BLM - Environmental Protection Assistant


"The internship program was great in teaching me about the job and helping me to understand all the different parts of it. Every part of the internship helped me not just in the STEM world,
but in learning things like interacting and working with others."
-Dallas Willoughby
Project #1031 -Environmental Protection Assistant Intern
Full Time Position (30 - 40 hours per week)
AmeriCorps HT 900-Hour Position (Participants can serve in up to two consecutive terms for 1800 hours or one full year)
2 Positions Available in Carlsbad, New Mexico
Interns will be working at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Carlsbad Field Office (CFO)
located at 620 E Greene St, Carlsbad, NM 88220

TRAINING: Members will undergo GEM Environmental Orientation, AmeriCorps Orientation, meaning of National Service, Member Prohibited Activities, how to use your Education Award, Safety, and Leave No Trace trainings upon arrival.

PROGRAM BENEFITS:
  • Up to $31,976 in non-taxable Living Allowance Stipends per year (equivalent to $17.76/hour)
  • No cost ACA compliant health plan available or affordable higher coverage healthcare options are available
  • No cost vision and dental plan available
  • 30 hour OSHA General Industries Certification
  • Participation in personal and professional development opportunities including resume building and mock interviews
  • Professional training certificates
     Upon the successful completion of their term, members may be eligible to receive the following.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Bureau of Land Management is providing an opportunity for multiple individuals to help support natural resource conservation by documenting, categorizing, and inspecting oil- and gas-related operations to protect natural resources across BLM-administered lands in their respective resource areas.
 
This project requires: supporting and conducting on-site inspections of most phases of oil and gas operations; conducting research and gathering and maintaining environmental data relating to mitigation of surface impacts and reclamation of surfaces to a productive condition; conducting inventories and monitoring to support land use plans; assessing lease files, bonds, and inspection and enforcement action entries; and discussing methods of prevention or mitigation with operators and owners of facilities. This may involve: conducting field examinations; assisting with the handling of files; conducting environmental analysis and review pertinent to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); data entry to assure compliance with terms and conditions of land use authorizations; the application of a full range of geospatial analytical techniques to identify, interpret and resolve geographic information systems (GIS) issues and complete a variety of projects and assignments; preparation of correspondence to oil and gas operators and other governmental agencies in accordance with established BLM guidelines and requirements; and analyze potential impacts to natural resources and design appropriate mitigation measures.
 
The selected individual(s) is/are expected to effectively coordinate with project leads and resource specialists to complete tasks according to project priorities, timelines and expectations.
 
EXPECTATIONS OF CLERICAL OR FIELD WORK:
Duties would be split between field- and office-based workload measures which would include: data entry and management within existing databases following quality control/quality assurance practices to ensure integrity; filing of paperwork into the appropriate case file; ground-truthing and collection of geospatial data using global positioning systems and GIS; assessment, documentation, and analyzing environmental impacts; and use of data for creating reclamation plans and cost estimates for remediation.

OTHER DUTIES THAT MAY BE REQUESTED: In order to successfully perform essential functions, physical requirements may include: being required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc.; being required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis; able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms. This position calls for high levels of concentration. A moderate amount of non-overnight travel may be required to conduct field inspections, provide assistance to other field offices, and to provide or receive training. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: The participant may participate in rigorous projects that focus skills and reveal the work qualities of the individual. The project provides the opportunity for the participant to develop or apply personal responsibility in their work. The rigorous schedule of the project helps develop project management skills. The participant will also work with multiple stakeholders in their project, which will help the participant develop communication skills, and experience navigating organizational hierarchies.
 
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicant must be a recent graduate who is able to complete the term without interruption (aside from requested time off); they must have a background in natural resource management, environmental policy, botany, agronomy, rangeland management, geology, biology, ecology, or a related field. Applicants should: demonstrate strong organizational skills and be able to work well with others in a professional setting; have a proficiency in Microsoft Office suite products such as Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; and must have great attention to detail and be capable of problem solving.
 
Additionally, applicants must have the ability to work in both a team environment and as an individual; have the ability to work with the public; applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record; applicant will undergo a government security background clearance prior to starting this position.
 
Preferred qualifications include being familiar with GIS and having a general understanding of federal land resource management policies (e.g., multiple use management).

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:
  • Willing to accept responsibility in a dependable and flexible fashion.
  • Ready to take initiative in doing assigned work without prompting and seeks out other tasks that help the team accomplish their collective goals.
  • Completes work assignments in a safe, professional, and efficient manner.
  • Works hard with a positive mental attitude, while maintaining a safe working environment.
  • Must be able to accurately recognize and assess dangerous work sites or activities to prevent injuries from happening.
  • Must follow all Project Supervisor, Agency Mentor, or GEM Staff instructions regarding safety in the workplace.

Minimum Eligibility requirements for an AmeriCorps participant:
  • Criminal History Check: NSOPW, and Federal/ State Criminal History Checks are required for before program involvement.
  • Documentation proving right to work as a US Citizen, US National, or US Lawful Permanent Resident Alien.
  • Have HS Diploma or agree to obtain diploma or GED prior to using Ed Award. (Only applies to Ed Award)
  • To be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service​ 
If you are interested in applying for this position, please download the GEM Corps application below
​and submit your complete application PDF using the spaces provided below.
Be sure to read our Code of Conduct before submitting your application.
Any questions about the position or submission process may be directed to internships@gemenvironmental.org

    GEM Corps NM YCC with the BLM
    Participant Application Form

    Positions are open for all that wish to apply. GEM Environmental is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. However, we strongly encourage women, minorities, those considered to be low income, first-generation students, or who have veteran status to apply. Successful candidates must be willing to commit to work in an environment including a diverse community of participants for the duration of their specified term. Participants between the ages of 17-30 or 35 for veterans may be eligible to qualify for Public Land Corp (PLC) certification and 2-years of non-competitive hiring authority with the federal government if they serve a minimum of 640 hours on project with at least 120 hours of their term outdoors in the field completing service directly related to their project.
    ​
    ​Answer all the following questions honestly and completely, to the best of your knowledge.
    Please use the spaces provided to answer your questions, if more room is needed to sufficiently answer any of the following questions, ​please attach your answers in an appropriately named document that includes question titles with corresponding numbers in the upload buttons at the bottom of this application.
    Personal Questions         
    Education          
    Background Questions         
    Applicants approved for interviews must pass a federal background check before the project start date. 
    Physical Questions          
    The following questions are circumstantial and will not disqualify you from consideration                      
    Participant Demographics       
     Your answers to the following questions are used for internal reporting purposes only, collected demographic               
    ​statistics are used to ensure our programs remain consistent with our organization's mission.                 
    Short Essay Questions    
    Responses will be critiqued on content, grammar, and the applicant's ability to clearly convey their intended point.
    Supplemental Documentation     
    ​    Please provide copies of the following documents as PDF attachments submitted in the spaces provided below.
    Max file size: 20MB
    Max file size: 20MB
    Max file size: 20MB
    Max file size: 20MB
    To be considered complete, applications must include a minimum of three professional references.
    References may be included at the end of the resume. We strongly encourage applicants to have letter
    of recommendation submitted on their behalf by reputable members of the community or
    faculty members from a current school or alma mater.
    Please note that letters of recommendation must be submitted by the individual making the recommendation directly to the Director of Internships at: internships@gemenvironmental.org