Careers in Quality

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Grand Canyon National Park, is seeking One Native Plant Nursery Member to assist NPS Staff with the management of the greenhouse, nursery, and various natural resource monitoring projects. 

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

For the full position description and to apply, please visit: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/998922.html

Start Date: September 4, 2023 

Estimated End Date: February 15, 2024

*a 24-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

For more information about Grand Canyon National Park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm. 

Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 10 hour days 6:30 am - 5:00 PM is the starting work schedule. In October, the schedule will shift to Sunday - Wednesday or Tuesday - Friday but would stay consistent as one of those options based on intern preference. The member will occasionally work condensed work schedules with an increased number of days working, and then being off. For example, 8 days on 6 days off. 

Position Overview: The ACE Member will perform a variety of duties to manage the native plant greenhouse and nursery in Grand Canyon National Park in support of habitat restoration and revegetation projects.  

Greenhouse management duties may include:

• Growing native plants as well as seed and cutting propagation
• Monitoring greenhouse climate control systems, indoor and outdoor irrigation systems, and propagation chambers
• Managing greenhouse plants, shade-house plants, outdoor container plants, nursery landscaping and seed increase fields
• Coordinating seed treatment and stratification schedules, seed cleaning, germination testing and seed storage 
• Implementing integrated pest management techniques as needed by applying proper pesticides or fungicides 
• Scheduling and planning for nursery staffing including soliciting volunteers for projects and facilitating training/ orientations for field data collection procedures

Additional duties may include:

• Scheduling, coordinating and carrying out a wide variety of field activities in support the enhancement of native plant populations
• Field activities include salvaging native plants, seed collection and cutting collection  
• Using complex inventory databases while developing and ensuring quality assurance/quality control (QAQC) procedures are followed during data management processes.  
• Overseeing data entry by interns and volunteers
• Completing data analysis and summaries
• Coordinating data management activities with the data manager and vegetation program manager. 
• Assisting in preparing field trip summary reports, and contributing to annual project  reports
• Preparing and presenting data summaries and results at meetings and conferences with stakeholders, the public, tribes, and other resources professionals

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.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $675/week to offset the costs of housing, food, and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided park housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Travel Allowance: Members will receive $350 for project related travel.  Members will also have $400 per diem towards lodging, meals, and incidentals costs incurred while doing work related travel. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $300 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position will be discussed upon hire and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. 

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements. 

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. 

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: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/998922.html 

If a position posting is still open on the application link provided, then the position has not yet been filled and is still accepting applications. 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 and Outreach Specialist, Emaunel Aragon Cruz, at ecruz@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.

Qualifications

Required:

• For the full list, please refer to the full position description.
• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements. 

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Plant Biology/ Natural Resource Management.
• Knowledge of Plant Management and Care.
• Ability and willingness to conduct training and engage with the public.
• Deep interest in plant propagation and ecological restoration.