom, cape ivy, and jubatagrass, some of which occur in designated wilderness.

• Restoration of native plant habitat: The Members will assist with the growing and planting of containerized native plants, mulching and watering of these plants in the field, as well as the collection and initial sowing of native seed. The Members will also prepare sites for restoration. This will be done to support restoration of native understory plant communities and other ecological restoration activities. This work may include the identification of restoration sites, the mapping of target populations, the collection of seeds, and the outplanting of grown native plants to multiple sites in the park. In particular, activities will occur in grassland communities and riparian habitat to support park rangeland restoration and may also include livestock exclusion fencing repair.

• Vegetation management research and monitoring: The Members will assist park staff in furthering resource management objectives related to vegetation. Tasks may include selecting location of plots, setting up plots using specialized equipment, data acquisition, data management, plant identification, and repeat photography. This work may include rare plant monitoring, identification and mapping of invasive plants, and repeat monitoring associated with assessing effectiveness of treatments.

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.

Your health is important to us! Please note that duties may shift in order to prevent and reduce transmission of COVID-19. Visit the CDC website for further resources: ? www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Required:

• Members must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents (as required to comply with U.S. government contracts).
• Ability and willingness to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to work alone / be self-directed as well as a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willingness to undergo (and must pass) required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability and willingness to conduct physically strenuous work outdoors and hike for long hours / distances, over rough terrain, in all kinds of weather (including California summer heat), all while carrying heavy equipment such as herbicide backpack and hand sprayers.
• Willing and able to work safely in poison oak.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the time they start their term (or request a medical or religious exemption).

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and / or have relevant experience in subject areas such as botany, habitat restoration, ecology, natural resource management, or related discipline.
• Knowledge of native and nonnative plant species identification in the Point Reyes National Seashore area.
• Familiarity with invasive plant species removal (manual methods and chemical / herbicide treatments).
• Deep interest in botany, ecology, conservation, and / or habitat restoration.
• Experience navigating to locations, collecting spatial data, and mapping resources (using equipment such as positioning receivers and mobile devices with ESRI ArcGIS Field Maps, or CalFlora).