Refer to Position Description Instructions prior to completing

*This position requires you to serve a minimum of service hours – and – successful completion of your term of service.

1. Organization’s Mission:

The mission of the Center for Natural Lands Management is to (a) conserve native species, their habitat and functioning ecosystems in perpetuity, (b) own and/or manage lands in an ecologically beneficial manner consistent with local, state and federal environmental laws and with science-based stewardship, (c) promote the conservation values of such lands through education, (d) promote and facilitate uses of such lands by the public that preserve the conservation values, and (e) cooperate with public and private entities in their efforts to protect native species and their habitats for the public benefit.

1. Position’s Alignment to Organization’s Mission: 
2.  
3. This project fits in our organization’s mission by enabling our program to conserve and restore additional habitat for rare species through sound science, native plant propagation, volunteer outreach and education, and on-the-ground restoration actions.
4. AmeriCorps Project Description:

Along the southern edge of Puget Sound lies a landscape unusual in the Pacific Northwest. Amidst steep mountains and massive closed canopy forests are open rolling grasslands interwoven with oak savannas, pine woodlands, and rich wetlands. The intertwining of these habitats forms a mosaic that supports a rich array of native birds, mammals, flowers and butterflies-some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. These prairies are now one of the rarest habitats in the U.S; only 1-3% of the original native prairie remains. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) works with a wide range of federal, state, local and non-profit partners to conserve and restore habitat structure and functioning to these prairies and their associated rare species. To help with this task, CNLM seeks four fulltime AmeriCorps members to fill prairie restoration service opportunities with the South Sound Prairies Program in the Olympia office. These three positions include a Prairie Restoration Technician, a Prairie Science Specialist, a Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, and a Seed Production Technician.

1. Member Key Essential Functions of the Position:

The Butterfly and Pollinator Science Technician will provide essential support to two ongoing experiments assessing how ecological restoration benefits (1) pollination and (2) recovery of rare butterfly populations in western Washington prairies.

In order to continue to improve prairie restoration and to reach our goal of high quality prairies that support a full suite of common and rare prairie species, much more information on how plant restoration affects key rare species and crucial pollinator communities. CNLM collaborates with partners to conduct regional, multi-site experiments that test restoration practices to enable us to restore prairie as effectively as possible.

The technician will spend ~60% of his/her time assisting staff with experimental research and species monitoring in the field; the remaining 40% will be spent on data management, identification of collected insect specimens, and possibly behavioral observations of field video footage. The two ecological research studies in which this member will participate are (1) factors impacting survival of endangered buttefly larvae and (2) effects of restoration on the structure of plant-pollinator communities. These projects will include literature reviews, experiment set-up, data collection (including plant community data and pollinator specimen data), data entry, quality control, and data management.

This member will serve with CNLM staff at multiple South Puget Sound prairie sites, and will assist the Rare Species Ecologist in data needs. This position entails a high level of responsibility and will draw heavily on the AmeriCorps member’s scientific background, organizational skills, collaborative sound work ethic, and positive attitude during long field days.

1. Member Performance Measure Expected Output(s) and Outcome(s):

Conservation Research-At Risk Ecosystems:

It is expected that this Americorps member will accumulate, synthesize, and interpret data to answer key research questions that apply directly to conservation of rare and endangered species. The member might improve this area by augmenting pollinator collections, monitoring butterfly larvae or pollinators, or helping to train others to identify flower-visiting insects and collect key data.

Environmental Stewardship-Training

The member is expected to assist the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator with at least one environmental stewardship training. The AmeriCorps Pollination Technician will recruit at least 5 participants for a environmental stewardship training and at least 3 of those participants should report an increase in knowledge and a positive change in behaivor (or intention to change behavior).

Volunteer Performance

The member will assist the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator by recruiting at least 5 additional (episodic) volunteers. Environmental Stewardship-At Risk Ecosystems:

It is expected that this Americorps member will help treat and improve 50 acres of public land. The member might improve this area by implementing restoration actions him/herself or by leading or participating in groups of volunteers that implements the restoration actions. Restoration actions include: collecting and processing several hundred pounds of native seed, sowing and planting thousands of native plugs into the prairie, eradicating invasive weeds and conducting prescribed burns.

1. Member Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

WSC members may be deployed to help support disaster response and/or recovery efforts. Sponsor organizations must agree to release Members for short term duration to assist with these efforts. Deployment may be waived if it presents undue hardship for an individual member. All deployments would be requested by the WSC unless your host organization is a disaster response organization where any requests for deployment would require initial approval by the WSC.

• Assist with native seed production and native plant propagation activities
• Chemical and mechanical control of invasive species
• Plant native prairie species across sites
• Data entry
• Work with prairie conservation volunteers
• Monitoring seedling survival at restoration sites
• Help with data collection for other scientific studies
• Survey occupied butterfly sites and/or assess habitat conditions at sites being prepared for butterfly reintroduction
• Participate in regional prescribed burning program
• Assist with restoration research monitoring

1. Volunteer Management:

• Participate in the recruitment and support of volunteers who will further the goals of the AmeriCorps project.
• Oversee the volunteer activities of the AmeriCorps project to ensure that the activities are allowable and not prohibited.
• Implement at least three new effective volunteer management practices.

1. Qualifications required for this position:

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Minimum of 6 months of training or experience in natural science or related field
• Good people skills; outgoing and tactful; energetic and positive attitude even in adverse conditions
• Ability and willingness to collect pollinating insects and handle insect specimens
• Ability to serve independently and take initiative, as well as be a team player
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage time
• Ability and willingness to work in an outdoor setting up to 5 days per week, spring through late summer
• Valid driver’s license

Desired qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, natural science, or related field
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and R
• Familiarity with Washington flora
• First aid and CPR certified or willingness to become certified
• Ability to drive standard shift vehicle
• Familiarity with statistics

1. Location and Hours of Service:

                                                                                                        * Not including meal breaks

NOTE:  May require occasional evening or weekend service outside of scheduled hours.  Length of meal break must be a minimum of 30 minutes and tracked on daily entry of service hours.

1. Required WSC Training:
2. Participation in day-long WSC-sponsored regional training.
3. Completion of the following core training competencies: AmeriCorps Affiliation and Program Orientation; Cultural Awareness; Volunteer Recruitment and Management; Effective Communication; Leadership Skills; Performance Measurement; Teambuilding (Teams only); Life After AmeriCorps.

1. Required Site Training: Two-site specific trainings listed below:

Red Card Prescribed Fire Certification Training

Washington Certified Pesticide Applicator Training

1. Required WSC Reporting:

1. Service Conditions:

Member will be serving in diverse, often adverse, weather conditions and will often have to hike across, and conduct tasks within, native habitats with uneven ground. Member will be exposed to sunburn, stinging insects, rough terrain, and other basic risks associated with outdoor work in natural areas. The member may occasionally handle power tools and heavy equipment (only after pertinent trainings) including, but not limited to: chainsaws, brushcutters, tractors, weed wrenches, etc. At all times member will be expected to professionally represent WSC and CNLM in any and all partner and public interactions.

The above Member Key Essential Functions and responsibilities are essential position functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All position requirements listed indicate the minimum expectations, level of knowledge, skills and/or abilities deemed necessary to perform the duties proficiently.  This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Reference Member Service Agreement for comprehensive listing, including prohibited activities.