Refuge Management and Biology Member; Summer

Summary

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non‑profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking Three (3) Refuge Management and Biology Support Members to contribute to refuge management under the mentorship of Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit usaconservation.org.

Start Date: April 2026

Estimated End Date: November 2026

* 34‑week commitment required – start date may have 1 to 2 week flexibility*

Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex at the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley, NY and Elizabeth

A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Noyack, NY.

For more information about Long Island NWR Complex, please visit the FWS website.

During this term, the ACE member will assist with refuge management activities by supporting maintenance, visitor services, and biology programs. The member will engage with refuge staff to support refuge station priorities including invasive species management, maintenance of pollinator habitat, and improving visitor experiences through vegetation management around headquarters, trails, and observation decks/platforms. The member will work with biology and visitor service staff to offer and promote invasive species volunteer work days and environmental education to the general public.

Members will primarily work at the Wertheim NWR and Elizabeth

A. Morton NWR but may have opportunities to travel and work on other wildlife refuge units on Long Island.

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

• Completing assigned tasks related to information and data collection, acquisition, entry, organization, and management.
• Supporting the nesting shorebird program by performing monitoring, habitat data collection, predator monitoring, and maintaining equipment.
• Maintaining areas around the visitor center/contact station, trails, observation platforms/decks using hand tools, mowers, and weed whackers.
• Promoting and maintaining pollinator habitat by maintaining established pollinator gardens at Wertheim and Morton NWR and improving habitat in adjacent areas.
• Conducting invasive species management and monitoring, including physical removal of invasive plants with hand tools (not including chainsaws).
• Conducting outreach and engaging with the public.
• Assisting with maintenance tasks including trail maintenance, maintenance of visitor facilities, replacing signs, and other duties as assigned.
• Assisting with other refuge projects including biological surveys, refuge outreach events, and other refuge duties as assigned.

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

Duties will primarily be carried out Monday‑Friday but weekends may be required. Bi‑weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, including work performed outside normal hours, 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 approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $500/week, dispersed bi‑weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the term is not long enough to accrue 640 hours (~16 weeks), the total hours served may be combined with hours from another term to meet the requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided agency housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Strict adherence to site‑specific policies and regulations is required when residing in FWS provided housing or on FWS lands.

Provided Training / Orientation: …