TITLE:  DEVELOPED RECREATION MANAGEMENT RESOURCE ASSISTANT-COCONINO NF (1 POSITION) 

START/END DATE: September 7, 2020 – March 5, 2021 (anticipated)

STIPEND: $450/week

TERM: 26 weeks

REPORTS TO: Victoria Allen (USFS Assistant Recreation Staff/Program Lead)

LOCATION: USFS Flagstaff Ranger Station (5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004)

STATUS: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Education Award $3,047.50 after successful completion of the internship. Two-year certificate of noncompetitive hiring eligibility and Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) through the USFS Resource Assistant Program (RAP)*

POSITION SUMMARY:

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) is partnering with the Coconino National Forest to provide a 26-week paid professional internship designed to focus on recreation site maintenance and public contact activities on the Flagstaff Ranger District. The selected individual will work on recreation maintenance and public contact activities on the Flagstaff Ranger District, focusing on operations and maintenance of district recreation sites.  This includes several day use picnic areas, foot/horse/OHV trailheads, and cabin rental facilities.  The intern will learn skills and techniques and will use a variety of tools and equipment to perform these activities.  The intern will often function in a small crew setting, but frequently work independently, and will also help lead volunteers in basic tasks.  This position will interact daily with visitors to the Coconino National Forest, and the intern should be able to act as a good host and be comfortable with public interaction. The typical schedule will be 8 hour days, 5 days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, working weekends and most holidays during the term. No housing is available for this position.

All tasks will have COVID19 mitigation strategies to reduce the spread in the local community. The intern must be willing to adhere to current CDC standards and USFS/Coconino National Forest procedures.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

• Check visitor use of recreation facilities.
• Communicate with the public in person and via digital methods such as social media.
• Assist with public education efforts.
• Monitor compliance with recreation area rules and regulations of parking, campfires, sanitation, use of picnic sites, or hunting and fishing. Report any violations to Forest Service supervisor.
• Clean recreation areas and maintain improvements.
• Serve as a member of a safety and traffic management team during fall color and snow play busy seasons.
• Answer routine questions that require knowledge of a limited variety of facts, events, circumstances, personalities, and natural characteristics identified with the site.
• Work requires the use of safety equipment such as tools, gloves, goggles and hard hat.
• Manage visitor information data and analyze data.
• Perform other duties as assigned to gain exposure to the work of the USDA Forest Service.
• The intern should be available to work a flexible schedule that may include weekends and holidays.

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate clearly and interact with the public, user groups, and agency staff.
• General computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to use GPS and other technology (local training will be provided).
• Ability to take initiative and work alone or in small groups with minimal supervision.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Native American candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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 and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.
• The work requires walking and climbing in steep, uneven terrain, exposure to adverse weather and insects, performing physical labor. Work is performed outdoors where there is exposure to extremes of weather and temperature, in both established administrative areas and wilderness areas.
• Ability to remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program.
• Appropriately represent AmeriCorps, Arizona Conservation Corps, and the U.S. Forest Service at all times, including properly wearing the agency uniform.

 SAFETY AND JUDGEMENT:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of dangers others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury, or need of 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 winds.
• Assigned duties will require the use of safety equipment such as tools, gloves, goggles, face cover and face shield, and hard hat.
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises that may arise.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS:

• Learn, practice, and communicate “Leave No Trace” techniques.

SUBSTANCE FREE:

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

*The USFS Resource Assistant Program (RAP) is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship providing developmental and training opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about Forest Service careers. After completing a minimum of 960 hours of satisfactory work and an associate degree, RA’s may acquire a two-year certificate of noncompetitive hiring eligibility. The certificate enables participants to apply to internal merit announcements for qualifying permanent General Schedule FS positions.   

TO APPLY:  Please submit an updated resume and cover letter and three professional references along with the online application. If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Support Coordinator Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information on the USFS Coconino National Forest, please visit their website at fs.usda.gov/Coconino.

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit www.azcorps.org. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy. 

Required Experience

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate clearly and interact with the public, user groups, and agency staff.
• General computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to use GPS and other technology (local training will be provided).
• Ability to take initiative and work alone or in small groups with minimal supervision.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Native American candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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 and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.
• The work requires walking and climbing in steep, uneven terrain, exposure to adverse weather and insects, performing physical labor. Work is performed outdoors where there is exposure to extremes of weather and temperature, in both established administrative areas and wilderness areas.
• Ability to remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program.
• Appropriately represent AmeriCorps, Arizona Conservation Corps, and the U.S. Forest Service at all times, including properly wearing the agency uniform.

 SAFETY AND JUDGEMENT:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of dangers others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury, or need of 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 winds.
• Assigned duties will require the use of safety equipment such as tools, gloves, goggles, face cover and face shield, and hard hat.
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises that may arise.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS:

• Learn, practice, and communicate “Leave No Trace” techniques.

SUBSTANCE FREE:

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

*The USFS Resource Assistant Program (RAP) is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship providing developmental and training opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about Forest Service careers. After completing a minimum of 960 hours of satisfactory work and an associate degree, RA’s may acquire a two-year certificate of noncompetitive hiring eligibility. The certificate enables participants to apply to internal merit announcements for qualifying permanent General Schedule FS positions.   

TO APPLY:  Please submit an updated resume and cover letter and three professional references along with the online application. If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Support Coordinator Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information on the USFS Coconino National Forest, please visit their website at fs.usda.gov/Coconino.

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit www.azcorps.org. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.