Botany Intern

Title: Botany Intern

Start/End Date: September 8, 2025-September 4, 2026 (anticipated)

Term Length: 52 weeks

Pay: $16/hr

Location: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Carlsbad Field Office (CFO)

(620 East Greene St Carlsbad, NM 88220)

Status: Individual Placement; 30-40 hours/week

Benefits: 80 hours of paid time off;Health insurance eligible; Professional development funds of $2,000; Public Lands Corps Certificate* (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs)

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy and AmeriCorps partner, 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 Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placement Positions are unique development opportunities. 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 Intern out of the Carlsbad BLM Field Office. The successful applicant will provide support to the Botany Program including but not limited to support field-going Botany crews.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Work with BLM Botanist and Botany crews to study and collect data for Carlsbad Field Office.
  

• Assist with data entry.
  

• Assist CFO Botany Department with various aspects of the Botany Program on an as-needed basis.
  

• Assist other natural resource staff with various projects.
  

The selected individuals will work with BLM staff under the mentorship of Conservation Corps New Mexico and the BLM field office botanist

Training Provided:

• GIS applications
  

• Integrating botany with other programs, such as hydrology to determine arid wetland capability and wildlife to access habitat.
  

• Research protocols for the Scheer�s beehive cactus to determine life cycle and the role it plays in the ecosystem
  

Working Conditions:

• Office setting includes: computer, printer, ArcGIS, report writing and inventory forms.
  

• Field: 4x4 vehicle, OHV, tablets, Avenza, traversing different terrains and soils, working in different weather conditions such as heat, cold, wind, etc.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
  
• At least 17 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 years
  
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
  
• Required to take at least two post high school classes a semester towards a higher degree.
  

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
  
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
  

• Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  

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 accept differences.
  

• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
  

• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
  

• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
  

• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
  

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
  

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 high winds.
  

• 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 or crises.
  

• 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 from others.
  

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.
  

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The BLM 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 gov’t 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.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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.Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

• To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, participants must be between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.
  

To Apply: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings . Consideration will be given as resumes are received and this position may close at any time. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator, SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.

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.