Landscape Maintenance Members

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the John Muir National Historic Site (a unit of the National Park Service) is seeking two (2) Landscape Maintenance Members to contribute to ongoing routine landscape maintenance projects alongside NPS Staff and other interns and volunteers.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: 03/02/2026

Estimated End Date: 10/10/2026

*32 Week Commitment*

Location Details/Description: John Muir National Historic Site Martinez CA.

The site is the home and fruit ranch once owned and managed by naturalist John Muir and is characterized by three separate park units: a 9 acres fruit orchard and ornamental garden site (House Unit); 350 acres of oak woodland and grassland (Mount Wanda Unit); 1 acre gravesite and orchard (Gravesite Unit). In addition to work at the John Muir NHS Members will also be engaged with the landscape at another park site located 20 miles away in the town of Danville the Eugene ONeill NHS characterized by 15 acres of orchards and ornamental gardens.

For more information about Martinez or the John Muir NHS please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview:

This position will entail a variety of landscape duties from basic gardening and cultural landscaping tasks (pruning watering weeding mulching). Natural resource work may include removal of invasive weeds such as thistle threatened and endangered species monitoring or native tree and plant monitoring. Day-to-day work will involve working primarily outside in a variety of weather conditions though the timeframe of this position should be mostly warm to hot especially in summer. Work and tasks associated with this position may require the use of various landscaping hand tools such as pruners loppers rakes shovels hand saws ladders leaf blowers lawnmowers weed whackers hedgers fertilizer spreaders (but no chainsaws). Power tools such as drills screw guns sanders may also be required. Use of ladders may also be necessary and proper ladder use/training will be provided. Members may need to set traps or hand pull weeds any use of baits or chemicals will only be done under close supervision. The park philosophy towards toxic chemicals is to limit or avoid their use whenever possible in favor of mechanical or other means of pest management.

The two ACE Members will work day-to-day in tandem with two other ACE/LSC interns and will also engage as much as possible with other divisions at the park including Maintenance Natural Resources Cultural Resources Interpretation park volunteers and Youth Conservation Corp members. Special projects associated with cross discipline opportunities could consist of either academic research into garden or landscape history of the sites or practical application of new plants or methods of landscape maintenance.

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: This will be a full-time 40 hour/week position daily schedule will typically be from 7am - 3:30pm however daily start/stop times may be flexible depending upon job assignments and/or the individuals needs on a day-to-day basis.

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 (rare).
• 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 20 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.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such 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 may require 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 by 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 NPS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training certification and safety protocols is required.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses dispersed bi-weekly.

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:

• Introduction to the National Park Service
• Tool use handling and safety: pruners loppers rakes shovels hand saws ladders leaf blowers lawnmowers weed whackers hedgers fertilizer spreaders etc (no chainsaws)
• Pruning and plant health care
• Defensive Driver training
• Integrated Pest Management training

This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members 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 NPS.

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).
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of IDs upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part Criminal History Check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
• 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.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree in horticulture arboriculture landscape design/architecture environmental science botany biology and/or have relevant experience in those subject areas.
• Knowledge of horticulture arboriculture landscape design/architecture environmental science botany biology
• Ability and willingness to work independently or in pairs or a group outside in a variety of weather conditions walk and hike up to several miles per day lift occasional heavy items climb ladders.
• Deep interest in historic cultural landscapes and garden design and maintenance.

To Apply: Please submit your resume a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position on our usaconservation website. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE NPS Western Member Manager Bee Garcia-Glenn. ACE values an inclusive workforce - 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.