Summer Biology Member – Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Summer Biology Member – Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

ACE EPIC placements provide young adults with focused, hands-on opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers.

Funding for ACE positions is provided by a federal program designed specifically for the employment of youth and young adults.

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

Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking ONE Summer Biology Member to assist with a variety of biological objectives at ​Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge located in Williamstown, WV. Cross-program training and duties will include maintenance and visitor services functions. Work will likely involve other federal and state agencies.

Start Date: May 9, 2022

End Date: August 26, 2022 (Start and end dates are flexible, +/- 2 weeks, based on candidate availability)

** At least a 12 week commitment required, 16 week commitment preferred**

Location: Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Williamstown, West Virginia

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of 567 refuges nationwide and a component of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Ohio River Islands NWR is committed to the preservation, conservation, and enhancement of a quality river environment for the people of the Ohio River Valley. The Ohio River Islands NWR is comprised of 22 islands and 4 mainland properties. The islands are spread across 362 river miles from Pennsylvania to Kentucky.

For more information about Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fws.gov%2Frefu…

Work Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $499/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the refuge.

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award ($1,678.57) upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment is required.

Position Description:

The selected individual will work alongside refuge staff on a number of projects. During the busy summer months extra help is needed to support biological programs and provide occasional support for maintenance and visitor services operations. Most active refuge habitat improvement projects occur during this time as well.

Primary Duties include:

-Assisting the station Wildlife Biologist with collecting biological data and analyzing and preserving that data.

-Conducting inventory and monitoring surveys including acoustic bat surveys, freshwater mussel surveys, dove banding, invasive plant GIS mapping, and much more.

-Organizing and preserving historic data.

-Writing summary reports for work conducted.

-Assisting with habitat improvement projects, such as tree planting and both mechanical and chemical invasive plant control.

-May also assist with the establishment of a freshwater mussel grow-out facility at the Middle Island location of Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

-Other duties will include, but are not limited to: trail construction and maintenance, providing or assisting with environmental education programs, mowing, planting, and more.

Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs.; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The summer biology member 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 self, 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 FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.