Position Title: Biological Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, 100 Brown Farm Rd. Olympia, Washington 98516

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit applications by March 13, 2026

Terms of Service:

• Ideal Start Date: May 13, 2026
• End Date: November 6, 2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900-hour slot, 26 weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to federally enrolled Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and will support one Biological Technician (AmeriCorps) member.

The Biological Technician (AmeriCorps) position supports the conservation and restoration of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems in the South Puget Sound region while building career pathways for Tribal members in water resources. This position is designed to serve Tribal and local communities through hands-on conservation projects that improve habitat for culturally and ecologically important species. The role emphasizes collaboration, stewardship, safety, and professional development while fostering respect for Tribal knowledge, cross-cultural learning, and long-term community relationships.

The Biological Technician (AmeriCorps) member will support aquatic and wetland conservation projects through field-based monitoring, invasive species removal, data collection, and community outreach. The member will collaborate with refuge staff, Tribal partners, and conservation crews to improve habitat conditions for native fish, amphibians, waterfowl, and estuarine species. This role provides hands-on training in water resource management while supporting the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tribal natural resource programs.

Description of Duties:

• Conduct field-based removal of invasive bullfrogs along river and wetland habitats to support recovery of the federally listed Oregon spotted frog. This includes humanely culling invasive bullfrogs, with removal efforts commonly resulting in up to approximately 30 bullfrogs per night, depending on site conditions and season.
• Perform nighttime field service between June and September, with approximately 75% of the member’s service hours occurring at night during the peak bullfrog removal season.
• Assist with trapping and monitoring for invasive European green crabs in estuarine environments to protect native shellfish and salmon habitat.
• Collect water level and habitat data to support wetland and wildlife management decisions.
• Monitor and assist with removal of invasive wetland plants, including purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris.
• Participate in waterfowl and migratory bird surveys to support regional population monitoring.
• Enter, manage, and summarize field data using spreadsheets and digital databases.
• Support canoe and kayak-based field service following required safety training.
• Collaborate with Tribal biologists, conservation crews, and refuge staff during joint field projects.
• Assist with public outreach and education events, including the Nisqually Watershed Festival.
• Follow all safety protocols, including job hazard analyses, vehicle safety procedures, and field safety requirements.

Position Schedule:

The position schedule will typically be consistent each week to support safe and effective field operations. Weeks will generally be scheduled as either primarily nighttime or primarily daytime project tasks, with intentional efforts made to minimize frequent shifts between day and night schedules.

Qualifications:

• Must be willing and able to perform nighttime field service with approximately 75% of service hours occurring at night between June and September.
• Must be willing to humanely cull invasive American bullfrogs, with removal efforts commonly involving up to approximately 30 bullfrogs per night, depending on site conditions and season.
• Must be willing to complete required safety trainings prior to performing field service, including Defensive Driving, and non-motorized boating safety.
• Must be willing and able to conduct projects outdoors in wetland, riverine, and estuarine environments, including walking through water, mud, tall vegetation, and uneven terrain while wearing waders.
• Must be willing to safely operate canoes or kayaks following completion of required training.
• Must be able to commit to a 900-hour AmeriCorps service term over 26 weeks, with schedules aligned to project needs and seasonal field service.
• Must be willing to follow all safety protocols, job hazard analyses, and field procedures established by the host site and Stewards Individual Placements.
• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
  • Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.
  • Descendants of Members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 – shown by completing BIA Form 4432.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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 National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in natural resources, environmental science, biology, fisheries, wildlife, or a related field; coursework or enrollment in a degree program is a plus but not required.
• Prior experience or interest in field-based conservation projects, particularly in wetland, river, estuarine, or coastal environments.
• Experience or interest in conducting projects with amphibians, invasive species management, or habitat restoration.
• Comfort conducting projects outdoors at night and in variable weather conditions.
• Experience with non-motorized boating (canoe or kayak) or willingness to learn.
• Familiarity with data collection, basic data entry, or use of spreadsheets or digital field tools.
• Interest in participating collaboratively with Tribal natural resource programs, partner agencies, and community members.
• Interest in communicating about conservation projects through outreach events, presentations, or written updates.
• Ability to complete projects both independently and as part of a team in a field-based setting.

Additional Position and Community Information

The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located in western Washington between Olympia and Tacoma, near the Nisqually River Delta and adjacent to the Nisqually Indian Tribe Reservation. The surrounding area includes a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities, offering flexibility in housing options depending on the member’s preference. While the refuge does not provide on-site housing, rental housing and shared housing options are available in nearby Olympia, Lacey, DuPont, and surrounding communities.

The area offers convenient essential amenities, including grocery stores, medical facilities, pharmacies, and other services within a short driving distance. Olympia provides hospitals, urgent care, and public services, while smaller nearby communities offer a more rural living experience.

A personal vehicle is required for this position to travel to and from the refuge office and meeting locations, as the site is not served by public transit, and project schedules include nighttime and seasonally variable hours. A host site owned vehicle will be provided for travel to and from field sites during the daytime operations, including nighttime field operations.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Childcare Coverage (opt in)
• Student Loan Forbearance, if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments, if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

How to Apply

Locate this position in the table at: https://stewardslegacy.org/watercorps. Open position, review full position description, and click apply.

In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. You will also need to upload a copy of your Tribal ID or Certificate of Indian Blood showing that you are enrolled in a federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; or Alaska Native.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by March 13, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

• Service Site Contact information: Ryan Munes, 360-753-9467, ryan_munes@fws.gov
• Program Contact information: Andre Nguyen, anguyen@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.

Additional Details

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 project 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:

• This position is expected to serve 40 hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks 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:

The WaterCorps member will receive an orientation that includes program expectations, AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities, office and field environment conduct, and safety requirements. In addition to this orientation, the host site will provide the following trainings to support safe and effective participation in field-based projects:

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) review for all assigned tasks and field activities.
• First Aid and CPR training appropriate to field-based projects, with opportunities to pursue certification when available.
• Defensive Driving training prior to operating government vehicles.
• Non-motorized boating safety training for canoe and kayak use.
• Field safety training for projects in wetland, riverine, and estuarine environments, including nighttime operations.
• Training in aquatic species identification, invasive species management techniques, and habitat monitoring protocols.
• Instruction in data collection, data entry, and basic data management using spreadsheets and digital tools.
• Professional development training through Department of the Interior online learning platforms, as available and appropriate.

These trainings are designed to support both immediate job performance and long-term professional development in water resources, natural resources, and conservation-related fields.

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.