Natural Resources Member Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking ONE Natural Resource Member to assist with a variety of ongoing resource management projects alongside Cumberland Gap National Historical Park staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: March 2026

Estimated End Date: 52-weeks after start date

*a 52-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park - Middlesboro KY.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located at the corners of Kentucky Tennessee and Virginia. The Park contains 24000 acres of which 14000 acres are proposed wilderness. The natural beauty of Appalachian mountain country lush with vegetation supports a diverse flora and fauna. Cumberland Gap has 85 miles of hiking trails mountains streams and caves. Middlesboro Kentucky is the nearest town and is large enough to accommodate three grocery stores fast food several restaurants and a movie theater. Knoxville Tennessee is approximately 1.5 hours away and has many amenities of a large city.

For more information regarding Cumberland Gap National Historical Park or the National Park Service please visit the parks website.

Position Overview:

The ACE member will assist CUGA resource staff with high priority natural resource projects including treatment of invasive exotic hemlock woolly adelgid. Another high priority natural resource project is removal of exotic invasive plant species. Duties will include but not limited to:

• Treating invasive exotic plant species that are overtaking native plant habitat by hand
• pulling and/or herbicide application through cut and stump treatment of shrubs and trees or foliar spraying.
• Treating hemlock trees for the exotic hemlock woolly adelgid through stem injection and/or soil drench insecticide applications.
• Monitoring of amphibian egg masses in park wetlands in the spring.
• Monitoring peregrine falcon activity at a park cliff.
• Monitoring of bat activity in the evenings at park cave openings or emergence surveys from selected trees.

The member will be provided opportunities to learn and assist with cultural resource work including assisting with museum work (such as scanning of pictures or documents) and field work to assess historic resources. Additionally the member will be given time to shadow and learn from park staff in other divisions.

The member will spend the majority of their time in the field performing physically demanding tasks as assigned. Approximately 75 - 80% of the fieldwork will be Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) control; duties will also include exotic plant management and other invasive species work.

This project is very physically demanding. In order to perform Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) control the ACE member must be very comfortable navigating off-trail in the backcountry using GPS. Backcountry camping as a team may be required. This treatment is performed off-trail and requires bushwhacking through rhododendron mountain laurel and greenbrier up-and-down steep slopes crossing streams carrying 2.5-gallon jugs of insecticide measuring trees applying chemical at the base of the tree marking treated trees and moving onto the next tree. A second treatment option includes doing stem injection of insecticide using a battery powered drill to install tees into the tree bark all connected to an injection system. The Member must be able to hike up to 8 miles a day carrying up to 40 lbs of gear in all weather conditions and in steep terrain.

Another duty would be exotic plant control. Exotic plant control at Cumberland Gap is almost always accomplished by spraying herbicides. There are two primary methods of exotic plant control performed:

• The first is foliar treatment with a backpack sprayer that carries 2 - 3 gallons of herbicide. Foliar spraying large areas of exotic plants requires members to carry this heavy load of herbicide often in full sun on slopes in difficult terrain.
• The second method requires cutting down shrubs and small trees with hand tools and then spraying the stumps with concentrated herbicide solution.

The member will spend the remainder of their time performing other relevant tasks as assigned. Examples of other duties include bat monitoring wildlife surveys and ginseng surveys. 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: The typical schedule is Monday to Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm (40 hours per week required)

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $650/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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or CUGA.

Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to (NTE) $200 to be reimbursed on eligible boot purchases. Boot purchases should be approved by the site lead 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 herbicide and insecticide training review of safety protocols and Kentucky Pesticide Certification upon passing testing requirements.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident as required by U.S. government contracts
• 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 drivers license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• 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 located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an associates degree and/or have relevant experience in natural resource management or other related disciplines.
• Knowledge of the interrelationships of various natural and cultural resources; for example: range wildlife soil water and minerals.
• Ability to identify plants on sight or by using a dichotomous key.
• Interest in the National Park Service

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 40 lbs. ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Office environment conditions include good indoor air quality and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique 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 by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) typically provided by the NPS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS 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 ACEs 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 NPS Eastern Member Manager Emily Oostveen.

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.