Visitor Services Support Member – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is seeking one Visitor Services Support Member to contribute to a variety of visitor services projects under the mentorship of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: October 5, 2026

Estimated End Date: March 8, 2027

*a 22-week minimum commitment is required, approximately 880 hours*

Location Details/Description: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex, Willows, CA

The Sacramento NWR Complex includes five national wildlife refuges (Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa, Sutter, and Sacramento River NWRs) and three wildlife management areas (Butte Sink, Steve Thompson North Central Valley, and Willow Creek-Lurline WMAs). Complex headquarters and the visitor center are located at Sacramento NWR, where this position will be based.

These refuges are located in the Sacramento Valley, part of California's Central Valley, a key wintering area for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. The Complex manages wetland, upland, and riparian habitats that support waterfowl, other migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and a variety of rare plants and invertebrates.

The Complex welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually for wildlife observation, photography, and other outdoor recreation. It also provides some of the most popular public waterfowl hunting opportunities in California, serving nearly 30,000 hunters each year. A Friends organization supports refuge programs and operates the nature store in the visitor center.

For more information, visit the Sacramento NWRC website!

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help USFWS realize that mission at Sacramento NWR Complex.

During this term, the ACE member will support and assist, under the guidance and direction of USFWS staff, the sustainment of high quality visitor services and facilities. There are opportunities for assisting with programs that connect the public to National Wildlife Refuges and conservation. The incumbent will assist with providing visitors with information about and orientation to the Refuges and their resources, and complete various other duties to support the visitor services program as needed. This position will provide a good overview of the work the USFWS does for wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals including refuge managers, biologists, administrative staff, maintenance staff, and others. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

The member will provide support and assist under the guidance and direction of USFWS staff in the following tasks:

Principal duties will include:

• Staffing the visitor center front desk to assist visitors in-person and over the phone (including on weekends). This includes opening, closing, and staffing the Visitor Center and providing visitors with information about and orientation to the refuges.
• Answering phones and responding to voicemails, or directing calls to appropriate staff.
• Assisting visitors with the steps of purchasing a digital day pass for the auto tour.
• Assisting with distributing materials for teacher-led (self-guided) field trips for school groups and visitors.
• Assisting the administrative program with filing, scanning, copying, and office organization.
• Developing self-guided programs aligned with the Refuge's environmental education objectives, in collaboration with USFWS staff.
• Assisting with updating the Refuge complex's website and posting public safety alerts to social media.
• Potentially developing interpretive content for visual and audio exhibits inside the visitor center.
• Potentially developing content for social media that promote the mission of the USFWS.
• Conducting formal/informal interpretation at wildlife observation areas, trails, and the auto tour route; and updating informational kiosks and brochure racks across the complex.
• Gathering traffic counter information monthly from parking lots around the complex, and entering visitor counts.
• Assisting with coordination between the USFWS and the Friends group.
• Assisting with special hunts and volunteer events, including the junior hunts and mobility impaired hunt blind reservations.
• Set up and cleaning up the multi-purpose room for meetings, events, and classes held at the refuge visitor center, including set-up and taking down of audio-visual equipment.
• Work both independently and collaboratively with volunteers, refuge staff, other ACE members, and Friends group members.

• Working on a variety of projects as assigned.

Secondary duties will include:

• Maintaining visitor center outdoor grounds (cleaning kiosks, pressure-washing walkways, trimming trails, removing weeds, maintaining kiosks and other outdoor visitor facilities)
• Help keep visitor facilities, including public restrooms, stocked, clean, and welcoming.

Schedule: Duties will often be carried out between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm Pacific, Wednesday through Monday, 5 days/week (i.e. 5/8s, but may include hours outside of regular schedule). A flexible work schedule will be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours. From mid-October to February, the visitor center will be open both Saturdays and Sundays, and this position is expected to work both of those days. Supervisor and member will collaborate on setting the work schedule. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the USFWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $850/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 and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided USFWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term. The housing for this ACE member will be a private bedroom within the on-site bunkhouse at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The bunkhouse contains a kitchen with appliances, shared living room/lounge, restrooms and showers, and a shared laundry room. Housing rules and regulations will be provided.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have up to $1,000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses to be split at the beginning and end of the term. Eligible relocation expenses for this position include mileage, hotels, meals, etc., and must have a receipt for reimbursement. Additional expenses must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

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 defensive driving if driving a government vehicle and Information Management and Technology training for computer access.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Must be willing to represent ACE and the USFWS in a professional, positive and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.

• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.

• A personal vehicle is required for off-duty hours due to the distance of housing to stores and businesses.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks.
• 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.

Education:

 

• High school diploma or GED.

 

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resources, biology, ecology, horticulture, or a related subject. A combination of relevant education and appropriate experience is also acceptable. Resumes must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience as defined in the position announcement.
• Enthusiasm for interacting with people and learning how to assist visitors to enjoy refuge resources responsibly through interpretation, customer service, and facility maintenance.
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions.
• Skills and abilities to resolve a full range of problems or situations when performing a variety of tasks in a field or office setting.

Please note: Marijuana and other controlled substances are not allowed at any time during the performance of duties or while on federal property, regardless of State law or qualified medical marijuana card status.

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 40 lbs.This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements. Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. When indoors, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require 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.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the USFWS for official use only. Prior to operating a government vehicle, a free Defensive Driving course is required. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the USFWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the USFWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to USFWS 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 ACE's 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 USFWS Member Manager Ian McGufficke.

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 enrolled in a program 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.