Aquatic Monitoring Field Crew Lead Member - American Conservation Experience
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is seeking one (1) Aquatic Monitoring Field Crew Lead Member to contribute to the New Mexico BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) of our public lands across the state. Each technician will work on a field team comprised of 2 individuals (one Crew Leader and one Crew Member) and collect data according to Assessment, Inventory & Monitoring (AIM) standardized methodologies and protocols. AIM data are used by resource specialists and land managers across the Western United States to help inform land management decisions.
For more information about ACE, please visit our website.
Start Date: Early March 2026
Estimated End Date: Late October 2026
*A 35-week minimum commitment is required*
Location Details/Description: Santa Fe, New Mexico
BLM employees in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas care for 13.5 million acres of public lands plus 42 million acres of public lands guided by the principles of multiple use and sustained yield, and a recognized need to protect and enhance the natural and human environment.
For more information about the BLM New Mexico State Office, please visit their website.
Position Overview: This is a field-based position with approximately 100% of the work taking place in an outdoor environment where the climate, weather, and terrain can be demanding. Field teams will be expected to work 10-hour days and will be required to camp for 8-day hitches in the field, followed by 6 days off. Travel will be provided from Santa Fe to the field sites across the state and back.
Field work duties include:
- Monitoring the safety and morale of the crew
- Measure indicators of water quality, including pH, Specific Conductance, total N and P, and Turbidity
- Sample Benthic macroinvertebrates
- Measure physical characteristics of waterways
- Using GPS to navigate to off-trail sampling sites
- Driving 4x4 vehicles in a backcountry setting
- Electronic data collection using a tablet and an ArcGIS geo-database
- Communication with ACE and BLM Staff
- Quality control of all data collected
This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.
Schedule: 8-day camping in the field, followed by 6 days off.
Position Benefits
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $825.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.
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 see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility.
Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $200.00/wk. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses.
Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $850.00 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding the distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.
Gear Assistance: ACE members will have up to $200.00 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes camping gear and working clothing gear, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.
Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive an orientation outlining ACE policies, procedures, and networks for support. Specific training from the BLM will include comprehensive training in Aquatic (Lotic) AIM methods.
Qualifications
Required:
- Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
- 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.
- A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
- 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.
- To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.
- Ability and willingness to hike up to 3 miles and lift up to 50 lbs each day.
- Familiarity with Leave No Trace principles, attention to field safety, and an overall intuitive nature for working in an outdoor setting
- Willingness and flexibility to work an irregular schedule with multiple days of travel
- Ability to work alone or in a small group with minimal supervision
- A degree in natural or physical sciences or a related field.
Preferred:
- All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered
- Understanding of basic hydrologic principles
- Experience measuring indicators of water quality in the field
- Ability and willingness to read, interpret, and navigate using a GPS unit and topographic maps
- Ability to use electronic tablets to record and manage data
- Ability to safely operate 4x4 vehicles on rough, unpaved road conditions
- Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check and driving history check
- Must be able to communicate clearly with team members, resource professionals, and the general public
- Basic tool, equipment, and vehicle maintenance knowledge
Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:
Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying heavy equipment, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing. Manual dexterity is required for the use of various tools. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and camp overnight under a range of field conditions.
Vision Requirements: Requires [close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus].
Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move and carry up to 50 pounds.
Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently, working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
Travel: This position will require regular domestic travel.
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. 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: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM and ACE. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM 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 Project Manager, Allison Finch, at afinch at usaconservation dot org. Apply here.
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.