Start Date: June 12, 2023 – February 12, 2024

Compensation: $650 per week + $1000 monthly for housing

Medical Insurance Included

Application Due: April 15, 2023 

The Resource Assistants Program seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers. You must be:

• a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

• fully vaccinated for covid-19 prior to the start of their internship.

• a college graduate.
• personal vehicle required.

Please Apply Here

Project Description:

The position is located at a Forest Service unit with responsibility for supporting managers and resource specialists in the use of geospatial technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for land, natural resources, and ecosystem management. 

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Data Management – Works with managers and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives.  Assists with developing data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications. Converts geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into GIS databases. Assists with the organization and maintenance of resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple disciplines including but not limited to recreation, silviculture, planning, engineering, and fire.  
• Geospatial Analysis – Applies applicable principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to natural resource and relevant socio-economic data and products. Manipulates and analyzes geospatial data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units or a large geographical region.  Performs multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities.
• Cartography and Map Design/Production – Compiles natural resource, topographic, and cartographic data for creation of thematic map products and presentation materials for multi-disciplinary resource management planning, preparation of environmental and social assessments, environmental impact statements and other projects supporting natural resource management decision making. Operates complex computer systems and software packages and uses established procedures to produce intricately detailed maps and graphics for the many varied Forest resource programs, planning documents, and a variety of other requirements. Applies geographic and cartographic principles to the resolution of multi-disciplinary issues in geospatial database construction and map compilation.
• Training and Support – Provides advice and recommendations on sources, standards, integrity, compatibility, and cost efficiency of natural resource and socio-economic information.  Conducts informal training and provides technical assistance to GIS software users in the development, storage, retrieval, and analysis of data. 

Qualifications: 

• Education Level – Social, Biological, or Physical Sciences undergraduate or graduate degree.
• Experience – Knowledge and ability in project planning, data management, geospatial analysis, spatial data product development, training, and GIS technical support.
• Specific Skills – Knowledge of geospatial technology (e.g., Esri ArcMap and ArcPro; ArcGIS Online; image processing; remote sensing; web, mobile and global positioning systems) sufficient to apply established methods and procedures to assist the local and regional geospatial program.
• Personal characteristics – Effective communication skills and personable to work with resource managers, staff officers, and specialists at the unit and the next level of the organization. Contacts are occasionally made with specialists in private industry and other agencies.
• Physical Demands and Work Environment – The work is primarily sedentary.  However, some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved.  The work is typically performed in a climate-controlled office environment involving everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of office settings.  Occasional travel to the field may be required.   

Direct Hire Authority (DHA)

All RAP interns receive Direct Hire Authority (DHA) at the successful conclusion of their internship. DHA status enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans’ preference, and “rule of three” procedures. For more information, please click HERE.

EEO Statement:

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.