Coastal Marine Clean Up Member

Coastal Marine Clean Up Team 

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking Two Members to contribute to coastal marine debris clean up projects alongside NPS Staff. Join ACE traveling through the Pacific West region and Alaska. Enjoy free housing, skills training, and other benefits while helping to restore public lands from the Pacific Coast!

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 5/5/2025
Estimated End Date: 3/16/2026
*a 45-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description:ACE Coastal Cleanup team will work in Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska during their time aboard.  Locations will be at National Park units such as west Hawaii parks, California parks (San Francisco Bay area, Channel Islands, Cabrillo, Redwood), Lewis and Clark, and Olympic. Alaska parks include Kenai Fjords and Katmai.

For more information about these locations, please visit the NPS websites.

Position Overview: Two 45-week members will travel together to parks in the Pacific West and Alaska Regions to work with parks to create and manage volunteer teams to remove marine debris from the coast in beach cleanups to restore the ecological habitat for marine species.  The members will work in the field as team leaders, facilitating projects for new teams at each location. The number of parks they will travel to is to be determined. ACE will provide travel assistance and engage vessel and aircraft contractors in Alaska to enable the members to perform their work in remote, difficult to reach sites safely. NPS will provide safety training and ensure that the members are supported at each step of the project. Park contacts will assist the members with on-site logistics. Team will start in Hawaii, be flown to Alaska, and then to Southern California and provided a vehicle for traveling up the coast to Washington. Some work will require travel/accommodation by boat. Food stipend will be provided throughout the contract, and whilst on vessel meals will be provided by the ship crew. 

Members serve in a team of two as they explore future outdoor careers, learn practical field skills, and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation. Members are afforded opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional mentors within ACE, while gaining invaluable career perspectives working alongside staff from the National Park Service.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Duties:

• Marine debris removal from beaches/coastlines in the NPS network. This will focus on macro-pollutants such as plastics, trash, washed up fishing equipment, etc. There will be no microplastic targeting. 
• Document the marine debris using NOAA’s documentation or a modified version of that, reported to NOAA. Be able to communicate progress of remote projects to ACE/NPS network.
• Leading volunteers local to project areas in removal projects; overseeing the team’s workday, making sure safety procedures are followed, and facilitating teamwork.
• Act as a Project Manager, by communicating with agency park partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of ACE
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, end of term evaluations and output reports of the work performed. 

Schedule: While aboard vessels and conducting marine debris cleanups hours will vary with some days working up to 12 hours a day. Outside of cleanup work the team will work 40 hours/week Monday through Friday.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1000/week to offset the costs of  incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. A separate food stipend will also be provided. 

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing for the duration of the term. This may include living in NPS dormitories or hotels dependent on distance to project areas, or living on a vessel in close quarters. The members will provide their own blankets/pillow/sleeping bag/towels.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 each to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. 

Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $300 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Travel: ACE provides transportation to and from worksites including airfare or boat when necessary. A rental vehicle will be provided during time in the contiguous US. Both members must have a valid Drivers License. Personal vehicles are not accessible due to the nature of travel schedules.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include wilderness preparedness, leadership communication, and ecological restoration methods. 

Qualifications 

Applicants should be prepared to perform physically challenging labor on environmental and conservation projects for up to 12 hours a day, and while in Alaska, for the duration of vessel contracts (likely 10 days aboard) . Applicants should expect to hike extended distances on rough terrain carrying 40+ lbs including backpacks, tools, and equipment on each project. Members will work in a variety of weather conditions such as temperatures ranging from 30s or 40s to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, high winds, intense sunshine, and rain. Members will consistently live with partnered co-worker through the contracted period. 

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• If driving is required: A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks 
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. 
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position should have relevant experience in subject areas such as leading volunteers, backpacking, or wilderness skills.
• Familiarity with leading a group of individuals successfully and the ability to create a productive, positive environment within a team.
• Interest in working outdoors in remote locations on projects requiring manual labor to make significant improvements to coastlines.
• Able and willing to work outdoors in often somewhat rigorous physical conditions.
• Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, or related medical training.
• Experience or interest in volunteering in local communities

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike and navigate over rough terrain.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. 
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently carries 40+ lbs., ability to move up to 60 pounds.
• Environmental:  Outdoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates from tropical to subarctic. Working among wildlife such as brown bears in remote areas.
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel. At times will require the member to live on a vessel at sea for multiple days/weeks. Ability to withstand sometimes rough conditions on a boat (potential seasickness).

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife including encounters with brown bears. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.
 

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: When a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the agency/partner or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the agency/partner. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the agency/partner, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to agency/partner and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.  

 

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website.Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Western Member Manager, Sabrina Caruso. Email can be found under Staff Directory.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO:  Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.