Description

Position Title: Botany Support Specialist – Conservation 

(AmeriCorps Individual Placement) 

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Carlsbad Field Office (CFO) 

620 East Greene St Carlsbad, NM 88220

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 5/26/26
End Date: 11/20/26
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours 
 

Purpose:

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, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM 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 projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across 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 Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants 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; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. 

Position Summary

The Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Conservation Corps New Mexico seeks to fill a need for a Botany Support Specialist - Conservation Individual Placement out of the Carlsbad BLM Field Office. The successful candidate will provide support to the Botany Program including but not limited to support field-going Botany crews, assist with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) actions, and monitor/manage for Special Status Plant Species (SSPS).

BLM New Mexico (including Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas) has one of the largest oil and gas programs in the Bureau.  The four-state area has over 45 million acres of mineral estate and more than 2 million acres of Native American mineral estate.  Two of the most prolific oil and gas basins in the United States are in New Mexico--the San Juan Basin in the northwest corner and the Permian Basin in the southeast. The Carlsbad Field Office is located within the Permian Basin and manages oil and gas lease sales to ensure orderly, effective, timely, and environmentally responsible leasing of oil and gas resources.  The CFO focuses heavily on permitting and Individual Placement will learn how BLM navigates and balances conservation efforts with oil and gas management.

The selected individual will work with BLM staff under the mentorship of Conservation Corps New Mexico and the BLM field office botanist. These positions are intended to be entry-level botany with opportunities for professional development such as shadowing various BLM departments and attending training/conferences.  Individual placements must provide their own personal transportation to the duty office; however, the individual placement will be provided with a vehicle for use between the office and the field.  Housing may be available; more information will be provided during the interview. 

Below are 2026 priorities and focus projects for the BLM-CFO. These projects will come with a deliverable depending on the length of the participant’s term and project schedule.

• Pollinators with a focus on 6 proposed bumble bees- working closely with wildlife staff
  • Adoption of cell 120 from Bee Atlas.  
  • Analyze wildlife water exclosures for pollinator suitability.
  • Design an appropriate pollinator habitat project.
• Scheer's beehive cactus research
  • Continue tagging and obtaining life history on the cactus.
  • Assist with camera traps to determine flowering, pollination, and wildlife interaction.
  • Revisit year old tagged Scheer’s to gather current life history data.
• Soil data- working closely with GIS
  • Conduct literature research on soils in the area
  • Focus on biocrust and its role, especially regarding SSPS.
  • Research most up to date soil data GIS layers from multiple sources.
• Treatment areas - working closely with range and fire staff
  • Analyze the effects of different treatments on SSPS (prescribed fire, herbicides, mastication).
  • Compile data from before treatments to after treatments.
  • Identify appropriate areas for treatment and mitigation stipulations.

Description of Duties:

• Assist CFO Botany Department with 2026 focus projects Bee Atlas, Sheers research, soil data and research, and treatment impact on SSPs.
• Assist CFO Botany Department with designing and implementing monitoring projects for Threatened and Endangered plant species.
• Provide SSPS identification training to project leaders, interns, and third-party contractors.
• Provide support (logistics, plant ID, field support) to field-going Botany crews, including Seeds of Success (SOS) and SSPS Survey crews.
• Develop and complete an independent project in support of the Botany department (examples include updating existing field guides and creating new ones or supporting the Bee Atlas pollinator tracking system).
• Manage for QA/QC of SSPS database in ArcGIS Pro.
• Enter Botany data into ArcGIS Pro database.
• Work with BLM Botanist and Botany crews to study and collect data for Carlsbad Field Office.
• Provide botanical knowledge to Carlsbad Field Office.
• Alongside BLM Botanist, represent BLM Botany Program in interdisciplinary team contexts.
• Assist with identification of plants and local community flora.
• Assist with a variety of Botanical protocols and monitoring efforts.
• Assist other natural resource staff with project implementation. 

Conditions: General hazards associated with driving and being outside; driving in uneven terrain; hiking off trail; exposure to rattlesnakes, insects, extreme heat, and rain. 

Requirements

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years.
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans) at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Experience with plant identification and using technical keys.
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro and various ESRI data collection applications (Survey123, Field Maps, Collector).
• Field navigation skills and experience using GPS software.
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive truck on rugged gravel or dirt roads. 
• Experience with data entry and data management.
• Familiarity with flora of Southwestern U.S. (preferred).
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.  

Preferred Qualifications

• One field season experience a plus with preference given for Seeds of Success (SOS), Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) and/or rare plant monitoring programs

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 25 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 accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

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, BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners always.
• 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 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 for service. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants 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. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.   

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service 
Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 
 

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50.
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $330 per week.
• Professional development funds of $1,000 for duration of term.
• Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 900-hour term.
• Eligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).
• Housing may be available; more information will be provided during the interview.
• Healthcare Coverage.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible 

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

CCNM Program Coordinator Contact information:

SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

BLM Botanist Contact information:

Renae Cox, rflynncox@blm.gov 

Consideration will be given as applications are received, and this position may close at any time.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.