Digital Media Outreach and Field Member, Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex

Location

Lacey, WA | United States

Job description

Digital Media Outreach and Field Member, Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex

Summary

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking ONE Digital Media Outreach Member to contribute to promotion of outdoor recreation opportunities, dissemination of biological field project progress and general conservation science projects for the public alongside Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit: .

Start Date: June 3rd, 2024 (ideal start date)

Estimated End Date: November 29th, 2024

**26-week commitment required

Location Details/Description: Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex, Lacey, WA

For more information about Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fish and Aquatic Conservation Complex, please visit the website for any of the four Complex facilities:

For more information on the Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, please visit:

For more information about Makah National Fish Hatchery, please visit:

For more information about Quilcene National Fish Hatchery, please visit:

For more information on the Quinault National Fish Hatchery, please visit:

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 the mission at Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Complex. The information and outreach activities involved in this position will emphasize photography, videography, video production, interpretive visuals (posters, signs, etc.), in-person, and digital communication. Supplemental support for biological field projects may also apply to this position. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in fisheries conservation. Occasional overnight travel may be required. Overnight lodging and meals during travel will be covered through a travel stipend.

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.

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

• Coordinating with field crews to accompany them and document their work.
• Communicating with and instructing field crews for specific photos and filming angles. Assure proper official attire is worn and that proper methods and equipment are used.
• Editing and producing 20 - 300 second video shorts for social media.
• Filming and producing educational video shorts (outdoor skills, invasive species, etc.)
• Following USFWS protocol for accessible videos (hard of seeing and hearing).
• Consolidating and editing usable photos (color correcting, cropping), converting to TIFF files, and organizing them based on project and activity.
• Producing informational fliers and/or posters.
• Field biological sampling, including minnow traps, electrofishing, seines, gill nets, and screw trapping.
• Abiotic data collection such as substrate sampling and water salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
• Hatchery fish spawning, fish transfers, and biological sampling.
• Laboratory sample processing.
• Public event preparation and implementation.
• Relay daily mission, technical skills and safety concerns to members and other crew members as assigned.
• Personal contacts are with employees in the agency and immediate organizations. In some situations, personal contacts may be with the public, contractor personnel, or special users, e.g., special interest groups.
• Contacts are for the purpose of obtaining, clarifying, or exchanging information and receiving instructions regarding service assignments.

Examples of work products from previous members:

Schedule : Duties will tentatively be carried out between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Pacific, Monday-Friday, 5 days/week (5/8s) but a 4/10-hour days per week schedule is not uncommon. Work hours will likely vary due to a dynamic schedule that depends on project, site location, and season. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule will be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including early field work departures (6:00am) and/or late returns (6:00pm) depending on the season and field project. 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 $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 900-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $3,447.50 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 900 hrs.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority (PLC): Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general information online here .

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 and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up t o $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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.

Grant Funding Opportunity: The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE's Access and Inclusion Grant. This is a $500 grant which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Grant recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of grants are available.

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 USFWS in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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 or as defined by AmeriCorps.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here .

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor's of Arts, Bachelor's of Fine Arts, or Bachelor's of Science degree in digital media, multimedia, videography, video editing and production, photography, communication, or others appropriate to this position (at least 3 years of college coursework).

• Education and experience in written, oral, visual, and digital communications as well as an interest in nature. Resumes must contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience as defined in the announcement. We are looking for determined, competent, and developing science and nature communicators. Preferred qualifications in support of documenting and providing supplemental support for research, conservation, production, and management of fishes, or fishery resource include:

• Capturing photos and video footage outdoors in a variety of environments and lighting conditions.
• Photo editing and management.
• Video editing and production using Adobe software.
• Using other software such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to produce fliers, posters, signs, etc.
• Providing results to professional personnel for refinement, adjustment, and analysis and assisting in the preparation of reports.
• Experience in public engagement and speaking.
• Experience providing hands-on instruction to others.

Technical Methods:

• Well versed in filming and photography in a variety of conditions to capture quality images and videos. Is proficient in making aperture and shutter speed adjustments for ideal exposures.
• Expertise in selecting appropriate composition and depth of field for engaging imagery and video footage.
• Previous training and experience using adobe photo and video editing software. Has experience editing and producing quality videos.
• Experience incorporating captioning to videos and has the capability of integrating audio descriptions of video scenes for the visually impaired.
• The ability to use different software (preferably adobe) to produce visuals such as posters and informational fliers.

Biological Sciences:

• The ability to follow directions and instructions outdoors, including remote field sites.
• The ability to take notes out in the field for data collection assistance.

Communications:

• Demonstrate proficient communication skills in written form. Specifically for the purpose of informal science communication. Creative/story-telling writing skills are ideal.
• Demonstrate formal and informal public speaking skills. This includes: speaking to a diverse age range; a diversity of group sizes; and in various settings.

Equipment:

• Proficient in operating a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged roads and able to navigate using topo maps, compass, and GPS.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: This position requires physical exertion in the form of hiking on paths and riverbanks to access field sites for filming, photography, and data collection, and hiking in mountainous and swampy terrain over long distances in various weather while carrying equipment. The member should expect to hike and/or wade 10 miles or more per day in mountain streams. Other demands include stooping, lifting, reaching, talking, hearing, regular and recurring running, walking, bending, climbing ladders or scaffolds to observe, collect, or record research data. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment, and may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.
• 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: 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 members may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, wading in deep/swift water, 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. This position includes the inherent risk of working around water and watercraft, as well as the risks associated with the operation of electrofishing units. An array of mandatory training will be provided upon initiation of the position.

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. 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. The service involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions. This position will require an understanding of the communication plan, and a basic level of comfort using both cellular and inReach devices. Members are required to use protective clothing or gear such as hard hats, masks, gowns, earplugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to moderate risks, or to follow procedures for minimizing risk.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact
information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position
here: Early consideration will be given as resumes 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 Program Manager at [email protected] .

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee 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, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.

Job tags

Salary

$600 per week