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ACE: Interpretive Ranger/Volunteer Coordinator – Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - Folkston, GA

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking ONE Interpretive Ranger/ Volunteer Coordinator to assist in support of refuge visitor services programs at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. 
The selected Member will support the refuge in a variety of interpretation based tasks. This includes approximately 50% Recreation Management and 50% Volunteer Coordination. This individual will serve as the Visitor Center Manager (currently closed due to COVID), assist with interpretive services including programming, publications, and signage, and assisting with maintenance of visitor services facilities including water trails, upland trails, parking areas/trailheads, and boardwalks. Primary volunteer coordination tasks include volunteer recruitment, training, supervision and daily guidance of tasks for volunteers on the refuge. 

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge conserves the unique qualities of the Okefenokee Swamp for future generations to enjoy. The swamp is considered the headwaters of the Suwannee and St Mary's Rivers. Habitats provide for threatened and endangered species, such as red-cockaded woodpecker, wood storks, indigo snakes, and a wide variety of other wildlife species. It is world renowned for its amphibian populations that are bio-indicators of global health. More than 600 plant species have been identified on refuge lands. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has 353,981 acres of National Wilderness Area within the refuge boundaries. In addition, the refuge is a Wetland of International Importance because it is one of the world's largest intact freshwater ecosystems.

Start Date: late March - early April, 2021 (ASAP) 
End Date: August 20th, 2022 
*74-week term commitment is required*

Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - Folkston, GA 

Project Website: To learn more about the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refugeplease visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Okefenokee/
To learn more about the ACE EPIC Internship Program, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Compensation: The ACE member will receive a living allowance of $650/weekfor food and incidental expenses, paid bi-weekly.  Housing is provided on refuge free of cost

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. Eligible members must meet standard requirements of completing at least 640 hours and utilize their certificate before the age of 31.

Position Description: 
Recreation Management - 50%

  • Serve as the visitor center manager, ensuring the visitor center is staffed with well-trained individuals during all publicly advertised times; serve the public by responding to questions via phone and in person communication; ensure the visitor center is safe and clean and exhibits and equipment are well-maintained and fully functional.
  • Provide support to refuge staff in the maintenance of visitor services-related facilities including, but not limited to: upland trails, hiking trails, picnic areas, trailheads/kiosks, boat ramps, water trails, parking lots, boardwalks, restrooms, and other visitor-services buildings. 
  • Assist with the management of wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and/or interpretation.

Volunteer Coordination - 50%

  • The selected member will recruit volunteers, train, supervise, and provide daily tasks for volunteers of the refuge. This includes both resident volunteers (that reside in recreational vehicles on the refuge) and local volunteers (that reside in local communities).
  • Ensure that the refuge is able to staff all necessary visitor facilities with a volunteer corps that is well trained and well qualified for the jobs needed;
  • Coordinate with other refuge programs for volunteers to assist with maintenance and biological duties on the refuge, including maintenance duties of visitor services areas including landscaping, facilities maintenance (i.e. cleaning restrooms, removing trash, etc.), trail maintenance (Both water trails and uplands trails), and historic facility maintenance.
  • Selected individual is responsible for providing volunteers with all necessary training to conduct their volunteer duties and ensuring that all volunteers have all necessary PPE. 

Qualifications: Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree (or be pursuing a Bachelor's degree) in wildlife biology, general biology, environmental science, natural resource management, parks and recreation, ecology or other related disciplines appropriate to the position or equivalent job experience in the realm of wildlife biology or outdoor/ environmental education.

Required:
  • Outstanding communication and customer service including anticipating the needs of visitors, clear and timely communication with visitors and staff, ability to handle the unexpected, and is committed to continuously improving services.
  • Subject matter knowledge such as natural or cultural history, fish or wildlife habitat characteristics, techniques of resource protection and use, and rules for recreational use of Federal lands;
  • Experience leading volunteers and/or groups in relevant tasks to those outlined above. 
  • May require skill in the operation of small boats or canoes; or all-terrain vehicles.
  • Knowledge of basic first aid and CPR. 
  • Communication skills that enable the employee to meet and deal effectively with persons of different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds in varied work situations. 
  • Familiarity with the mission and responsibilities of the Service, region, and refuge. 
  • Knowledge of natural sciences
  • Ability to work independently as well as part of small teams
  • Ability to effectively communicate with supervisor and coworkers 
  • Ability to record accurate field data
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office software 
  • Ability and willingness to undergo a Federal criminal background check
  • Must have a valid driver's license, be 21 years of age to drive a vehicle (due to ACE auto insurance policy), provide documentation of a clean driving record.

Preferred knowledge and skills:
  • Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices of volunteer coordination and recreation management. 
  • 2+ years of experience working in volunteer coordination and/or recreation management. 
  • Ability to lead in planning, organizing and implementing wildlife-oriented recreation activities at a National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Knowledge of the diverse range of outdoor facilities such as upland and water trails, visitor centers, campgrounds, wayside exhibits and their maintenance, in order to provide safe, wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities to visitors.
  • Outstanding customer service including anticipating the needs of visitors, clear and timely communication with visitors and staff, ability to handle the unexpected, and is committed to continuously improving services.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
  • Outstanding customer service including anticipating the needs of visitors, clear and timely communication with visitors and staff, ability to handle the unexpected, and is committed to continuously improving services. 
  • ACE Emerging Professionals must be willing to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 

Please note: Marijuana and other controlled substances are not allowed at any time during the performance of duties or while on federal property, regardless of State law or qualified medical marijuana card status.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, thoughtful cover letter, and contact for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position by clicking on the green Apply Externally button.

NOTE: Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC USFWS Division Recruitment and Member Manger, Dave Hecker, 801.386.1629, or dhecker@usaconservation.org.

EOE: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.