SBNWR Biological Technician – AmeriCorps (1 opening)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 7628 N. Highway 191, Douglas, AZ 85607 (San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge)

Term of Service:

• Start Date: 5/18/2026
• End Date: 9/18/2026
• 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 the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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, Phoenix, and Tucson.

United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS):

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working with others, is responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people through Federal programs relating to migratory birds, endangered species, interjurisdictional fish and marine mammals, and inland sport fisheries. As part of its mission, the USFWS is charged with enforcing Federal Wildlife Laws and Protecting Endangered Species.

The 2,369-acre San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (SBNWR) lies along the international border with Mexico in southeast Arizona's Cochise County. It was established in 1982 for the primary purpose of recovery of native fishes of the Rio Yaqui watershed. The Refuge is headquartered near the small community of Douglas, Arizona.

Description of Duties:

The primary role of the Biological Technician will be to support the Refuge biology program with tasks including monitoring populations of federally listed fish species, Chiricahua leopard frogs, Huachuca water umbel, and Yellowbilled cuckoos following established protocols. The technician will also help with habitat management, especially invasive plant management. The technician will get experience with data management and outreach through assisting with biology databases and refuge events.

Work conducted by the technician will directly aid in the recovery of federally listed species and their associated habitats. Species monitoring work, for instance, is critical for understanding population tends to inform management actions.

The technician will be provided the opportunity to attend annual outreach events such as Southwest Wings Birding Festival where SBNWR has a table each year. Additionally, the technician will be exposed to many of the nuances of running and managing a National Wildlife Refuge through participation in monthly staff meetings where Administrative, Biological, Management, Law Enforcement, and Maintenance staff all discuss their current tasks and challenges.

Training will be provided in the following: the use of ArcGIS Field Maps application to locate survey sites and document field observations and efforts; how to successfully and correctly implement protocols and associated data recording; how to perform monitoring activities; data entry locations; summary report writing format and content expectations; required DOI/OSHA chemical safety trainings; invasive plant ID training with refuge biologist; chemical application training with AZ licensed applicator; and use of any required equipment.

Housing is available for the member during their term.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Assist refuge biologist with annual monitoring of populations of federally listed fish species, Chiricahua leopard frogs, Huachuca water umbel, and Yellow-billed cuckoo.
• Independently and/or with assistance of the refuge biologist, use established protocols to survey for the above listed species.
• As requested and needed, perform data entry and individual monitoring effort summary report writing.
• Conduct pond and well monitoring activities.
• After training to perform the monitoring activities, independently schedule out pond and well monitoring visits to meet the agreed-upon monitoring frequency.
• Use field guides to properly identify invasive plants.
• Assist with invasive plant management efforts.
• Under supervision of refuge biologist, perform mechanical removal and/or chemical treatment of invasive plants.
• Use GIS to navigate to treatment areas and report treatments.
• Collect required data and deliver that data to the refuge biologist.
• Assist with refuge public outreach efforts.

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 education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Must currently possess or be pursuing a degree at the associate or bachelors level in a life or physical science field (e.g., biology, ecology, geology, hydrology, environmental science, zoology, botany, etc.).
• Must be self-motivated, have a strong sense of personal accountability, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to work independently with little to no immediate supervision.
• Ability to perform physical work in extreme weather conditions and terrain, hiking up to 6+ miles per day.
• Willing and able to represent Arizona Conservation Corps and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Must possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable
  accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Local to Cochise County, Arizona.
• Course credit in Natural Resource Management.
• Interest in a natural resource conservation career.
• Strong desire to learn new skills.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to 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, 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. Environmental risks include walking and hiking on uneven terrain in extreme weather conditions and where poisonous/venous/stinging animals and sharp vegetation (ex. cactus, mesquite, etc.) are common, working along the US/Mexico international border, exposure to herbicides, and heat exposure while wearing PPE.

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:

• Typically, 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 $500 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150 per week.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Housing is available for the member during their term.
• 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:

This position reports to Joseph Barron, Refuge Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter along with the online application by clicking the APPLY link on this page.

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