Visitor Services & Natural Resource Protection Member - Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking 1 Visitor Services & Natural Resource Protection Member to contribute to visitor services programs and natural resource projects alongside Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: November 2026

Estimated End Date: August/September 2027

*a 36 week minimum commitment is required - start date may be flexible by one or two weeks*

Location Details/Description: Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

The Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) complex is comprised of nine refuges in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Jamaica Passage. The nine refuges are Cabo Rojo, Culebra, Desecheo, Buck Island, Green Cay, Sandy Point, Laguna Cartagena, Navassa and Vieques. Each unit has a unique composition of plant and animal species. The complex provides a wide range of management tools and services to all nine refuges.

For more information about Cabo Rojo NWR, please visit the USFWS website.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 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 FWS realize its mission at Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge through participation in community outreach, habitat restoration, wildlife surveys, and educational programs at Cabo Rojo NWR .

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Primary duties include:

Visitor Center Operations and Resource Interpretation

• Center Readiness: Perform the routine opening and closing procedures for the Cabo Rojo NWR Salt Flats Visitor Center and adjacent facilities. This includes securing and unsecuring the building, setting up and powering down interpretive displays, and ensuring the readiness of all public areas.
• Public Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for the public, greeting all visitors in a welcoming manner. Receive guests, answer in-person inquiries, and provide accurate, current information on Refuge regulations, hours of operation, trail conditions, and local amenities.
• Resource Interpretation: Explain the diverse resources of the Salt Flats unit, including the history of salt production, the ecology of the coastal lagoons, and the importance of the area to migratory birds and other wildlife, ensuring visitors understand the Refuge mission.
• Area Maintenance: Conduct light daily maintenance to ensure a high standard of cleanliness and safety in the public area. This includes maintaining the cleanliness of the visitor deck and immediate surrounding paths, replenishing informational brochures, and promptly reporting any needed repairs or serious maintenance issues.

Provide support to other Refuge Program areas, including Biology, Planning, Maintenance, and Administration, to gain experience in the day-to-day work of Refuge management.

• Working closely with Cabo Rojo NWR staff and Cooperating Organizations at the Salt Flats contact station on special projects, community programs and/or other onsite or virtual outreach activities.
• Educating the public about the coastal habitat restoration projects undergoing at the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats. Emphasizing the importance of working collaboratively with other federal, Commonwealth and local agencies, and organizations to restore the salt flats to protect adjacent coastal habitats including seagrass beds and coral reefs.
• Assisting refuge staff with community programs, special events and other outreach activities.
• Assisting the refuge in completing projects on lands and trails.
• Project Work will include trail construction, restoration and maintenance, signage and mapping, among other activities. Habitat restoration and improvement projects will also be completed with a focus on reforestation, removal of non-native species, revegetation of disturbed areas, reintroduction of native species and habitat improvements.
• Conducting virtual and onsite educational programs.
• Attending staff meetings.
• Reporting any problems and/or potential problems to the immediate supervisor and/or Refuge Law Enforcement.
• Composing and typing information.
• Fostering productive and positive working relationships via responsiveness, collaboration, and communication with internal and external partners.
• Working with Cabo Rojo NWR's Facebook pages

Schedule: Duties will be carried out Monday - Saturdays 8:30am to 4:30pm (two days off). Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $500/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: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or FWS.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position may include boots, work pants, socks, outerwear, sunglasses, socks, etc. and 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.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

• Excellent communication skills with fluency in English and in Spanish (Writing and Orally).

 

• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Ability to work under adverse environmental conditions (heat, humidity, wind, biting insects).
• Ability to walk in uneven terrain and carry field equipment for long distances.
• A willingness to work on long days and weekends as needed.
• A genuine passion for conservation and the mission of the US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Willingness to obtain knowledge and quickly learn the history and ecology of the area.
• Ability to clearly understand the purpose of this refuge and its wildlife management programs as well as the National Wildlife Refuge System, and ability to learn the layout of the refuge.
• Ability to communicate with varied audiences such as school groups, government agencies, organizations, etc.
• Good interpersonal communications and public speaking skills with the ability to present a positive image to the public and to articulate information in person and by phone.
• Ability to handle stressful situations involving visitors. Confident but knowing when to seek assistance with questions or problems that arise.
• Willingness and flexibility to accept responsibility of assisting staff and visitors.
• Ability to learn to operate - computers for word processing, and other basic functions, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, and other office equipment.
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website at usaconservation dot org.

Preferred:

• Local applicants are preferred, as there is no housing provided
• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Education and/or have relevant experience in these subject areas.
• Experience managing volunteers
• Experience using optical equipment (binoculars and spotting scopes)
• Familiarity with field research techniques and data processing

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, ability to move up to 40 lbs.
• 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: When outdoors, moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. When indoors, 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. Hot and buggy conditions should be expected.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Intern needs to complete the appropriate training for vehicle and equipment (e.g., Defensive Driving). Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS 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 at usaconservation dot org. 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 FWS Member Manager, Claire Barnwell.

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.