Position Title: Bureau of Land Management Wetlands/Wildlife Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps - Los Valles, Salida CO

Site Location: San Luis Valley Field Office, 1313 US-160 Monte Vista, CO 81144

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 05/25/2026
• End Date: 09/11/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hours
• Position is dependent on grant funding

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps program partners with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) San Luis Valley Field Office (SLVFO) in southern Colorado. This AmeriCorps position is under direct mentorship and technical guidance of the BLM with additional management, support, and administration from Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC). The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The SLV field office oversees some of the most ecologically significant wetland and wildlife habitats in Colorado; administering over 500,000 acres of public land that includes more than 22,000 acres of wetlands. These landscapes, central to migratory birds, aquatic species, pollinators, and a wide array of sensitive wildlife, require consistent monitoring, restoration, and adaptive management to ensure ecosystem resiliency in the face of drought, invasive species, and increasing public-use pressures. The SLVFO’s Wildlife and Wetlands Program maintains an ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing these nationally essential habitats for both present and future generations.

This AmeriCorps position will primarily assist the BLM Wildlife and Wetlands Program in meeting the growing stewardship needs. The Individual Placement (IP) will undertake extensive fieldwork including habitat assessments, wildlife surveys, project monitoring, data collection, and collaborative conservation planning helping to ensure that key monitoring and restoration efforts stay on schedule, improve the programs’ ability to respond to emerging environmental issues, and support conservation actions across large landscapes. The IP will also directly benefit the surrounding communities within the San Luis Valley. Healthy wetland ecosystems support local agriculture, recreation, water resources and a robust amount of plant and animal species, which are all cornerstones of the SLV’s cultural identity and economic stability. The field projects that the IP will complete will help overall in maintaining and improving wetland and wildlife conditions which support community livelihoods, public enjoyment of natural resources, and long-term ecological resilience.

Description of Duties:

• Wetland management activities; assisting with setting up and maintaining irrigation infrastructures, monitoring habitat conditions, monitoring wildlife and waterbird response to conditions (Blanca Wetlands, McIntire-Simpson property, Treasure Pass ditch, and La Garita Wetlands)
• Recreation and infrastructure maintenance at Blanco Wetlands
• Riparian exclosure construction on the Rio Grande Natural Area
• Environmental education programs at the wetland sites
• Well maintenance and certification; reading, compiling and reporting well information at 47 wetland wells in the San Luis Valley
• Manual weed control projects
• Collect wetland and wildlife data including plant data, water quality monitoring, species surveys with biologists (including GIS and data analysis)
• Implement invasive American bullfrog trapping/treatments
• Assist with post-treatment vegetation monitoring, fence marking in GUSG habitat, road closure mapping predatory perch inventories, post fire/thinning monitoring, repair and construction of wildlife-friendly fence, assisting with Land Health Assessments

Potential Environmental/Human Risks:

• Slips, trips, falls with uneven and varied high elevation terrain
• Variable weather conditions ranging from freezing cold temperatures to hot temperatures

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 for at least three years
• Per grant funding requirements, candidate must be 18-30 years of age, up to 35 if veteran status

Preferred Qualifications:

• College student or recent graduate pursuing a degree in wildlife biology, natural resource management of related area of study
• Prior field experience in natural resources/biological sciences

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 a four tens schedule from Monday to Thursday each 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 in-depth orientation provided by Southwest Conservation Corps that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Partner will provide appropriate orientation and training(s) for field activities

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35
• Living Allowance of $1000 per week, distributed on a bi-weekly basis
• Professional development opportunities with SCC and BLM
• Two SCC field shirts

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:

Individual Placement Program Manager - Niki Antonio (She/Her)

Contact Information: nantonio@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.