Position Title: Invasive Species Specialist Individual Placement – AmeriCorps (2 openings)

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge

601 FM 1011

Liberty, Texas, 77575

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 1/25/27
• End Date: 7/23/27
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours 
• Number of Weeks: 26

COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

First review of applications will take place by 10/6/26. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.

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, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM 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 western Texas/Oklahoma 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.

Under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1994 for the protection of the emergent wetlands and their species. The refuge contains 30,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest habitat and staff manage forests, lakes and all the plant and animal species within the refuge.

The selected candidates will assist staff with invasive species control on Hirsch tract, McGuire Tract, and Luce Bayou Tract. Selected candidates will also assit with wildlife surveys.  These areas are habitats for alligators, alligator snapping turtles (protected species), alligator gar fish, nesting colonial waterbirds, neotropical migrant birds, and numerous other reptiles and amphibians. Participants will support staff with surveying, monitoring, and treating patches of four invasive plant species - Giant salvinia, water hyacinth, alligator weed, and trifoliate orange. These plants tend to take over and suffocate waterways. In addition, participants will help staff with mapping and collecting samples from invasive tawny crazy ants, which are threatening the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Participants can assist staff with wildlife surveys of forest birds, bats, and colonial waterbirds as well as hiking/boat trail management. This project is a great opportunity to learn various aspects of a refuge biologist’s field work including biological issues, trail management, environmental education, and outdoor recreation planning.

Description of Duties:

• Survey and treat for invasive trifoliate orange plants on Hirsch, Luce Bayou, and McGuire Tracts.
  • Hike and use a UTV to search for pockets of invasive plants.
  • Conduct control activities of trifoliate orange using hand collection methods.
  • Apply herbicide to plants on land by foot, utility terrain vehicle, or truck.
  • Use iPad and compass to navigate to specific points on land and collect treatment data. 
• 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 and colonial waterbirds.
  • Use listening and visual skills to carry out bird monitoring surveys on various refuge tracts on land and water.
  • Use GPS and compass to navigate to specific points on land and water.
• Survey for forest bats by mobile acoustical monitoring survey.
  • Drive a 20-mile survey during night hours to survey for bats using acoustical detection equipment.
  • Use Anabat Software to record bat calls of bats in the area.

Conditions:

Wildlife interactions are possible; wasps, fire ants, alligators, and snakes are present in waterways and on shorelines; sunburn, heat illness, dehydration, and drowning are of critical concern during projects.

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.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive years.
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Positive attitude and willingness to perform field work in harsh outdoor conditions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A degree or path of study in agriculture or natural resources is a plus.

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
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

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
• 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
• 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

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 Department of Interior background clearance may be required before the selected candidate reports 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 government 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, Monday to Friday, 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.
• Free housing available onsite; more information will be shared during the interview process.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 900-hour term.
• Members are eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).

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.

Contact Information:

CCNM Program Contact information:

SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

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.