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2022 NPS Academy Visitor and Resource Protection Member - Mount Rainier

Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Mount Rainier National Park, is seeking TWO Visitor and Resource Protection Members as part of the 2022 NPS Academy cohort. During this internship, the Member will assist the Wilderness workgroup with backcountry patrols and permitting.

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

Start Date: May 15, 2022
End Date: Oct 01,2022 (flexible end date)
*a 20-week minimum commitment and participation in orientation March 21st-25th is required for this position*

About NPS Academy: The National Park Service (NPS) Academy is an innovative and immersive program designed to introduce a diversity of participants from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities with the NPS. Participants come away equipped with knowledge about the NPS mission and the NPS Universal Competencies that are considered the foundation of all careers in the NPS and are critical to all park service employees. The NPS Academy maximizes career opportunities with NPS through training and hands-on experiences. This program is generously funded by Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Program Goals: The major goals of the NPS Academy are to:
  • Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
  • Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationship
  • Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
  • Create a more inclusive future for public lands

Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise & White River areas
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier's lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park's ecosystems.
For more information about Mount Rainier National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm.

Living Allowance: ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $480/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. ACE offers travel/relocation assistance to and from your project site as well.

Housing: Housing and travel assistance to and from park location will be provided. The ACE Member will be accommodated in park housing at no cost for the duration of the Member.

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 675-hour AmeriCorps Education Award (~$2417.14) upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Scheduling: 10hr workdays / 80 hrs per 2 week pay period (exact schedule layout is TBD but is likely to be 4 days on / 3 days off).

Position Description: The member will:
  • Make visitor contacts to provide: general park info, backcountry camping info, climbing info, wilderness education, Leave No Trace best practices, wildlife/food storage best practices, visitor safety checks, trip planning assistance, wilderness and climbing permit needs, weather/environmental conditions updates, problem solving.
  • Learn how to work in the Wilderness Information Center and use Recreation.Gov to issue backcountry and climbing use permits and educate users on best practices during their trips (safety topics and permit requirements)
  • Conduct backcountry patrols: to learn the park, to help maintain trails and backcountry structures, to provide a positive presence to the public and be available for visitor inquiries, and work with other rangers on projects
  • Study, explore, patrol, and maintain primary backcountry area(s) of responsibility.

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.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service.

Skills: An important reminder: all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job; a good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success.

Essential skills: Ability to work a flexible schedule and adapt to a dynamic work environment, greet the visiting public in a friendly and professional manner, stand/walk for long periods of time in all weather conditions and carry out tasks and assignments with a "safety-first" attitude.

Additional skills that are helpful:
  • Ability to hike 4+ miles in rugged terrain
  • Willingness to travel in bear country (training provided)
  • Willingness to conduct overnight patrols at a backcountry camp (gear provided)
  • First Aid/CPR

Skills that members will gain from this position:
  • How to run a wilderness information center
  • Learn how to be a backcountry ranger in a wilderness park
  • Leave No Trace training
  • Basic navigation using map and compass (and gps)
  • Bear Awareness Training
  • Water Crossing techniques/good decision making
  • Spring Snow Travel techniques/good decision making
  • Exposure to an emergency response program that includes: Search and Rescue (SAR), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Wildland Fire, Law Enforcement
  • Exposure to many work groups (trail crew, climbing rangers, resource, education, interp, maintenance, etc)
  • Tools to work through negative visitor contacts

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing and walking, and carrying a backpack weighing up to 25 pounds
Vision Requirements: Must have adequate vision to walk on uneven, rocky, or terrain covered with vegetation. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 pounds uphill / downhill
Environmental: The work environment varies constantly. Most work is outdoors, and is performed in temperatures from 90 degrees F to below freezing. Severe mountain weather conditions can result in extreme heat, rain, snow, and high winds.
Travel: Overnight backcountry travel is optional but available. Backcountry overnight trips could vary from one night up to four nights if interested and could include tent camping or stays in a backcountry patrol cabin.

ACE Requirements:
  • Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
  • Attendance of the NPS Academy Orientation held March 21st-25th, 2022 (travel costs covered by ACE)
  • 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
  • Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks.
  • Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and NPS Academy, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position will close on or before February 1st. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Member Coordinator, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@usaconservation.org

EEO: 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.