Invasive Plant Management Crew Leader Blue Ridge Parkway Southeast Invasive Plant Management Team

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the Blue Ridge National Parkway and the Invasive Plant Management Team is seeking TWO Invasive Crew Leaders to contribute to IPMT projects alongside NPS Staff. Both crew leads will focus on invasive plant management although one leader will eventually focus more on identification mapping and assessments of historic trees.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: Early/mid April 2026 (flexible)

Estimated End Date: 52 weeks after start date

*a 52 week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: The Blue Ridge National Parkway is more than just a road this varied habitat travels 469 miles through the southern Appalachian region ranging from 649 feet at James River in Virginia to 6047 feet at Richland Balsam in North Carolina offers protection to an enormous diversity of plants and animals as well as a wealth of cultural resources and history. Stretching from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the Parkway contains a diverse range of cultural resources including 91 buildings 2 sites and 133 other structures that contribute to the Parkways eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a park steeped in tradition and recognized worldwide as a crossroads of natural and cultural richness. The Parkway serves to tie together a diverse landscape and lifestyle- connecting the past with the present and preserving the regions heritage for the future.

The Blue Ridge Parkway manages the natural and cultural landscapes in the park. The field crew leader may assist in managing invasive plants especially in areas adjacent to landslides resulting from Hurricane Helene or in developing plans for the care of historically important trees affected by Hurricane Helene. Invasive plants are managed to prevent introductions of new species reduce existing infestations and restore native plant communities and ecosystem functions. Historically important trees are managed to maintain these features as drawn in the Park Land Use Maps. All treatment control and restoration methods that the teams recommend or implement are reviewed and approved by the Blue Ridge Parkway staff.

Position Overview: The members will control non-native plants using both manual and chemical methods (75%) perform distribution mapping of non- native plants using GPS (10%) and assist with additional resource management field GIS and data management projects (15%). At Blue Ridge Parkway the team members will work under a field crew leader. One of the members at the parkway will also focus heavily on arboricultural assessments of historic trees. Because of the travel intensive nature of this internship we are looking for adaptable applicants willing to work in an environment requiring a lot of flexibility. At times our travel plans may change suddenly due to unforeseen weather or training opportunities.

The Crew Lead responsibilities will also include:

• Work with agency points-of-contacts to plan and prioritize work.
• Setting a weekly work schedule.
• Assigning work to assisting crew member(s).
• Provide feedback on assisting crew work and performance.
• Report accomplishments to agency point-of-contact.
• Plan and organize travel itinerary and accommodations.
• Handle budget and financial reporting for the team which includes managing ACE company credit card and ensuring receipt documentation.
• Other duties as assigned

This position is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management and networking with professionals at various parks. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Members will potentially receive training on many resource management aspects: herbicide safety and handling truck and trailer driving hand tool use GIS skills and see a variety of beautiful parks located in the Southeast. The crew will be manually removing exotic invasive vegetation in both urban and rural NPS sites. The team will live together while in travel status so the ability to get along with others is vital. The accommodation will vary from rustic park housing to hotels but while traveling camping will not be required. The program is interested in crew members with initiative leadership ability patience and an intense work ethic who have a desire to expand their resumes.

Schedule: Typical schedule is Monday-Friday 7:30 am/8:00 am to 4:00 pm/4:30 pm (Eastern Time Zone) with some latitude for flexible start and end times. 1-2 weeks of travel per month may be expected. During travel schedule is typically Monday-Thursday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. These schedules are expected to be standard throughout the duration of the positions.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses dispersed bi-weekly.

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. A $250 (taxed) reimbursable housing allowance will be provided per month.

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 data collection/database design use of GPS-based field data systems data processing invasive plant identification herbicide use brushcutter use chainsaw use and arboriculture evaluations.

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 drivers license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21 to drive due to ACEs 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 located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a an B.S. and/or have relevant experience in outdoor field work and land management plant identification GPS data collection.
• Knowledge of plant identification GPS data collection invasive plants and horticulture/arboriculture.
• Chainsaw certification
• Ability and willingness to spend majority of time outdoors in field in a variety of challenging environmental conditions and travel 1-2 weeks per month.
• Deep interest in public land management and conservation.

Physical Demands Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent 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. Required to stoop kneel 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 50 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.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position will require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold steep rocky terrain swamp or wetland conditions biting insects overhead trees 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. Applicants should also be comfortable working with herbicides in backpack sprayers or small pumps chainsaws other mechanical equipment and hand tools to control invasive plants.

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 agency/partner. 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 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.