ACE: Horticulture and Botany (Weeds) Team Member, Coos Bay District Office

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay Field Office is seeking one Horticulture and Botany (Weeds) Team Member to dedicate 15 weeks working at the O.H. Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden and noxious weed management, primarily at recreation sites, such as campgrounds and parks in the Coos Bay BLM district. 

This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic, early-career professionals with a background in botany, biology, horticulture, environmental studies, parks and recreation, natural resource management, or a closely related field.

Start Date: Mid March 2021

End Date: *15 weeks after official start date (potential for extension dependent on funding)

Location: Coos Bay District, OR

The Hinsdale Garden is four miles east of Reedsport Oregon on the banks of the Umpqua River. Recreation sites are scattered throughout the district and include the Coos Bay North Spit, Bastendorff Beach, New River; Loon Lake, Sixes, Edson and other campgrounds lie between the Pacific Ocean and crest of the Coast Range from approximately Reedsport to the Oregon-California border. The BLM office is in North Bend, Oregon. 

The historic O.H. Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden is a historic garden planted by a timber baron in the 1800's. This English-style woodland garden is a little over 4 acres and contains some of the oldest and unique rhododendrons in the Pacific Northwest. It also contains a good variety of camelia, many azaleas and some magnolias and one of only three such gardens in the state of Oregon. It is located on the shores of the lower Umpqua River, across Highway 38 from the BLM's Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, where a herd of elk reside for the public's viewing enjoyment year around. Restoration of the historic garden has been assisted by several organizations, including the American Rhododendron Society, The Friends of Hinsdale Garden, Northwest Youth Corps, and the Student Conservation Corps.

The Coos Bay District's recreation sites include vastly different habitats such as shady old growth forests, sand dunes, and meadows. Most of which are accessed by gravel logging roads, but could include various driving conditions from highway to primitive sand roads. 

Living Allowance: 

The member should anticipate serving 40 hrs/wk and will receive a living allowance of $225 /wk for food and incidentals, dispersed bi-weekly. 

AmeriCorps Eligible: 

This position may be eligible for a 450hr AmeriCorps Education Award ($1638.89) upon successful completion of term of service hours. Award is dependent on length of term. Additional enrollment is required to be eligible. 

Housing will be provided at no cost by the BLM. Housing is shared occupancy with other ACE Members and/or BLM staff on the Coos Bay North Spit, about 30 minutes south of the garden.

ACE Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a special hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. Qualifying Members are those who serve a "minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service on appropriate conservation projects as defined in the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 and at least 120 hours were served on a project utilizing the Public Lands Corps legal authority." Eligible Members must meet standard requirements of completing at least 640 hours and utilize their certificate before the age of 30.

Position Description: 

Hinsdale Garden Duties:  Sixty percent of the Member's work will be at the Hinsdale Garden. The candidate is desired to have experience and/or interest in horticulture or botany. Primary duties at the garden will include learning about various pruning techniques, learning how to install and maintain water systems and weeding. The Member will take photographs  of the garden plants and add information to the database. In addition, the Member will help create and promote public information materials for the garden, work on existing trails, and help the Friends Group with public tours of the garden.

Weed Management Duties: Up to forty percent of the Member's work will be conducting surveys, collecting data, controlling invasive plants and managing survey data collected using mobile devices, and stored in ArcMap (GIS).Duties would also include assisting weed coordinators with an emphasis on recreation areas where visitors inadvertently introduce or spread invasive plants.

Work Environment and Demands:  

At the rhododendron garden the Member will learn and use various pruning techniques,including plant propagation and conduct maintenance using various garden hand tools. While doing weed management the Member will be required to walk long distances, while carrying up to 45 pounds and traverse various habitats and slopes, use a variety of tools and herbicide. The Member will wear appropriate personal protection equipment while in work status. This position may be exposed to a variety of seasonal weather conditions while working outdoors and requires frequent interactions with the public.

Qualifications: 

Applicants for the position must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree OR work experience in environmental science, botany, horticulture, natural resource management, park management, recreation, wildlife biology, or a related discipline while enrolled in a related college or university program. The Members must be resourceful, adaptable, and able to work reliably and productively alone or in a group. 

 

Preferred:                                                

The member must be willing to represent ACE and the BLM in a professional, positive and enthusiastic manner.

To Apply: 

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservationepic.applicantpool.com/jobs/

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 the Member Manager, Celia Demers at cdemers@usaconservation.org or 385-226-1260.

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.