Address
Form of workStart/End Date: 1/8/2024 – 7/5/2024 (anticipated)
Term Length: 26 weeks
Living Stipend: $500/week
Reports To: Natural Resource Specialist at Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico State Office
Location: 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; position allows for intern to live in Albuquerque
Status: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term
Benefits: Additional housing allowance of $200/week; $2,264 in professional development funds; AmeriCorps Education Award $3,247 and Public Lands Corps Certificate* - both with successful completion of the internship
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.
Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)
Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy and AmeriCorps partner, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.
Mentorship
These Individual Placement Positions are unique development opportunities. Interns are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and experiences for interns.
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a multiple use land managing agency, responsible for managing public resources including but not limited to lands, minerals, recreation, and wildlife.
Position Summary:
The selected intern will assist in land management activities out of the BLM New Mexico State Office in Santa Fe, NM. The intern will benefit public lands by assisting staff with collecting field data at oil and gas sites, completing data entry and analysis, utilizing GIS to maintain and display geospatial information, and assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for energy and minerals related activities. Intern will support well plugging and surface reclamation efforts at oil and gas sites on BLM-managed lands to facilitate cleanup efforts on public lands. There will also be many opportunities for intern to network with BLM resource specialists and managers at the state and field office levels.
Essential Responsibilities and Functions:
Conduct On-Site Assessments within the BLM New Mexico administrative area:
Support or conduct on-site inspections of most phases of oil and gas operations as well as on-site inspections of well-plugging, facility removal/cleanup, spill remediation/cleanup, and reclamation activities.
Conduct research and gather/maintain environmental data relating to mitigation of surface impacts and reclamation of surfaces to a productive condition.
Conduct inventory and monitoring to support land use plans.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control, Data Management, Data Entry and Data Analysis of oil and gas well and facility database records, and other program-related projects:
Inspection, documentation, data entry, document filing, reporting, and drafting of enforcement for undesirable events (i.e., spills, releases, blowouts, etc.).
Assess lease files, bonds, as well as inspection and enforcement action entries.
Utilize a full range of geospatial analytical techniques to identify, interpret and resolve GIS issues and complete a variety of projects and assignments.
Assist with permitting, planning and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures.
Review and make suggestions on planning documents.
Conduct environmental analysis and review pertinent to NEPA.
Analyze potential impacts to Natural Resources and design appropriate mitigation measures.
Trainings Provided:
Driver training; field activity orientation; documentation procedures.
GIS applications as needed, relevant databases.
BLM NEPA policies, relevant databases.
Minimum Qualifications:
Per federal grant requirements, this internship is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
Applicants should possess or be in the process of obtaining an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource management, environmental policy, botany, agronomy, rangeland management, geology, biology, ecology, or a related field.
Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, and be able to work well with others in a professional setting.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Applicants must have great attention to detail and be capable of problem solving.
Applicants must pass a Department of Interior (DOI) security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiar with GIS applications.
General understanding of federal land resource management policies (e.g., multiple use management).
Physical Requirements:
To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements/Participation and Expedition Behavior:
Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
Safety and Judgment:
Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.
Substance Free:
- In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
Background Check:
A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.
Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.
*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
To Apply: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Director, Joy Hernández at jhernandez@conservationlegacy.org.
For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.
Required SkillsRequired Experience
