Job Title

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with US Forest Service, is seeking One Recreation Technician Member to contribute to the backcountry wilderness management project alongside Wenatchee River Ranger District Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: June 1, 2026 Estimated End Date: September 18, 2026 * a 16 week minimum commitment is required * Location Details/Description: Leavenworth, WA The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is one of the largest forests in Region 6, covering 3.8 million acres on the east slopes of the Cascade Range, with 5 ranger districts that span from the Canadian border to the Yakima River valley. There is a wide range of year-round recreation opportunities and 1.5 million acres of wilderness. The Forest is a leader in implementing a Forest restoration strategy that recognizes the role of fire adapted communities and wildlife and is involved in numerous interagency and collaborative efforts, state, county and federal. The Wenatchee River Ranger District comprises 700,000 acres with nearly one half in wilderness. There are three wildernesses; the Alpine Lakes, Henry M, Jackson and Glacier Peak, all of which hug the Cascade Crest. It is in the heart of world class mountains that receive heavy recreational use. For more information about the Wenatchee River Ranger District, please visit the USFS website. Position Overview: The Recreation Technician Member will assist Forest Service personnel with the operation and maintenance of US Forest Service developed recreation sites including: campgrounds, trailheads, and day use areas. Work activities will include recreation site cleaning, infrastructure construction and repair, vegetation management, maintaining information kiosks and providing visitor information. Field Work (~60%) * The recreation technician member will clean recreation sites, including outhouses, campsites, and trailheads. * The member will use tools such as loppers, weed whackers, and mowers to manage vegetation at recreation sites and drills/drivers, staple guns, and other fasteners in install informational or regulatory signage at recreation sites. * With focused training and supervision, the member will operate a chainsaw to clear Forest Service recreation sites and access roads. * The member will assist in the distribution and public communication of campfire restrictions, when in effect. * The member will encourage recreation site fee compliance through educational contacts and providing reminders to visitors. This is not an enforcement position. * Other manual labor tasks in support of developed recreation sites including raking or leaf-blowing detritus from campsites or accessible trails, spreading gravel, shoveling, or similar physical tasks. * Other duties as assigned may include tasks such as helping disseminate information regarding wildfires (closure maps, etc.), assisting in hazard tree surveys using mapping software on USFS provided tablets. Field Preparation & Office Tasks (~40%) * The member will provide excellent visitor service by answering the public's questions on nearby recreational attractions, rules and regulations, Leave No Trace best practices, and general interpretative information. 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. Schedule: Typical service days will range from 8 to 10 hours, averaging about 40 hours per week, weekends included with mid-week days off. Position Benefits Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $775/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the US Forest Service and ACE and is not flexible. This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility requirements to be considered for this position. Members 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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) 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. However, housing may be available on site in a bunkhouse. The Lake Wenatchee compound is located 25 miles Northwest of the district office. Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 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. Specific training may include chainsaw and cross cut, First Aid, CPR, Leave-No-Trace, hazard tree surveys, and policies & regulations for three different wildernesses with risk assessment. Qualifications Required: * Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas. * Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization 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). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements. * Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks * 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. * Members may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement. * To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website. Preferred: * Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field and/or have relevant experience and a passion for the outdoors. * All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered. * Knowledge of tools and maintenance work. * Ability and willingness to work outdoors in sometimes strenuous conditions. * Ability to take initiative, work independently and participate in collaborative team efforts. * Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with other professionals and Forest visitors. Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: * Physical Demands: Requires standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions. * 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 50 lbs., ability to move up to 100 pounds. * Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. * Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. * Travel: This position will require domestic travel throughout the forest. Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE members may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects (hornets, flies), and potentially dangerous wildlife (rattlesnakes, bears, cougars). 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 USFS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the USFS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the USFS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to USFS 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 Project Manager-BLM/USFS, Anna-Louise Calliham. 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.