Vegetation Technician

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Description of Duties

The BLM’s Upper Snake Field Office is the largest field office in the Idaho Falls District, which encompasses over 2 million acres. These public lands provide numerous recreational opportunities, wildlife habitats, and foraging opportunities for livestock. One of our highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of noxious weeds and invasive plants across public lands. These invasive plants can dominate and often cause permanent damage to natural plant communities. Our goal is to reduce the impact of noxious weeds and invasive plant species as much as possible while enjoying these public lands

Duties for the position will include:

Using an integrated weed management program, which includes weed control and inventorying through mechanical and chemical methods.
Noxious Weed Control and Inventory using UTV’s, backpack sprayers, manual tools, and documenting the treatments on GIS and GPS systems.
Using off-road vehicles daily including ATVs, UTVs, 4X4 trucks, and pulling trailers over all types of terrain.
Working in isolated locations. Some environments have steep and uneven terrain.
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.

Schedule: Generally 4 days per week 7 AM to 5:30 PM.

Required:

Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
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). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
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.
Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.
Preferred:

Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Botany, or Ecosystem Management degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as agriculture or farm management.
All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered.
Knowledge of plants common to the Snake River Plain and Middle Rockies Region to the species level.
Ability and willingness to follow instructions with limited direct supervision following training
Ability to work in a wide range of weather conditions.
Ability to hike/walk in various types of terrain.
Experience with driving 4X4 vehicles and trailer pulling.
Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and under field conditions.
Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as ATVs and UTVs. .
Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Type of position

Internship

Salary

$625/week

Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $625/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the Bureau of Land Management 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. Please see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility. This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility requirements to be considered for this position. Members 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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website. Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or Bureau of Land Management. Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $400 per week. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses. Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include herbicide (BLM & State of Idaho), CPR & Basic First Aid, Defensive Driving, Defensive UTV driving.