Border Restoration Individual Placement (BLM Tucson) – AmeriCorps (1 opening)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: BLM Tucson Field Office, 3201 E. Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756

Term of Service:

• Anticipated Start Date: 6/16/2025
• Anticipated End Date: 11/14/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at BLM Tucson Field Office as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for the Tucson Field Office.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM):

The BLM Tucson Field Office manages more than 600,000 acres of desert, mountains, and grasslands within five southeastern Arizona counties and shares the international border with Mexico. The field office is responsible for stewardship of eight National Landscape Conservation System units: San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, Ironwood Forest National Monument, four wilderness areas, 63 miles of river suitable for Wild and Scenic River designation and the Gila River Canyons passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The Tucson Field Office also oversees six properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and seven Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Public lands within the Tucson Field Office also provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation including world-renowned birding along the San Pedro River. The Tucson Field Office is a part of and shares office space with the BLM Gila District Office.

Description of Duties:

The selected intern will be involved with a number of partnerships and organizations that assist the BLM Tucson Field Office with managing the land and resources of the area. The intern will work closely with partners such as the Friends of the San Pedro River, Empire Ranch Foundation, Arizona Native Plant Society, and Friends of Ironwood Forest with on-the-ground restoration projects such as trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, fence construction and maintenance, sign maintenance, organizing volunteer work projects, and assisting partnerships with the continued development of the Agents of Discovery application. The BLM Tucson Field Office works closely with local government and state government agencies. The intern may have opportunities to work along BLM staff with government partners.

The intern's contribution to projects assigned by the BLM will positively improve public lands and managed resources. These public lands are typically visited by the local Tucson and Sierra Vista communities, as well as communities of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Trainings will be provided to the intern when opportunities arise from the BLM.

Interns must provide their own personal transportation to the duty office; however, the intern will be provided a vehicle for use between the office and the field. No housing will be provided.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• · Provide timely data on improvements to sites that are currently impacted by resource damage from illegal activities.
• · Identify work objectives and project scope of crew projects.
• · Work with Recreation Specialist and Assistant Field Manager on project sites and maps.
• · Work with Park Ranger on sites and maps for proposed fence repair projects.
• · Repair fencing, keep project records, and document timeframes of fencing projects.
• · Work with Outdoor Recreation Planner and Park Ranger on project sites and maps, identify scope of work and objectives of projects.
• · Repair wildcat trails, keep project records and document timeframe of project.
• · Keep project records and document before-and-after photos and timeframes of work 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 AmeriCorps Education Award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Pursuing or holding a degree in natural resources, recreation management or a related discipline, and/or a combination of education and experience relating to one of the above disciplines.
• Resumes and cover letters must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience/requirements mentioned in the position description.
• Professional, pro-active, motivated, mature and responsible individuals looking for experience working in conservation and natural resource management.
• Willingness to hike in rough terrain with exposure to the elements.
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Must be 21 or over, OR have had driver's license for at least 3 years if under 21.

Preferred Qualifications:

• · Interest in pursuing recreation management as a career goal.
• · Knowledge and expertise with GIS.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain up to ten miles carrying equipment, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Members may be exposed to working in hot temperatures, slippery conditions when working in water, and spiny plants. Ability to hike in rough terrain. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• This position is expected to serve Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week, 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 Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14 with successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $550 per week.
• · Additional Benefit of $100 per week.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Healthcare Coverage provided by The Corps Network and Cigna.
• Childcare Coverage.
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

This position reports to Robert Walter, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Land Management Tucson Field Office.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://azcorps.org/ip-positions.

If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.