Visitor Services Member - Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 Visitor Services Member to contribute to visitor services and environmental education projects under the mentorship of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: September 2026

Estimated End Date: June 2027*a 45 week minimum commitment is required

Location Details/Description: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Loleta, CA

The coastal habitats conserved at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge are some of the most beautiful and biologically rich places in the world.

The Humboldt Bay NWR has several different units totaling almost 5,000 acres. These units consist of a mosaic of mudflats, estuarine eelgrass meadows, saltmarsh, brackish marsh, seasonally flooded freshwater wetlands, riparian wetlands, streams, coastal dunes, and forest, creating a unique complexity and interconnected landscape. These habitats support more than 450 species of plants, over 316 species of birds, and 40 species of mammals. The majority of birds use the refuge as a stopover where they rest and replenish energy reserves. Others spend winter here, and some use the refuge for breeding and nesting. The wetlands around Humboldt Bay are critical to over half a million shorebirds during spring migration and have been designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site of Hemispheric Importance.

For more information about Humboldt Bay NWR, please visit the FWS website.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize its mission at Humboldt Bay NWR.The Member will enhance visitor services, strengthen community engagement, and advance recreation opportunities across multiple National Wildlife Refuges in the Pacific Southwest Region. Working primarily at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Member will help deliver education programs, develop and implement a new volunteer program, and assist with day-to-day visitor interaction and education. This position is specifically designed to pilot long-term program improvements-such as volunteer program growth and enhanced visitor outreach-that continue benefiting the refuge after the Member's term ends.

The Member will spend approximately 80% of their time supporting Humboldt Bay projects and 20% traveling to refuges in the Klamath Basin and Northern California to assist other sites with events, programs, and engagement initiatives. This regional support strengthens collaboration across refuges and ensures the skills developed at Humboldt Bay contribute to professional development and broader conservation and public engagement goals.

Duties Include

• Welcome and answer visitor questions about recreation opportunities, wildlife viewing, habitats, and natural resources.
• Support the development and implementation of a Volunteer Trail Steward Program, aimed at improving operational capacity and long-term community involvement.
• Assist staff with public programs, community outreach, education activities, and special events.
• Conduct outreach that promotes responsible recreation and builds connections with public lands.
• Travel to National Wildlife Refuges in northern California and southern Oregon to support visitor services, community events, and regional teamwork.
• Gain experience with other refuge operations such as biology and habitat management as time allows.

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.

Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:30am - 5:00pm with occasional evenings or weekends. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

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 and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing (private room in a shared house) at no cost for the duration of the term. From the bunkhouse, the closest community is located about a 15-minute drive away. Having a personal vehicle will be necessary for personal travel, public transportation is not available from the Refuge. For field work, a government vehicle will be available.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, work pants, socks, jacket, etc, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

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.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.

• Willing to undergo and must pass the required background and criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

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 visitor services, community engagement, recreation planning, or education.
• Knowledge of natural resources, conservation, education principles.
• Ability and willingness to speak to the public, drive to other refuge locations, learn new skills .
• Deep interest in visitor services, community engagement, recreation on public lands.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, spend full days outside.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 20 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety:If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website.Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Senior Program Manager, Nich Jackosky.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are enrolled in a program to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.