Maintenance & Biology Member – Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Maintenance & Biology Member – Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

American Conservation Experience, a non‑profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 Maintenance & Biology Member to help with a wide array of wildlife‑related projects under the mentorship of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Staff. During this term, the ACE member will work on meaningful conservation projects such as refuge maintenance duties, habitat management activities, invasive plant control, and biological monitoring.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: April 20, 2026 (start/end dates flexible)

Estimated End Date: July 11, 2026

12-14 week minimum commitment is required.

Location Details/

Description:

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Columbia, NC

The 110,000-acre Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge conserves a rare type of wetland habitat, known as "pocosin". In 1963, Pungo NWR was established for the protection of waterfowl and other migratory birds. In 1990, Pocosin Lakes NWR was established to protect migratory birds and the unique pocosin wetlands, and Pungo NWR became the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes NWR.

The refuge encompasses vast acres of natural wetlands, including the unique southeastern pocosin peat wetlands; open water on Pungo and New Lakes; upland pine forests; and waterfowl impoundments managed for moist soil wetlands and agricultural units that provide high-energy food for migrating and wintering waterfowl. More than a hundred thousand ducks, geese, and swans congregate on the refuge in winter, and the refuge supports one of the densest populations of black bear ever reported.

The refuge is the site of one of the country's largest wetland restoration projects, restoring natural hydrology to the pocosin peatlands. Before the refuge was established, many acres of this wetland were drained, greatly increasing the risk of ground fire. To the greatest extent possible, the refuge is restoring the natural conditions of a healthy pocosin ecosystem. These restored pocosin peatlands provide habitat for endangered species including red wolf (Canis rufus) and red‑cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), as well as many other species of wildlife.

For more information about Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, please visit the FWS website.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the accomplishment of:

• Trim brush, mow, and maintain refuge roads and trails.
• Assist with mowing lawns, upland trails, kiosk areas and roads. Install, repair and replace signs along roads, trails, and refuge units.
• Clean and maintain water management infrastructure.
• Invasive species management.
• Install gates, signs, and other public use infrastructure.
• Maintain Refuge vehicles, trailers, weed eaters, brush cutters, hand tools, lawn mowers, agriculture tractors, and various implements.
• Support hydrological and biological monitoring.
• Assist outreach coordinators with environmental education programs if needed.

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 will primarily be carried out Monday-Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Living Allowance: The ACE member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

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…