Position Title: Rare Plant Technician Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – New Mexico State Office (NMSO)

301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508

Resume and Cover Letter Required for Consideration

Terms of Service:

· Start Date: 3/23/26

· End Date: 8/14/26

· AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning

opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

This position will support all aspects of the BLM New Mexico's rare plant monitoring program which is backed by the Threatened and Endangered Species Program and the Plant Conservation & Restoration Program. These programs work in coordination to uphold the proactive recovery responsibility of federal agencies under the Endangered Species Act (Section 7(a)(1)), where the data collected is used to inform and prevent listing decisions and adaptive management.

The selected Individual Placement will help collect data essential for understanding life history and population trends of the most at-risk plant species within BLM New Mexico. Data collected will be reported to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is critical for informing ongoing species status assessments, 12-month findings and delisting decisions. Additionally, with considerable travel involved in accessing field sites, this Individual Placement will reinforce the available workforce and provide essential consistency in monitoring methods between species.

There will be many opportunities for the Individual Placement to network with botanists across the BLM and other agencies throughout the state of New Mexico including US Fish and Wildlife Service, providing a rich learning environment.

Description of Duties:

· Assist with rare plant demographic monitoring for 10-12 species

o Prepare for upcoming field work, inventory field gear, assist with "hitch" planning.

o Assist with coordination and logistics with other partners and botanists.

o Visit all established monitoring plots within the state.

o Collect electronic data using a standardized protocol in Survey 123.

o Assist with database management, including organizing data from previous monitoring years and reviewing submitted data for quality control.

Conditions: driving, uneven terrain, hiking off-trail, rattlesnakes, discomfort due to working outside in the elements: wind, dust, extreme heat, hydrogen sulfide exposure (specifically in Carlsbad).

*Applicants must be able to work long days and successfully adapt to various climates and working conditions. This includes focused driving to field location and strenuous labor in remote settings and all-weather conditions. Field hitches will be between 3-7 days, and lodging will be a mix of hotel stays and camping. Applicants must be ok with camping for multiple days and being away from Santa Fe for all hitches.

Qualifications:

· United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.

· At least 17 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 education award.

· Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

· Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years

· Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.

· A positive attitude with an interest in ecology and botany.

· Effective communication skills and experience working on a team.

· Organized and detail-oriented, experience with data collection.

· Basic computer skills.

· Willingness to spend multiple days (2-7 days at a time) car-camping in remote areas; familiarity with and willingness to adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles.

· Able to conduct frequent bending, kneeling, and standing.

· Able to work in a variety of adverse weather conditions, which may include extreme heat and sun exposure, monsoonal rains, flash flooding, lightning, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions, bears).

· Ability to drive a 4WD vehicle off highway.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Familiarity with basic plant taxonomy, including major families and botanical vocabulary.

· Plant ID skills using technical keys.

· Knowledge of plants of the Southwest.

· 1+ field seasons performing plant identification and vegetation sampling.

· Electronic data collection experience.

· Experience with ArcGIS Online interface and ArcGIS tablet applications (Collector and Survey 123).

· Coursework/training in botany and/or degree in botany or related field.

· Able to lift up to 40lbs.

· Able to hike up to 6 miles a day.

Physical Requirements:

· To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.

· Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.

· Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

· Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.

· Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.

· Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.

· Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.

· Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.

· Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:

· Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.

· Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.

· Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.

· If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

· In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

· Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 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 orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

· Monitoring and survey protocols for plant species.

· Field training in plant ID, access to herbarium and taxonomic keys.

· GIS and FieldMaps/Survey123 (ESRI products) essential for data collection.

Benefits:

· Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14

· Living Allowance of $600 per week.

· Additional Benefit of $330 per week.

· Travel funds of $4,500.

· Professional development funds of $1,000.

· Healthcare Coverage.

· Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).

· Loan forbearance if Eligible.

· Interest Payments if Eligible.

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:

Program Coordinator Contact information:

SamJean Simmons

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 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.