Invasive Plant Management Member Southeast Invasive Plant Management Team Kings Mountain National Military Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with Kings Mountain National Military Park is seeking one Invasive Plant Management Member to contribute to IPMT projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: March 2026

Estimated End Date: 16 weeks after start date

*a 16-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description:

Kings Mountain National Military Park is in the heart of the Carolina Piedmont region. The parks 3945 acres are largely dominated by mesic mixed hardwood forest and basic mesic forest. These types of forest receive or contain moderate amounts of moisture and have well-developed understory and shrub layers. They occur in moist portions of upland habitat steep north-facing slopes lower slopes along ravines high sections of outer floodplains and stream bottoms. As a result plant life is abundant in the park. So far 1084 species of vascular plants have been identified in the park. Kings Mountain National Military Park offers plenty to do for both the historian and the nature enthusiast alike.

One of the many ways the NPS is addressing invasive species is through the Invasive Plant Management Program. The program assists parks in preventing introductions of new species reducing existing infestations and restoring native plant communities and ecosystem functions.

In 2000 the NPS created the Invasive Plant Management Program that now supports 18 teams contributing in over 300 park units. Invasive Plant Management Teams (IPMT) are led by individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in invasive plant management.

Each field-based team operates over a wide geographic area and serves over a dozen parks to increase operational efficiency. The IPMT uses multiple strategies to create a work plan specific to the needs of the individual partner park. All treatment control and restoration methods are reviewed and approved by the partner park and the NPS Integrated Pest Management Program.

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%).

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. Interns 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.

Schedule: Schedule may vary applicants are asked to be flexible.

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: Park Service housing may be available depending on applicants start date applicant is expected to pay rent.

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.

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 minimum of a bachelors degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as botany ecology biology natural resources environmental science or a related field.
• Experience with invasive plant management or restoration.
• Experience identifying and managing native and non-native plants.
• Experience using GPS and GIS software.

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.
• 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 35 lbs. ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold rocky terrain swamp or wetland conditions biting insects and potentially dangerous wildlife and poisonous plants. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self fellow staff/members or resources.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may require occasional 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. Hazard specifics should be provided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Partner site.

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 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.