TITLE:  RANGE MONITORING INTERN (2 OPENINGS)

START/END DATE: June 5, 2023- August 25, 2023 (anticipated)

STIPEND: $520/week

TERM: 12 weeks

REPORTS TO: Barbara Witmore (Range Management Specialist)

LOCATION: BLM Farmington Field Office (6251 College Blvd. Farmington, NM 87401)

STATUS: 450-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Education Award $1,374.60with successful completion of the internship

SUMMARY:

CONSERVATION CORPS NEW MEXICO (CCNM):

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Individual Placement Program is managed from the CCNM office in Las Cruces

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office (FFO) manages over 1.4 million acres of surface estate and 2.7 million acres of mineral estate. The office is comprised of a diverse group of specialists who all serve the public and work to fulfill our agencies multiple use mission. The BLM is an integral part of the community, we work closely with our public land users to allow for responsible use and work to improve public lands. The FFO Range staff desires motivated interns to help accomplish 2023 monitoring goals while gaining experience in multiple use management.

The BLM FFO is seeking 2 qualified individuals to work as Range Monitoring Interns.  Duties will focus on fieldwork during our monitoring season, with the option of office work during periods of poor weather. These positions are 85-90% field work, conducting vegetation monitoring. Vegetative monitoring consists of pre- and post- vegetative cover monitoring of sagebrush treatments areas, including navigating to previously monitored sites using GPS data. The interns will be collecting vegetation data, plant id, point intercept, etc.

The interns will assist in other monitoring projects. These include participation in rangeland health assessments (RHAs) livestock grazing utilization and forage production collections. Other alternative projects may include inventory of rangeland improvement projects, flagging of new projects or organization of collected data. Administrative work includes input of previously collected monitoring data. Instruction on how to collect monitoring data would be demonstrated during first week of service. The interns will work out of the main office and have opportunity to network with other natural resource specialists during office periods and possibly cross train. Depending on extra time from primary tasks, interns may attend on-sites with the surface group, assist biologist or wildlife staff.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

• Use GIS to set up GPS or other data collection devices, create maps for described sites.
• Become familiar with monitoring protocol.
• Travel within 2-hour driving radius from the FFO office to sagebrush and trend plot monitoring areas.
• Organize data for electronic and hard copy databases.
• Assist with additional range monitoring as assigned.

Required Skills

REQUIRED SKILLS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF GIS (ARCMAP 10.7 OR HIGHER) AND GPS data collection techniques.
• Using maps/GPS to find monitoring or project locations.
• Ability to drive 4-wheel vehicle comfortably in remote areas.
• Organizational skills, attention to detail on data sheets, & time management on assignments.
• Native plant identification including local weeds (or ability to learn quickly).
• Ability to follow monitoring protocols for trend and vegetative surveys.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of term and ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting. This policy is mandatory except for interns with a documented medical and/or religious reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (CCNM-Conservation Legacy Policy)

• Completing Defensive Driving and 4-wheel Driving courses (links provided by BLM).

• Obtaining clearance from BLM for building and computer access (direction from BLM staff).

Ability to work outdoors in semi-isolated areas and summer weather conditions, including ability to walk moderate distances over difficult or uneven terrain.

• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Pursuing or holding an undergraduate degree in range science, ranch management, or related natural resources field.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.

Required Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF GIS (ARCMAP 10.7 OR HIGHER) AND GPS data collection techniques.
• Using maps/GPS to find monitoring or project locations.
• Ability to drive 4-wheel vehicle comfortably in remote areas.
• Organizational skills, attention to detail on data sheets, & time management on assignments.
• Native plant identification including local weeds (or ability to learn quickly).
• Ability to follow monitoring protocols for trend and vegetative surveys.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of term and ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting. This policy is mandatory except for interns with a documented medical and/or religious reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (CCNM-Conservation Legacy Policy)

• Completing Defensive Driving and 4-wheel Driving courses (links provided by BLM).

• Obtaining clearance from BLM for building and computer access (direction from BLM staff).

Ability to work outdoors in semi-isolated areas and summer weather conditions, including ability to walk moderate distances over difficult or uneven terrain.

• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Pursuing or holding an undergraduate degree in range science, ranch management, or related natural resources field.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.