Start Date October 19th, 2026 (flexible)|Employment Duration 12 months| Employment Status Full time (40 hr/week) | Salary $24.18/hr| Employer Altar Valley Conservation Alliance| Location Details/Description Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Yuma, Arizona| 

Altar Valley Conservation Alliance, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking a Burn Area Restoration(BAR) Implementation Leader to work alongside Imperial National Wildlife Refuge staff and partners to help with a rehabilitation and revegetation project known as the Refuge Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Project. The refuge is located 40 miles northeast of Yuma Arizona. 

For more information on Altar Valley Conservation Alliance please visit https://altarvalleyconservation.org/ 

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is a 25,768-acre and protects 30 miles of wildlife habitat along the lower Colorado River. In 1938, Imperial Dam was completed on the river north of Yuma, Arizona. The waters stored behind the dam formed numerous backwaters and marsh areas along the edges of the river. These wetlands provided excellent resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for a variety of migratory birds and other wildlife. Serving as a boundary between Arizona and California, this portion of the river includes the last un-channelized section before its waters enter Mexico. 

For more information about Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, please visit the FWS website. 

Position Overview: The USFWS is hiring (1) Burn Area Implementation leader to assist with the Burn Area Restoration (BAR) Project on the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge which aims to rehabilitate cottonwood/willow and desert thornscrub habitat lost to a wildfire in May 2024. The restoration technician will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff. Primary duties include: 

• Assisting Refuge Staff with various restoration/rehabilitation methods (60%) 
  • Cut trees/brush using gas powered and heavy equipment 
  • Digging and building erosion structures 
  • Broadcast seeding and planting seedlings 
  • Invasive species management and control using mechanical and chemical (herbicides) methods 
  • Operate irrigation systems and complete other related tasks to fulfill the identified project objectives 
  • Serve as the on-site operational lead for the two person restoration team 
• Project Planning & Reporting (30%) 
  • Maintain organized and accurate project records and maps 
  • Support the Refuge Manager with project planning and annual reporting tasks 
• Assisting Refuge Staff with wildlife surveys and other habitat monitoring (10%) 

Qualifications, Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

Required: 

• Willing and able to represent USFWS in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Ability to sit, stand, stoop and bend over for long periods of time (up to 8 hours)
• Ability to walk/work on all types of surfaces (uneven and slippery ground)
• Ability to lift/carry up to 40 pounds for extended periods
• Must be able to use proper Personal Protective Equipment as directed
• Work in outdoor environment: heat, cold, wet and dry and dusty conditions
• 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 
• Due to the remote refuge location, applicant must have a personal vehicle for use outside of work hours

Preferred:

• Education and experience: competitive applicants for this position can hold or be actively pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology, Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Environmental Studies, or related field, or have equivalent field-based experience in wildlife or habitat management.
• Ability and willingness to use herbicides
• ArcGIS experience
• Deep interest in the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or restoration and habitat management.

Responsibilities on the Job:

• Maintain a clean and safe working environment
• Operate 4WD pickup trucks, ATV/UTVs, skid steers, farm tractors, and backhoes (training provided)
• Ability to complete task training and to maintain certifications
• A valid driver's license
• If not using provided housing, ability to commute daily to Imperial NWR
• Drive company vehicle to load and unload materials
• Knowledge or ability to learn of operating power tools/ gas powered equipment
• Knowledge or ability to learn different methods of rehabilitation methods