Project Coordinator, Tahoe National Forest - ACE BLM/USF Program

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities to harness the idealism and energy of an emerging labor force to help restore America's public lands. ACE's Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) program has a national reputation for providing young adults and recent graduates with hands-on, professional development opportunities to work alongside agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers. This position will work as a part of our EPIC Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (USFS) program team with projects primarily with BLM and USFS partners as well as partnering with the Bureau of Reclamation, California State Parks, and with a number of other non-federal agencies. Individual placement projects supported are wide ranging including but not limited to forest management, wildlife monitoring, environmental education, interpretation, trail work, historic preservation, physical sciences, GIS, and many more.

Job Title: Project Coordinator, Tahoe National Forest

Location: Tahoe National Forest, California

Department/Division: ACE EPIC (Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service Division)

Status: Temporary Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)

Schedule/Hours: Full-time (Monday-Friday). 40 hours/week with additional hours as needed. Flexible work schedule with some adjustment expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be occasionally required.

Reports To: Division Director, ACE: EPIC BLM/USF

Travel: Regular travel to project sites within Tahoe National Forest Districts

Start Date: Spring, 2023 Term: Position is fully funded for 3 years from start date or until July 31, 2027 (whichever comes first)

Position Summary:

The primary role of the Project Coordinator is ensuring team, candidate, and partner needs are met through project coordination and support throughout the year. This will involve coordination with USFS staff to determine project needs; outreach, recruitment, and onboarding of members for ACE EPIC positions; providing direct support for ACE Members throughout their terms; managing a program budget and expenses; and providing the requisite assistance to help ensure project success. The Project Coordinator will collaborate across the BLM/FS Team, other ACE division recruitment staff, and with the National Director in the performance of this role and utilize ACE database and tracking systems to manage members and project expenses.

Member needs are primarily seasonal with a large bump in the late spring and summer and limited placements during the late fall into early spring, but the Project Coordinator can expect to manage around 50 members per year.

This position will contain both office and field components, which will vary depending on the season. It is anticipated that this position will be split at roughly 70/30 office vs. field.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Primary direction and support of the ACE BLM/USFS Division Director, along with team support, the the Tahoe Program Coordinator will:

• Recruit candidates for ACE Positions within the Tahoe National Forest through a collaborative screening and interview process with USFS Project Managers.

• Work with the Division Support Specialist to assure timely and accurate onboarding of new hires.

• Provide continued support for ACE Members throughout their terms with regular check-ins and as they complete their time with ACE.

• Facilitate member payroll and expense reimbursements on a biweekly basis.

• Manage project budgets and track expenses for one or more agreements between ACE and Tahoe National Forest using ACE financial and data management systems.

• Review and edit invoices and write annual reports.

• Meet regularly with USFS Staff to develop annual project recruitment needs, to set expectations, and to address any issues.

• Work with the Forest Service to provide and coordinate training opportunities for ACE Members.

• Conduct regular site visits with ACE Members throughout the Tahoe National Forest to provide support as needed, to document activities for reports and marketing materials, and to establish rapport with ACE Members and USFS Personnel.

• Respond to and provide support for members in both medical and non-medical incidents.

• Participate in relevant ACE and Forest Service meetings, events, and trainings.

• Adhere to ACE safety policies and procedures.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to maintain coordination of multiple positions and dozens of applicants and members simultaneously, utilizing proprietary database tools.

• Effective time management skills and the ability/desire to concurrently perform multiple deadline-driven tasks.

• Good written and oral communication skills.

• Sensitivity, understanding, and an ability to effectively interact with individuals (internal and external) from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, ability, and ethnic backgrounds.

• A deep and continuing interest in pairing young people with professional development opportunities that match their interests and goals.

• The ability to think creatively and proactively.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Strong computer management skills including experience or willingness to learn applicant tracking software and personnel databases, iOS, MS Office, Google Suite, and webinar platforms such as Zoom, or equivalents to these.

• A passion for providing professional development for early career youth along with a flexible personality and eagerness to engage the highly mobile and predominantly remote teams that make up ACE.

• A willingness to work in the Tahoe National Forest office in Nevada City, CA, and to spend time in the field with members.

• Ability to work independently in remote outdoor areas; able to hike and walk for extended periods of time, and be capable of moving or lifting up to 50 lbs.

Other Requirements:

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record.

• Proficient in English.

• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check.

• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time.

Preferred but not required:

• Experience working with the US Forest Service or other land management agencies

• Experience working with Conservation Corps or other Professional Development or Youth Oriented organizations

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, talks and hears. Manual dexterity required for use of hand and power 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 20 pounds, ability to move/ lift 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 loud noise ranging from a business office with equipment and light traffic, to loud machinery use such as chainsaws and chippers.

• Travel: This position will require regular regional travel and may require some domestic travel outside of the region. An ACE fleet vehicle will be provided for all work related travel.

Compensation: Starting annualized salary of $65,000 (assuming 40 hours/week for 52 weeks).

Benefits: ACE offers competitive medical and ancillary plans (health, mental health, dental, vision and other supplemental benefits). ACE Staff members are also eligible to participate in ACE's retirement plan with a 1% employer contribution.

Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time: As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to accrue up to 80 hours of paid vacation time annually during your first two years of continuous employment, then it increases to 120 hours annually. ACE observes 13 paid annual holidays (floating holiday flexibility). ACE provides 10 days (or 80 hours) of paid sick time annually.

Additional Benefits: Outdoor Perks - As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your relevant project management experience and why you are a good fit for this position. Qualified applicants may be contacted directly to schedule an interview. All application materials must be submitted to be considered for this opportunity. For specific questions not answered above, please contact: ACE EPIC National Director, Joel Baker at jbaker@usaconservation.org

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Learn more about ACE on our WEBSITE or check out our INSTAGRAM!

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