Biological Support and Invasive Species Member, National Key Deer Refuge

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 member to contribute to biological and invasive species projects under the mentorship of National Key Deer Refuge Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: July/August 2026 (Flexible)

Estimated End Date: May/June 2027 (43 weeks after start date)

*a 43 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 1760 hours*

Location Details/Description: National Key Deer Refuge in Big Pine Key, FL.

The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect and preserve the national interest in Key deer and other wildlife resources in the Florida Keys.

The Refuge is located in the Lower Florida Keys, a hundred mile stretch of islands that extends south and west from south Florida. Habitats in the refuge consist of pine rockland forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh wetlands, and mangrove forests. National Key Deer Refuge is home to more than 20 endangered and threatened plant and animal species.

The endangered Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer that are found throughout much of North America. Key deer are unique to the lower Florida Keys, they are found nowhere else in the world.

For more information about the National Key Deer Refuge, 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 that mission at National Key Deer Refuge. This position requires strenuous physical activity that includes exotic plant eradication, capturing introduced and invasive wildlife, small mammal trapping, planting native plants, and conducting field work independently or as a part of a group to support biological programs. In addition to field work, up to 30% of the position's time may include data entry including use of Excel, ArcGIS, and Field Maps.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the accomplishment of:

• Plan and coordinate field data collection (e.g. coordinate dates and local support, care for and prepare equipment, arrange and complete travel to sites as necessary)
• Generate, archive and synthesize raw wildlife and habitat survey data
• Conduct surveys for avian, terrestrial and aquatic species

• Monitoring of threatened and endangered reptiles
• Assist with key deer response of injuries, entanglements, and roadkills
• Hydrological sampling (surface water and wells)
• Remote camera monitoring
• Native plant restoration planting and monitoring success
• Invasive wildlife monitoring and control
• Invasive plant species mapping and control
• Habitat restoration and chemical treatment of trees and shrubs
• Invasive invertebrate monitoring
• Maintenance of field equipment and supplies
• Public outreach activities, including participating in special Refuge educational events and volunteer work days
• Data entry, management and build data visualization and summary skills
• Document survey procedures and outcomes in scientific writing formats

• Work with data managers to ensure data quality, management, and archiving

• Assist on wildlife and habitat management and research on refuges
• Interact with a variety of FWS programs and explore career opportunities within the USFWS and National Wildlife Refuge System.

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: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. 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 including on weekends and/or holidays. 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 at no cost for the duration of the term.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $400 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, socks, outerwear, sunglasses, work pants, 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.

Position-specific training may entail:

• training on invasive plant species identification and control techniques
• experience in natural resource management and endangered species conservation
• use of standard equipment (e.g., pickup, UTV)
• site-specific training on sampling procedures (e.g., bird, bat, wetland, forest monitoring)
• participate in online trainings (e.g., GIS, database management)
• use of biological program databases and document standards

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 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.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Time and workload management skills, including the ability to assess and implement task priorities given program priorities and time-frames.
• Ability to communicate well with visitors and staff both orally and in writing
• Time management and problem solving skills
• Ability to walk in extreme temperatures for long distances, carry equipment (30 lbs), tolerant of biting insects and aware of nearby poisonous plants
• Skills in using Microsoft Word, Excel, R, and Access
• Schedule flexibility (8 to 12 hours daily) including occasional evening shifts
• Organizational and information management skills, particularly in regard to information and data management for accurate and efficient accomplishment of data entry, QA/QC, basic visualizations, summary and reporting.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree in natural resources, biology, ecology, entomology, or a related subject and/or have relevant experience in similar subject areas.
• Experience in scientific literature reviews and information synthesis.
• Experience following written instructions to conduct duties (e.g. sampling Standard Operating Procedures).
• Experience with ground telemetry equipment
• Experience capturing reptiles, particularly snakes and lizards
• Experience monitoring rabbits
• Experience measuring water quality, preferred experience with YSI ProDSS multiparameter and HOBO water level and salinity data loggers and related software
• Experience accurately documenting, entering and managing data and documents, using programs including Microsoft and ArcGIS.
• Research and/or monitoring experience specific to southeastern habitats or species.
• Experience with field data collection electronically (e.g., using iPads) and taking appropriate notes/data on paper and with data curation and archiving
• Experience in wetland and/or forest plant identification.
• Experience in bird identification.
• Interest in/affinity for avian and terrestrial wildlife and their habitats
• Experience and/or knowledge of the mission of the USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System and other federal land management agencies

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.
• 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 35 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. During inclement weather, interns will conduct office tasks (e.g., data entry) in indoor office conditions.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position will 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 the online application page for this position on the usaconservation website. 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 FWS Member Manager, Johannah McCollum.

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 hired 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.