ACE EPIC NPS SEC-EPMT: Exotic Plant Management Intern - AmeriCorps

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Southeast Coast Exotic Plant Management Team (SEC-EPMT) is seeking THREE Exotic Plant Management Internsinterested in dedicating 32-weeks in support of the National Park Service. The Exotic Plant Management Interns will focus on invasive plant management at parks in the Southeast region. These may include national parks in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

This excellent opportunity is ideal for a flexible and enthusiastic young professional who is deeply committed to the preservation of our national parks!

 

Start Date: October 7, 2019

End Date: May 15, 2020 (or 32 weeks from start date)

 

Location: The Southeast Coast Exotic Plant Management Team (SEC-EPMT) is a traveling National Park Service (NPS) team that serves 13 park units in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Network parks range from protected seashores and forested wilderness to urban recreational areas and preserved cultural landscapes. The Southeast Coast EPMT is stationed at Congaree National Park (CONG), which protects the largest contiguous tract of old growth floodplain hardwood forest in the southeast. In general, the climate is mild with hot and humid summers. Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, is the closest city to the park and has a variety of entertainment opportunities. There are also many outdoor opportunities within a short drive of the city. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm

Interns can expect to spend the first month of their internship based at Cape Hatteras National Seashore to participate in trainings, piping plover habitat restoration and invasive plant removal. Cape Hatteras National Seashore preserves a portion of beach, sand dunes, marshes, and woodlands along North Carolina's barrier islands or Outer Banks. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm

For the following seven months, the team will be stationed at Congaree National Park, but can expect to travel on working days, then return to Congaree for off days before traveling to the next park or site. The work schedule can vary and may include eight consecutive ten-hour days on and six days off, four ten-hour days on and three days off, five eight-hour days on and two days off.

 

Project Partner Website:  For more information regardingSoutheast Coast Exotic Plant Management Team, or the National Park Service, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/invasive/index.htm

For more information about the American Conservation Experience, please visit: http://www.usaconservation.org/

 

Compensation: The ACE intern will receive a living allowance of $260/week for food and incidentals.

 

Housing: Housing is paid for and provided by the National Park Service.Accommodations during the internship will vary from rustic park housing to hotels, but while traveling camping will not be required.

  

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 1200-hour AmeriCorps Education Award of ($4,144) upon successful completion of internship hours. Additional enrollment is required for this benefit.

1200 hour members are also eligible for preferential hiring status following their term of service. Corps Members who have served a minimum of 640 hours on appropriate public land projects may qualify for Public Land Corps non-competitive hiring status.

  

Position Description: The ACE intern will be a part of a three-member traveling team that will focus on invasive plant management at 13 parks in the Southeast Region. The team will visit several, not all, of these parks during the 32-week internship.

 

Training: Interns will receive training on chainsaw and brushcutter use, herbicide safety and handling, truck and trailer driving, hand tool use, and see a variety of beautiful parks located in the Southeast.

 

Qualifications: Because of the travel intensive nature of this internship, adaptable applicants willing to work in an environment requiring a lot of flexibility is essential. Travel plans may change suddenly due to unforeseen weather or training opportunities. The program is interested in mature crew members with initiative, leadership ability, patience, and an intense work ethic who have a desire to expand their resumes.

The intern must be willing to represent ACE and the NPS in a professional, positive and enthusiastic manner. Drug users should not consider applying, as ACE and the NPS reserves the right to require drug testing.

EOE: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

 

To Apply: Please submit a thoughtful resume and cover letter along with contact information for 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right-hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/356426.html

 

NOTE: Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This posting may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact the ACE EPIC NPS Recruitment Specialist, Madison Douthitt at (828) 329-4793 or mdouthitt@usaconservation.org.