BLM Utah Rangeland Monitoring and Management Fellowship

Summary:  American Conservation Experience, a nationwide Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Flagstaff, AZ, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) St. George Field Office (SGFO), is seeking 2 Rangeland Monitoring and Management Fellows to dedicate 6-months  to the monitoring, management, and restoration of the area's diverse and significant natural resources. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in public land management, particularly in range monitoring and botany. Applicants with a degree in Rangeland Management and/or experience in botany are strongly encouraged to apply.

Start Date: Mid-March 2014 (flexible for the right candidate)

End Date: September 2014 ( or six months from the start date. Possible extension as funds are available)

A 6-month commitment is required. 

Location: St. George, Utah. The BLM Utah St. George Field Office has stewardship over approximately 600,000 acres of public lands in Washington County, with 15 wilderness areas, hundreds of miles of trail, and three distinct geographic regions intersecting in southwestern Utah.  

Project Website: For more information on the BLM St. George field office please visit the website:http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george.html. To learn more about ACE Internship Program, please visit: www.usaconservation.org

Compensation: $12 per hour for 40 hours per week.

Project Background and Objectives: BLM Utah manages approximately 22 million acres of grazing land statewide. Rangelands provide tremendous amount of social, economic and environmental value on a local, national, and global scale. They are a great resource not only for people but also for all other living organisms that inhabit the area; hence it is imperative to encourage and enhance sustainable practices to retain the value of such lands.  To that end, the state government utilizes rangeland management plans to prevent excessive and unchangeable damage to these resources. The goal and focus of these plans is to improve and maintain conditions of rangelands by assessing and monitoring their health, making necessary changes to current trends and creating sustainable practices. 

The objective of this fellowship is to provide meaningful experiences for youth while also providing a benefit to public land resources and its users. Fellow will gain job skills related to the management of public lands by working with land managers primarily on rangeland conservation, management, and improvement projects.

Position Description: The ACE Fellow will assist rangeland managers and other BLM resource specialists in accomplishing a variety of tasks such as surveys, monitoring, maintenance, data entry, and habitat protection along with other duties associated with public land stewardship. This position will have a strong focus in botany and range monitoring.

Specific Tasks include:

• Livestock counts under supervision of the range conservationist to determine range use.
• Data entry into the Range Management Automated systems (RMAS) to assist in grazing administration.
• Collecting and recording data for various range studies to determine condition, trend, utilization, and actual use of the land.
• Providing assistance in identifying necessary range improvement projects for wells, reservoirs, fences, vegetation, etc. Intern will also inspect and inventory the condition of current projects.
• Serving as a team member of the range inventory efforts including collecting, compiling and recording vegetation data on each site write-up area (SWA), and making observations on wildlife use.
• Collecting and recording water source data from wells, pipelines, reservoirs, etc. as well as natural and man-made boundary lines defined by allotments, fences, and contours.
• Organizing and coordinating field work with BLM and partner organizations and prioritizing overall duties as established by supervisor.
• Establishing new monitoring protocol and continuing existing studies.
• Other tasks include but are not limited to: some recreation management; building and maintaining fences; and writing for and contributing to the Federal Land Policy and Management process (FLPMA).

Work is partly in a field setting and partly in the office. The ACE Fellow may be required to work in remote areas managed by the St. George Field Office. This includes driving four-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), and spending all day walking and working in rough, muddy, uneven terrain while lifting up to 50 pounds of gear. Interns are expected to work 40 hours/week and must be willing to work varied schedules throughout the internship.

Qualifications:  Applicants must have a degree in rangeland management, ecology, botany, natural resource management, or other related disciplines appropriate to the position. A combination of relevant education and appropriate experience is also acceptable. Resumes must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience as defined in the internship announcement.  We are seeking determined, strong, and developing natural resource managers who are looking for experience working with land management agencies. 

Required Qualifications:

• Must have a high a high fitness level and an interest in backcountry foot travel.
• Fellowship is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders only.
• Fellows must be 18-­-25 years old
• Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record, and use of a personal vehicle.
• Fellows must have personal medical insurance for the duration of their participation with ACE.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Plant identification skills
• Experience with botany and vegetation monitoring 
• Ability to work alone/in a small group with minimal supervision.
• Experience and/or ability to learn use of GPS unit.
• Experience with GIS 
• General computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Must be able to able and willing to work outdoors and be capable of lifting 50 lbs.
• Must be able to take initiative, work independently, and participate in collaborative efforts.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals.
• English proficiency is imperative.
• Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required.

Requested Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience with GPS units and ArcGIS software.
• Applicants must have some knowledge of the NEPA, EA, and EIS processes.
• Genuine interest and knowledge in range management and basic knowledge of methods used to develop and  protect rangelands.
• Strong plant identification skills 
• Experience with different field data collection methods and following protocols.

• Ability to work independently in remote areas.
• Experience driving four-wheel drive vehicles over rugged roads.
• Strong desire to enter the public service field as a natural resource professional.

The Fellow must be willing to represent ACE and the BLM in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.  Drug users should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact for three professional contacts to: http://usaconservationepic.applicantpool.com/jobs/3769.html