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Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking ONE Rare Species Botany Fellow to assist with monitoring critically imperiled plant species throughout five national parks in western Maryland.

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

Start Date: March 28, 2022 (flexibility may be available)

End Date: September 23, 2022 (or 26 weeks from start date with a possibility of extension)

*A 26-week minimum commitment is required*

Location: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park traverses 184.5 miles across four physiographic provinces, five counties in Maryland and West Virginia, as well as into the District of Columbia. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.

For more information regarding Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, or the National Park Service, please visit: www.nps.gov/choh/

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to cover the costs of food, housing, and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. Park housing may be made available in Clear Spring, Maryland, 9 miles from the duty station, for approximately $470/month.

Position Description:

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park traverses 184.5 miles across four physiographic provinces, five counties in Maryland and West Virginia, as well as into the District of Columbia. Such physiographic diversity subsequently cultivates plant and wildlife diversity, which is evident as one travels through the Park. The Park contains record of nearly 200 rare, threatened, and endangered plant species as well as globally unique plant communities. Over 40 critically imperiled plant species are known to exist in national parks across western Maryland and are subject to threats including land development, visitor use, and invasive species.

This position will monitor for and collect data on at least 40 critically imperiled plant species throughout five national parks in western Maryland: the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Antietam and Monocacy National Battlefields, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and Catoctin Mountain Park. The position will work with NPS managers and specialists as well as researchers and agency botanists.

Duties for this position include:

• Sampling rare plant populations throughout the parks, collecting data on populations/sub-populations/individual plants
• Identify plants to species in the field and in the lab
• Identify suitable habitat outside of known plant populations and conduct surveys to identify new populations or sub-populations of rare plants.
• Develop management recommendations for species and populations
• Assist with collections and herbarium management for rare plant species.

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.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Recruitment Specialist, Victoria Yee at vyee@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.

Required:

• Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
• 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 valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to identify herbaceous and woody plants to species
• Ability to collect and organize data and field notes
• 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.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position may hold a bachelor's or graduate degree and/or experience in biology, botany, ecology, or a related discipline.
• Experience conducting botanical surveys/research
• Experience with rare plant populations