Botany Technician – AmeriCorps (2 openings)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, 430 Main St., Fredonia, AZ 86022

Term of Service:

• Start Date: 3/2/2026
• End Date: 8/28/2026
• 26 weeks
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours 

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at the North Kaibab Ranger District as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for Kaibab National Forest.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. 

Kaibab National Forest:

The Kaibab National Forest is one of six national forests in Arizona. It covers 1.6 million acres and is broken into three geographically separate ranger districts: the North Kaibab Ranger District lies north of Grand Canyon National Park, the Tusayan Ranger District is south of Grand Canyon National Park, and the Williams Ranger District is southernmost, separated from the Tusayan Ranger District by private and Arizona State lands. From the high-elevation lands of the Kaibab Plateau on the North Kaibab Ranger District to the rolling hills and open country of the Tusayan Ranger District, to the scattered cinder cones and canyons of the Williams Ranger District, the Kaibab NF includes wide variations in landscape, vegetation, and wildlife. Because of this, the Kaibab provides unique resources and recreation opportunities that attract a wide spectrum of forest users.  

Kaibab National Forest Botany Program:

The North Kaibab Ranger District’s Botany Program is focused on managing plant communities on the forest. A diverse group of volunteers, youth corps, partner groups, and forest staff help to achieve this goal, by inventorying plant populations, communities, managing invasive plant species and monitoring rare plant species.

In 2025, two large wildfires—the White Sage and Dragon Bravo Fires– impacted the North Kaibab Ranger District, burning over 140,000 acres of National Forest land. This project allows the forest to maintain healthy ecosystems by reducing the presence of invasive species in vulnerable areas, promoting native plant populations, and supporting post-disaster recovery. These positions will focus on reducing the presence of invasive species in areas affected by fire and fire suppression, promoting healthy native plant communities, recording post-fire effects to vegetation, and monitoring vegetation recovery to inform future management decisions.

Description of Duties:

Two Botany Technicians will work closely with the District Botanist, youth crews, and independently as needed. They will help with early detection and rapid response tasks targeting invasive species, including inventorying and monitoring invasive plant infestations in the fire footprints and areas where fire suppression activities occurred; conducting chemical and manual treatments on invasive plants; mapping infestations and treatments on mobile devices. They will also work to inventory and monitor rare native plants, collect native seed, and seed disturbed sites.

Additionally, the Botany Technicians will support other aspects of the project, such as researching and analyzing information and data regarding local native or invasive plants; assisting in maintaining and repairing equipment needed to complete project work; conducting administrative work such as GIS mapping of field data and in support of project planning, pesticide use compliance documentation, and plant inventory control and record maintenance. Other tasks may include participating in interpretive and educational outreach and conducting other natural resource program work in support of Disaster Recovery as needed. Training in GIS, mapping programs, UTV and 4x4 driving, data collection, plant identification, and herbicide application will be available to the Botany Technicians

The Botany Technicians will also have opportunities to work on other projects within the program, including with university partners completing post-fire monitoring work, and if desired, they will have opportunities to lead youth crews and volunteers in the field. Additionally, they will be able to cross-train with other disciplines, such as wildlife biology, range, archaeology, hydrology, timber, and recreation depending on their goals and interests. 

Housing is provided for the members during their term.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Work with supervisor and use maps to survey specific areas for specific plants.
• Drive to sites, sometimes in steep and rocky terrain where comfort with 4wd is essential, in a 4x4 truck and/or a UTV.
• Hike to and throughout sites, sometimes up to several miles at a time in challenging terrain and adverse environmental conditions.
• Identify rare plant and invasive plant species.
• Collect native plant seed, as needed.
• Perform soil condition analysis and record data.
• Record data pertaining to plant species present, abundance, phenology, locations, and associated soil or other ecological data.
• Assist with developing, preparing, utilizing, and compiling GIS information pertaining to plant surveys and locations.
• Develop maps, forms, and surveys as needed.
• Assist with compiling, organizing, and analyzing historic, current, and new data pertaining to plants and other associated ecological factors.
• Research species specific information to inform survey and plant management strategies.
• Treat invasive species using manual and/or chemical means; document any treatments performed.
• Assist with herbicide inventory control and management.
• Maintain equipment, supplies and PPE used for invasive plant treatments and field work.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Ability to work independently in a remote area outdoors.
• Ability to follow consistent workflows and protocols.
• Ability to obtain AZ restricted use pesticide commercial applicator license.
• Educational background or experience in the biological sciences, e.g., botany, ecology, environmental science, biology.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience or training identifying plants.
• Experience or training in invasive plant management.
• Current Restricted Use Pesticide Applicator license, AZ commercial preferred.
• Experience using ArcGIS Pro to perform geospatial analysis.
• Experience using AGOL and related mobile apps (Field Maps, Survey 123) to create field survey forms and collect field data.
• Ability to perform quality control/quality assurance on large datasets to ensure data integrity and consistency.
• Data management experience.
• Ability to develop (and write/document) methods for workflows and protocols.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.

The Botany Technicians may be exposed to extreme terrain, including steep, rocky slopes; open landscapes exposed to sun, wind, and weather, and exposed to extreme weather, including heat, cold, monsoonal rain, snow, etc. To mitigate this risk, the members should have proper footwear and clothing, access to food and water, communication devices, and comfort in this setting. The Botany Technicians may also be exposed to chemicals while mixing, loading, handling or applying herbicides. PPE and safe handling training will be provided by the U.S. Forest Service.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve four 10 hour days totaling 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50 with successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $550 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150 per week.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Healthcare Coverage provided by The Corps Network and Cigna
• Childcare Coverage
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

This position reports to Deirdre Apple, District Botanist, Kaibab National Forest