Position Title:  Habitat Conservation Specialists – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, 601 FM 1011, Liberty, Texas, 77575

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 4/20/2026
• End Date: 10/16/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours

Application Due Date: Sunday, March 15th

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy and AmeriCorps partner, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and west Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

Position Summary

The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established on January 4, 1994, primarily to protect and preserve a remnant of the vital bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity River in southeastern Texas. The refuge serves as critical habitat for migratory birds, threatened species, and diverse wetland wildlife

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is seeking a highly motivated individual to assist in wildlife and habitat conservation in Liberty County, Texas.  The selected applicants will gain a 360° view of what it takes to be a safe and effective employee in the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The selected applicant’s duties will be primarily in invasive species management, but will also have biological, education and outreach, and maintenance duties.  These interns will help manage public lands for the benefit of all people and wildlife/wildlands conservation.

Description of Duties:

• Survey and monitor for invasive aquatic plants on Champion Lake and Timber Lake.
  • Walk shoreline for invasive plants rooted or beached along the shoreline.
  • Kayak/canoe the waters of Champion Lake and Timber Lake to search for pockets of invasive plants.
  • Engage with the public about survey efforts and boat inspection to prevent moving invasive plants to other waters.
• Control activities of aquatic invasive plants and trifoliate orange.
  • Apply herbicide to trifoliate orange and aquatic invasive on shorelines and water by foot, utility terrain vehicle, kayak/canoe, and boat.
  • Collect salvinia and water hyacinth by hand from water by kayak/canoe.
  • Lead volunteers in collection efforts of plant biomass by kayak/canoe.
• Survey and monitor for Tawny Crazy Ants on Champion Lake and Refuge Office.
  • Map ant population and set out/collect bait stations.
  • Engage with the public about survey efforts and the threat of tawny crazy ants to their homes.
• Survey for forest birds, colonial waterbirds, and bats.
  • Use listening skills to carry out forest bird monitoring surveys on Boar’s Den Tract.
  • Use birding skills to carry out colonial waterbird surveys.
  • Use Anabat Survey Software to carry out bat surveys.
  • Use maps, GPS, and compass to navigate to specific points on land and water.
• Assist with outreach and education
  • Host a Junior Ranger Program at a local community center for one week with refuge staff
  • Engage with the public during refuge-led events about conservation and outdoor recreation

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.
• Driver’s license and ability to be insured for work travel (must have had license for three year or be over 21 years old with clean driving record)
• Personal vehicle for non-work travel, based on housing location.
• Must be able to work in hot, muggy, and buggy conditions. 

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept difference.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, Fish and Wildlife Service, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
•  Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The FWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.    

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 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 orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. 

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
• Living Allowance of $640 per week.
• Housing provided.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 900-hour term.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible 

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:

Conservation Corps New Mexico Contact: SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org, 575-202-4203

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Contact: Laurie Lomas Gonzales, Refuge Biologist, Laurie_Lomas_Gonzales@fws.gov

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.