BLM Border Restoration Intern - Tucson, AZ

Title : Border Restoration Intern (1 opening)

Start / End Date : October 15, 2024- September 12, 2025 (anticipated)

Stipend : $600 per week

Term : 48 weeks

Reports To : Natural Resource Specialist (Recreation)

Location : BLM Tucson Field Office (3201 E. Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756)

Status : 1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits : AmeriCorps Education Award $6,895.00; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the internship.

To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

Summary :

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) :

Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's.

AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands.

AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation.

AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) :

The BLM Tucson Field Office manages more than 600,000 acres of desert, mountains, and grasslands within five southeastern Arizona counties and shares the international border with Mexico.

The field office is responsible for stewardship of eight National Landscape Conservation System units : San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, Ironwood Forest National Monument, four wilderness areas, 63 miles of river suitable for Wild and Scenic River designation and the Gila River Canyons passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail.

The Tucson Field Office also oversees six properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and seven Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

Public lands within the Tucson Field Office also provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation including world-renowned birding along the San Pedro River.

The Tucson Field Office is a part of and shares office space with the BLM Gila District Office.

Position Summary :

The selected intern will be involved with a number of partnerships and organizations that assist the BLM Tucson Field Office with managing the land and resources of the area.

The intern will work closely with partners such as the Friends of the San Pedro River, Empire Ranch Foundation, Arizona Native Plant Society, and Friends of Ironwood Forest with on-the-ground restoration projects such as trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, fence construction and maintenance, sign maintenance, organizing volunteer work projects, and assisting partnerships with the continued development of the Agents of Discovery application.

The BLM Tucson Field Office works closely with local government and state government agencies. The intern may have opportunities to work along BLM staff with government partners.

The intern's contribution to projects assigned by the BLM will positively improve public lands and managed resources. These public lands are typically visited by the local Tucson and Sierra Vista communities, as well as communities of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Trainings will be provided to the intern when opportunities arise from the BLM.

Interns must provide their own personal transportation to the duty office; however, the intern will be provided a vehicle for use between the office and the field.

No housing will be provided.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions :

• Provide timely data on improvements to sites that are currently impacted by resource damage from illegal activities.
• Identify work objectives and project scope of crew projects.
• Work with Recreation Specialist and Assistant Field Manager on project sites and maps.
• Work with Park Ranger on sites and maps for proposed fence repair projects.
• Repair fencing, keep project records, and document timeframes of fencing projects.
• Work with Outdoor Recreation Planner and Park Ranger on project sites and maps, identify scope of work and objectives of projects.
• Repair wildcat trails, keep project records and document timeframe of project.
• Keep project records and document before-and-after photos and timeframes of work projects.

Required Skills

Minimum Qualifications :

• Pursuing or holding a degree in natural resources, recreation management or a related discipline, and / or a combination of education and experience relating to one of the above disciplines.
• Resumes and cover letters must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience / requirements mentioned in the position description.
• Professional, pro-active, motivated, mature and responsible individuals looking for experience working in conservation and natural resource management.
• Willingness to hike in rough terrain with exposure to the elements.
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Must be 21 or over, OR have had driver's license for at least 3 years if under 21.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Interest in pursuing recreation management as a career goal.
• Knowledge and expertise with GIS.

Physical Requirements :

To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.

He / she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.

• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements :

Participation and Expedition Behavior :

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Arizona Conservation Corps, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment :

• On-site visits may involve walking on uneven terrain, wildlife encounters, venomous reptiles, slippery / wet conditions, and potential exposure to the elements.
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance.

Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.

Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.

These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard.

Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crisis.

• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free :

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check :

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship.

This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above.

Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

To Apply : Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application by clicking the APPLY button below.

If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator, Preston Sands at [email protected] .

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit https : / / azcorps.org . Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.

Required Experience

Minimum Qualifications :

• Pursuing or holding a degree in natural resources, recreation management or a related discipline, and / or a combination of education and experience relating to one of the above disciplines.
• Resumes and cover letters must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience / requirements mentioned in the position description.
• Professional, pro-active, motivated, mature and responsible individuals looking for experience working in conservation and natural resource management.
• Willingness to hike in rough terrain with exposure to the elements.
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Must be 21 or over, OR have had driver's license for at least 3 years if under 21.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Interest in pursuing recreation management as a career goal.
• Knowledge and expertise with GIS.

Physical Requirements :

To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.

He / she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.

• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements :

Participation and Expedition Behavior :

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Arizona Conservation Corps, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment :

• On-site visits may involve walking on uneven terrain, wildlife encounters, venomous reptiles, slippery / wet conditions, and potential exposure to the elements.
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance.

Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.

Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.

These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard.

Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crisis.

• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free :

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check :

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship.

This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above.

Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

To Apply : Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application by clicking the APPLY button below.

If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator, Preston Sands at [email protected] .

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit https : / / azcorps.org . Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.