Maintenance Specialist Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Entertimeonline; San Acacia (NM); On-site; USD 558,000 - 695,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free housing onsite

Job summary

Conservation Legacy in New Mexico seeks a Maintenance Specialist for an AmeriCorps Individual Placement at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. You will learn maintenance of facilities and equipment, work under a lead maintainer, and engage in conservation projects on public lands.

The role emphasizes hands-on trades, teamwork, and safety, with a 675-hour term and a structured orientation. Housing may be provided; health and education awards apply.

Qualifications

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident.
• At least 18 years of age.
• 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.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive years.
• Federal grant requirements restrict to ages 18-30 (35 for veterans) at term start.
• Ability to perform physically demanding maintenance responsibilities.
• Excels in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Support refuge maintenance specialist with fixing the water system: troubleshoot break in system; find break in pipe and dig it up; replace any blown fuses; restore water and test quality.
• Support refuge maintenance specialist with building an endangered tortoise enclosure: trench foundation, pound posts, weld rails, fabricate gate and install.
• Support refuge maintenance specialist with completing routine vehicle maintenance: change oil, replace filters, help staff obtain parts and maintain records.

Skills

Teamwork

Physical endurance

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Plumbing

Electrical

Heavy equipment operation

Vehicle maintenance

Welding

Carpentry

Job description

• Job Category Conservation , AmeriCorps
• Industry Fish & Wildlife Service, Maintennance Specilalist
• Employee Type AmeriCorps

Description

Position Title: Maintenance Specialist Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Site Location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 1/18/27
• End Date: 5/21/27
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours
• 18 weeks

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/Oklahoma 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.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) - National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System in the lower 48 states. The 230,000-acre refuge includes four different biomes that intersect and support a wide array of biological diversity. The refuge is not managed for specific wildlife species but instead focuses on letting natural processes such as flood and fire to prevail.

This position will support the refuge’s overall conservation mission by helping to maintain the facilities and equipment used for refuge operations. Facility upkeep also creates a welcoming environment for members of the public to come visit. The selected candidate will serve directly under the lead maintenance professional on refuge staff and learn about the many facets of operations. There will also be opportunities for the participant to interact with other department staff and learn about broader aspects of refuge management.

Description of Duties

• Support refuge maintenance specialist with fixing the water system
  • Trouble shoot break in system.
  • Find break in pipe and dig it up.
  • Replace any blown fuses.
  • Restore water to the system and test water quality for safety compliance.
• Support refuge maintenance specialist with building an endangered tortoise enclosure
  • Trench foundation with heavy equipment.
  • Pound posts.
  • Weld rails.
  • Fabricate metal gate and weld installation.
• Support refuge maintenance specialist with completing routine vehicle maintenance
  • Change oil.
  • Replace filters.
  • Help staff with acquiring parts and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• 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.

• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 consecutive 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.
• Ability to perform physically demanding maintenance responsibilities.
• Excels in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with plumbing, electrical, heavy equipment operation or maintenance, vehicle maintenance, welding, and carpentry.

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 acceptdifferences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for anyreason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and nationalservice.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organizationstaff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at alltimes.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing workenvironment.

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 a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or highwinds.
• 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 orcrises.
• 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 fromothers.

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.

A Department of Interior background clearance may be required before the selected candidate reports for service. FWS 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 government 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 40 hours per week, 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.

• Plumbing and electrical skills relevant to project.
• Construction, design, fabrication, welding, environmentally responsible building practices relevant to project.
• Mechanic skills relevant to project.
• How to follow government protocols for purchasing.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $640 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $125 per week.
• Free housing available onsite; more information will be given during the interview process.

• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Member will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 675-hour term.
• Member is e ligible for Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term ( that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs).

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

Program Contact information:

SamJean Simmons, [e-mail]

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.