AmeriCorps Vegetation Technician; USFWS, Sheldon-Hart National Wildlife Refuge

Ameri Corps Vegetation Technician (USFWS, Sheldon-Hart National Wildlife Refuge)

Position Title:

Ameri Corps Vegetation Technician (USFWS, Sheldon-Hart National Wildlife Refuge)

Position Type:
Temporary Position

Application Review Begins:
Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Final date to receive applications:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Department/Division:
Research Associate Program

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with FWS at Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC), is recruiting four (4) Ameri Corps members to serve as Vegetation Technicians who will work alongside FWS to support post‑wildfire vegetation monitoring. Vegetation Technicians will support all aspects of the wildlife habitat programs at Sheldon‑Hart Mountain NWRC. Primary attention will be focused on post‑wildfire vegetation monitoring to assess restoration actions on several wildfires, ranging from 1 to 7 years old.

Other vegetation work will include habitat condition assessments in sage‑grouse and bighorn sheep habitats, surveying for invasive species, and native seed collection to support fire restoration. Technicians will gain a broad understanding of wildfire and juniper issues facing the Intermountain West, and the tools/methods available for assessment and restoration. The projects span sagebrush‑dominated systems on both refuges, including important habitat for sagebrush‑dependent wildlife such as sage‑grouse and bighorn sheep.

Technicians will be provided with first aid, ATV/UTV, and plant identification training. Technicians will be stationed at both Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, working as a team on both refuges throughout the season.

• May 4, 2026 – August 8, 2026 (13 weeks)
• Full time (40 hours/week)
• Schedule:
  
  Monday – Thursday, 10 hours daily

Sheldon‑Hart Mountain NWRC is located in the high desert of southeast Oregon and northwest Nevada, collectively managing over 900,000 acres. Administrative headquarters are in Lakeview, OR. Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (Denio, NV) and Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Plush, OR) protect pronghorn and other sagebrush‑dependent wildlife species, and hold one of the few intact sagebrush steppe ecosystems remaining in the Great Basin.

The landscape is vast, rugged, punctuated with waterfalls, narrow gorges, and lush springs among rolling hills and expansive tablelands of sagebrush and mountain mahogany. Summers are typically warm and dry with cool nights; early spring temperatures can be below freezing and sometimes snowing. The refuges are remote, with groceries, medical care, and other services located two hours away in Lakeview, OR.

• Living Allowance: $1,280 biweekly (before taxes); not to exceed $23,522.00
• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award (450 hrs): $1956.35 upon successful completion of term
• Company‑paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost; access to Pro Deals; eligibility for SNAP benefits, loan forbearance, and loan interest accrual repayment.

Housing is provided at both the Hart Mountain and Sheldon bunkhouses, depending on project assignment. Bunkhouses are fully equipped with a full kitchen, laundry facilities, and bedrooms with twin beds. Both bunkhouses have potable and hot water, heat, and air conditioning. Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and living rooms are communal. Each bedroom has two beds; privacy is attempted, though double occupancy is common during busy periods.

Wi‑Fi is usually available, but speed may be erratic due to remoteness. A personal vehicle is recommended but not required; a 4WD truck will be provided for all work‑related travel.

After completing an Ameri Corps term, members are eligible to receive the Segal Ameri Corps Education Award, which can be used to repay student loans or pay educational expenses at eligible institutions.

Members may put federal student loans into forbearance during service, allowing them to cease payments while serving.

As an Ameri Corps alum,…