Visitor Services, Education And Outreach Member - Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex And Northeast Canyons And Seamounts Marine National Monument

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 Member to contribute to the Visitor Services and Education and Outreach Member programs under the mentorship of Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: April/May 2026

EstimatedEnd Date: Feb/March 2027

*a 42-week minimum commitment is required, approximately 1680 hours*

Location Details/Description: Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Chatham, MA

The member's primary duty station will be Monomoy NWR, which is a unit of Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex. Situated along the coast on Cape Cod, MA, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex comprises coastal wetlands, barrier and offshore islands, and saltmarshes that provide important habitat for migratory birds, mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Travel southeast approximately 130 miles off the Cape along the continental shelf, and you reach the western perimeter of the 3.1-million-acre Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (NCSMNM), one of five Marine Monuments in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the only one in the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages these areas to conserve and protect a diversity of native wildlife habitats and species.

For more information about Monomoy NWR, NCSMNM, and the Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex, please visit the FWS website.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission at Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. During this term, the ACE member will contribute to the Visitor Services and Education and Outreach programs. The member will provide support and assistance with the guidance and direction of FWS staff to:

• The incumbent will learn the USFWS Visitor Services policy, process, and guidance.
• Provide staffing of the Refuge visitor center in Chatham, Massachusetts, communicating directly with the public on general refuge/Monument information, activities, and events.
• Assist in the recruitment and selection of volunteers for maintenance, outreach and community engagement and for the Outreach component of projects (i.e., creating educational material and social media platforms).
• Assist in the planning and coordination of education, outreach, and community events.
• Assist in the coordination with the Friends for the public awareness outreach activities.
• Work with Monument Superintendent and partners to learn and incorporate the Monument Education and Outreach curriculum into refuge events and activities.
• Communicating with staff and volunteers on a regular basis using a variety of tools- such as text chats for coordination.
• Assist staff with occasional biological and maintenance field work.
• Assist the EMRC Complex Volunteer Coordinator with basic tasks including volunteer agreements, event
• coordination, and trainings.
• Participate in community outreach efforts such as social media, website updates, public presentations, educating and engaging the public about Eastern MA NWRC.
• Identify new opportunities to increase community outreach and engagement efforts.
• Occasionally participate and/or lead volunteer teams in selected activities.
• Create engaging content for and manage /co-manage the EMRC Complex and Monument Facebook pages.

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

Schedule: Typically, duties will often be carried out between 8 am - 4:30 pm, and 5 days/week. (5-8s). Bi-weekly totals will usually not exceed 80 hours but may exceed 80 hours during the busiest months of May and June. In these instances, extra hours worked can be taken off later in the season. A flexible work schedule is required, and involves work performed outside of normal work hours, including late nights, early mornings, weekends, and holidays. Time off may be granted, and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $775/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

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 contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing is provided at the Refuge bunkhouse at Monomoy NWR. The bunkhouse is a shared space with seasonal interns.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Gear must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include

• CPR and First Aid.
• Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Education and Outreach Curriculum.
• Required employee trainings for use of government equipment and vehicles (e.g., IT, Defensive Driving).
• Other Visitor Services, Education and Outreach, and broader FWS trainings, depending on availability.

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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology, botany, natural resource management, education, communications/marketing, or other related disciplines appropriate to this position.
• Knowledge of shorebird, seabird, and general marine biology.
• Ability and willingness to walk 10 miles per day over sand, carrying gear.
• Ability and willingness to interact with the visiting public of all ages in a professional manner.
• Deep interest in wildlife conservation and management.
• Comfortable traveling to various island locations via small boat.
• Comfortable living in shared space and working in field camps with remote conditions.
• Bi-/multi-lingual. Cape Cod is an international destination hosting visitors from around the world.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Indoor work includes office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise is to be expected such as in a business office with
• equipment and light traffic, or outside such as wildlife and effects from weather.
• Travel: Occasional travel will be required to neighboring Refuges and to events in the New England region. A government vehicle will be provided for work-related travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, sandy terrain, biting insects, poison ivy, sun and dangerous wildlife such as venomous animals. The member should be physically comfortable with performing fieldwork in inclement weather and under strenuous conditions in a coastal (beach/ dune/ mudflat/ pine forest/ saltmarsh) ecosystem. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, the public or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety:If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS 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 ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager, Claire Barnwell.

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.