Recreation & Resource Management Member

American jobshiringnearme.org Experience, a nonprofit jobshiringnearme.org Corps, in partnership with Bureau of Land Management, is seeking one Recreation & Resource Management Member to contribute to the recreation and resources programs alongside the Anchorage Field Office Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 02/03/2025 (date is flexible and contingent upon passing a government background check)

Estimated End Date: 12/12/2025

*a 45-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: This position will report in person to the BLM Anchorage Field Office, which manages 23.6 million acres of public lands located throughout south central, southwest, and northwest Alaska. The Anchorage Field Office is located in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, and is staffed year-round. Notable recreation opportunities include visiting the Iditarod National Historic Trail, using the extensive trail network on the Campbell Tract Special Recreation Management Area (CT SRMA) and adjacent municipal and state park lands in Anchorage, and floating the Unalakleet Wild River.

The BLM Anchorage Field Office is located on the Campbell Tract Special Recreation Management Area, which consists of 730-acres of BLM administered public land located in the heart of Anchorage, Alaska. The area is set aside as an administrative site, which the BLM maintains for Federal interagency office facilities, maintenance shop, warehouse, aviation resources (multi-pad heliport and 5,000-foot gravel airstrip), communication sites, and the Campbell Creek Science Center (CCSC), an environmental education facility.

The CT SRMA provides year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in a natural setting for nearly 500,000 urban visitors annually. The SRMA currently hosts a 24-mile non-motorized trail system that supports recreation activities including walking, running, mountain and fat tire biking, orienteering, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, sled dog mushing, ski-joring, nature study and wildlife viewing. Portions of the CT trail system includes a 3.8-mile Campbell Tract Loop, which is part of the National Recreation Trail system.

For more information about the BLM Anchorage Field Office, please visit the BLM website.

Position Overview: The member will assist BLM AFO Recreation, and other AFO resource staff (Botany, Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries, etc.) with program tasks including general project implementation and management, related field work and monitoring, accomplishment reporting, public outreach, and communications.

AFO staff desires an individual with a positive, “can do” attitude, that is ready to learn about federal land management and the complex challenges BLM faces to accomplish the BLM mission. The individual in this position will need to be able to adapt to changes in project implementation and priorities as conditions change.

The member will be able to receive technical mentorship, guidance, and training from the AFO staff. Other resources staff such as Fisheries, Wildlife, Hydrology, Botany/Ecology will also provide valuable learning opportunities, field work, and land management experience.

Duties:

• Assist and work with a wide variety of natural resource staff and related field and office work.
• Assist with remote field work aviation planning and implementation. Expect to assist with 4 remote field missions.
• Repairs and maintains recreational trails, facilities, and infrastructure. The majority of work will occur outside on the CT SRMA.
• Coordinates with BLM Volunteers and Volunteer Coordinator to carry out trail maintenance.
• Patrols and inspects recreation areas to ensure compliance with rules and regulations. Patrols are typically conducted twice a week, but can occur as needed.
• Contacts recreational visitors to answer questions and provide information.
• Prepares recreation areas/sites for visitor use, to include planning, operation, and required maintenance.
• Assist with the issuance, administration, and monitoring of Special Recreation Permits.
• Review visitors use patterns and their effect on the resources that are instrumental in making changes in operations and facilities.
• Observes, monitors, and evaluates onsite programs to determine if visitor needs are met and determines and recommends activities that community organizations could undertake to increase program effectiveness.
• Inventories and manually treat invasive plant species. This work occurs as needed, but is typically accomplished in the Summer months.
• Assist wildlife biologists in collecting game camera data. This work typically occurs in the Summer months (June-September), but there may be opportunities to assist with bear den monitoring in Winter months.

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: The schedule will be five days a week, 8-hour days, totaling 40 hours a week, typically Monday – Friday and occasionally on Saturday and Sunday (up to 12 hours) for field work and/or special events. Flexibility is available as needed and agreed upon by the ACE member, ACE site lead and BLM site contact.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/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. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age 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 the Bureau of Land Management.

Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $250 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 $1,000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Assistance: ACE members will have up to $500 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes a wool cap, winter jacket, rain jacket, and winter boots and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

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 First Aid/CPR, UTV/ATV training, Snowmachine training, Basic Aviation Safety training, Chainsaw training, and Bear Aware training

Travel: The Recreation and Resource Management member will have the opportunity to travel to remote areas in Alaska. For this travel the ACE Member will have access to an ACE credit card to be used for pre-approved field mission travel costs.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• 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).
• 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 degree in Recreation Management, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Studies, or a similar field of study (Wildlife, Forestry, Ecology) and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as recreation management, wildlife biology, ecology, forestry, fisheries management, and hydrology.
• All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered.
• Knowledge of recreation management, wildlife biology, ecology, forestry, fisheries management, and hydrology.
• Ability and willingness to work outside in varying weather conditions.
• Deep interest in working with the public.

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 camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted: Frequently moves up to 50 lbs. For short distances.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates throughout Alaska
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Appropriate personal protective equipment is required to be used at all times around high noise activities.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel within the state of Alaska to access BLM lands that are not accessible by road. The ACE member will work with ACE Supervisor and BLM Site Manager to arrange project specific travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. Environmental conditions/hazards will be assessed and mitigated prior to commencing project work. 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 Bureau of Land Management or ACE. A personal vehicle is strongly encouraged as the work site is within Anchorage, a metropolitan city surrounded by abundant recreational activities, that all but require a vehicle to access. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management . Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the Bureau of Land Management, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to Bureau of Land Management and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.