Botany Support Specialist - Conservation Individual Placement

Conservation Corps New MexicoAddress:512 North ValleyLas Cruces, New Mexico88005Botany Support Specialist – Conservation Individual PlacementJOB DETAILSActively Recruiting: YesPosition title: Botany Support Specialist – Conservation Individual PlacementType of Position: Intern / Individual PlacementTown, City, Park, etc: CarlsbadState / Territory: New MexicoBenefits: Dental Insurance, Education Award, Health Insurance, Housing Stipend/Assistance, Student Loan ForbearanceProject/Program Focus: Native PlantsPosition Title: Botany Support Specialist – Conservation(AmeriCorps Individual Placement)Site Location: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Carlsbad Field Office (CFO)Terms of Service:Start Date: 5/26/26End Date: 11/20/26AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 HoursPurpose: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.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.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 staffAdoption of cell 120 from Bee Atlas.Analyze wildlife water exclosures for pollinator suitability.Design an appropriate pollinator habitat project.Scheer's beehive cactus researchContinue 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 GISConduct literature research on soils in the areaFocus 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 staffAnalyze 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.JOB DUTIESDescription of Duties:Assist CFO Botany Department with 2026 focus projects Bee Atlas, Scheer's 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.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.#J-18808-Ljbffr

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