Seeds of Success Member

Summary :

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, is seeking one (1) Seeds of Success Member to contribute to the BLM Seeds of Success project alongside BLM staff at Cosumnes River Preserve.

For more information about ACE, please visit the American Conservation Experience website.

Start Date : February 23, 2026

Estimated End Date : (52 weeks after) February 19, 2027

• a 32 -week minimum commitment is required

Location Details / Description : Cosumnes River Preserve - Galt, California

The Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) lies within the BLM Mother Lode Field Office range of interest. The BLM Mother Lode Field Office manages over 230,000 acres of public land in Central California and these lands are scattered all over the Sierra Nevada and Gold Country regions. The Cosumnes River Preserve consists of over 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands owned by seven land-owning Partners. The Partners include The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Sacramento County Regional Parks, Department of Water Resources, Ducks Unlimited, and the California State Lands Commission. The Preserve is centered along the Cosumnes River, its floodplains, and riparian habitat. This habitat is buffered by a variety of agricultural operations. The Preserve provides numerous social, economic, and recreational benefits to local communities and to people residing in the larger Sacramento and San Joaquin areas. The habitat supports wildlife, including birds that migrate throughout the Pacific Flyway. The Preserve promotes low-impact recreation and offers naturalist-lead activities that include : hikes, bird monitoring, paddles, photography walks, and more. A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable.

For more information about the Mother Lode Field Office or the Cosumnes River Preserve, please visit each of their websites.

Position Overview : Seed collection would involve following the BLM Seeds of Success protocol. Seeds of Success (SOS) is the national native seed collection program, led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in partnership with a variety of federal agencies and non-federal organizations. SOS's mission is to collect wildland native seeds for research, development, germplasm conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Much of the work will be accomplished in the field on rugged terrain that requires a 4x4 truck to access.

Duties :

Past seed collection projects at the CRP have shown that they need to begin in the early spring rather than later to allow for more potential success with seed collection. Thus members in this position will start roughly a month earlier than the typical seeds of success season / training. A crash course on the protocol will be provided by BLM staff initially however a formal, virtual training will be provided to the member in April.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule : Monday – Friday, generally 8 AM to 5 PM for the first 8-10 weeks. Once temperatures rise into the 90s,, the work schedule will shift to Monday-Thursday, 7 am to 5 : 30 pm (generally May-mid October). With the onset of autumn, work will shift back to 5 days a week.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance : The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours / week and will receive a living allowance of $900.00 / week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority : Members serving under this agreement 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 and citizenship.

Housing Assistance : Shared housing available. If shared housing is not used, a housing reimbursement available for up to $200 per week.

Travel Assistance : Travel assistance available for members. 7 days x $210 per day.

Provided Training / Orientation : ACE members will receive an orientation outlining ACE policies, procedures and networks for support. Specific training via the BLM may include Seeds of Success protocol training, field training on 4WD, project-specific training, and field equipment training.

Qualifications

Required :

Preferred :

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions :

Environmental Conditions / Hazards : The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions / hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger themself, 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 BLM or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM 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 the American Conservation Experience 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 BLM / FS Member Manager, Yunielis Clemente Ortiz yclemente-ortiz @ usaconservation dot org.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - 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 hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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.