Position Title: LiDAR Monitoring Technician Member (Region 4) – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region
7300 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, FL 32327

Terms of Service: 18 Weeks

• Start Date: 05/18/2026
• End Date: 09/18/2026*
• Application Deadline: 04/12/2026
• Open Positions Available: 4
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Stewards Individual Placements:
Stewards Individual Placements, a division of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. Stewards Individual Placement Program provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants within the program work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to build institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS):
The mission of the USFWS wildland fire management program is to support the National Wildlife Refuge System's conservation lands. Understanding the intricate dynamics of fire ecology, along with conducting effective public education initiatives, make these efforts an integral part of maintaining a balanced and sustainable environment that supports both people and wildlife. The Service’s approach to fire management includes a range of specialized practices and knowledge areas. We use prescribed fire to reduce risk of wildfires and improve habitats for wildlife. We remain prepared for wildfires and respond with advanced firefighting techniques on Service lands and in partnership with other wildland fire agencies. To protect lands from wildfires and improve habitats we implement comprehensive vegetation management strategies, such as mechanically clearing vegetation and applying prescribed fire. The program is committed to integrity, accountability, safety, and resilience, to foster a service culture that protects neighboring communities and our natural resource treasures.

Role Position:
Stewards Individual Placements, an AmeriCorps affiliated program, in partnership with Region 4 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is looking for individuals to serve in the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Monitoring Program. The LiDAR Monitoring Program integrates the latest forest vegetation and ecosystem surveying technology into land management practices.

These Terrestrial LiDAR Field Technician Members will serve in two teams of 2. Each LiDAR two-person team will be using remote sensing technology and establishing long-term monitoring plots at national wildlife refuges across several states in the Southeast Region. These monitoring plots collect data that can justify land treatments and provide empirical data for land managers to use while making decisions for ecosystem improvement. This data will benefit wildlife biologists, foresters, fire management officers, and lead to the restoration of critical habitat. It will also quantify the reduction of hazardous fuels and document the environmental change over time, thus improving the understanding of long-term impacts of fuel treatments and conservation efforts.

Click here to visualize and learn more about the Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging Monitoring Program!

Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of the position, the Members will:

• Operate the BLK360 LiDAR sensor to collect point cloud of plot
  - At each plot the technician will operate the laser to take a scan. Technician will be responsible for protecting and maintaining sensor as well as troubleshooting any issues
• Establish Long-term LiDAR Monitoring Plots
  - Individuals must coordinate with their supervisor, refuge staff, and teammate to prioritize plots and plan efficient routes. Navigating to plots will require ArcGIS FieldMaps tools, which will also be used to record information about scan location. At plots they will follow vegetative surveying protocols
• · LiDAR Data Management: Offload scans from laser, perform quality data management, and convert it in the proper format
  - Individuals will use multiple software to offload, rename files, and convert the file type. They will also be responsible for quality control of point clouds and proper data management practices. Files will also need to be uploaded correctly for the data to be analyzed.

In-person training will be provided to use and understand the software. Beyond the in-person training, technicians will be given step-by-step guides to follow.

Qualifications:

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

· Between the ages of 18 – 30, Veterans up to 35 years of age

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

· Familiarity with forest or biological survey protocols (i.e. timber cruising)

· Ability to conduct field work involving carrying equipment and traveling across varied, sometimes remote, terrain and through dense vegetation

· Must have a resilient work ethic and ability to maintain a positive attitude

· Effective interpersonal and communication skills while working on a team

Preferred Qualifications

· A degree or progress towards one in forestry, biology, natural resources management, wildlife management, GIS, or related field preferred

· Geospatial Information Science area (ARCGIS/GPS) Spatial Analysis of Natural Resources experience preferred

· Forest mensuration/Resource Inventory/Forest or Biological Surveying Experience preferred

· Forest Management/Wildlife Management courses and/or experience

· Experience and safety knowledge of operating UTV/ATVs

Working Conditions/Physical Effort:
The LiDAR Members may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on varying terrain and potentially under physically demanding circumstances.

These conditions:

• Present the possibility of injury and exposure to hazards such as heat, humidity, snakes and insects
• Require physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions on potentially difficult or hazardous terrain
• Require the willingness to travel frequently and work varying shifts

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 recruitment 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.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• Members must commit to a 36-to-40-hour work week schedule to meet AmeriCorps Ed Award Requirements.
  
  

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities
• Stewards will provide a Stewards 101 Training within the beginning of the Member‘s service term start to familiarize Members with Stewards service model and expectations
• In-person training will be provided on the use of LiDAR equipment and software; additionally, Members will be provided step-by-step guides/plans/directions to follow
• UTV/ATV, and Defensive Driving Training
  
  

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• $500 Field Gear and PPE Stipend
• Relocation Stipend of $500 ($250 at the start and $250 at the end of service)
• Housing Provided
  
  

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.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.

How to Apply:
To apply, please click on the green “apply” button in the top right corner of the page. In addition to uploading your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131

We are 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.