Operations Associate

at  American Conservation Experience

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of a volunteer labor force to help restore America’s public lands. ACE has a national reputation for providing exceptional training and support to enable crews to safely and economically implement technically complex and physically demanding conservation projects for the US Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, USFWS and numerous state and local land management partners.
Job Title: Operations Associate
Location: Ridgecrest, CA.
Department/Division: Crew, Pacific West
Status: Temporary, Full-time, Exempt
Schedule/Hours: Flexible schedule with varying shifts (Monday- Friday); Full-time, 40 hours/week with additional hours as needed. Some evening hours may be occasionally required. This is a temporary position with an anticipated term from April 13 - October 11, 2025. This term may be extended if agreed upon by ACE and the incumbent.
Reports To: Senior Project Manager(s)
Travel: Significant regional travel required, including backcountry travel on foot.
Start Date: April 13th, 2025
Grade: 2

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Operations Associate (OA) serves in a temporary role fulfilling some duties normally undertaken by a permanent staff member who will be on leave. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating numerous aspects of conservation field projects alongside other Operations Team and partner staff while also collaborating with PW Member Services Team staff. The OA will have three major areas of responsibility:

• Project preparation
• Project implementation
• Project reporting.

The Operations Associate ensures ACE crews are fully prepared and equipped with the necessary project supplies, transportation, and equipment prior to departing for their projects, are responsible for overseeing quality control, safety compliance, and equipment maintenance, and perform related work as assigned. The OA plays a crucial role in advancing ACE’s core values of quality, inclusion, professional development, stewardship, and partner immersion. The OA is a critical link in project communication, coordination and logistical organization for ACE crew projects in their assigned base location.
This position is located at ACE PW’s base location in Ridgecrest, CA and requires significant regional travel (70%) alongside office work (30%). Travel includes overnight stays in a variety of accommodations including camping in backcountry locations in and around the High Sierra.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and one year of related professional experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree (AA+2 years or 3 years related professional experience). Substitutions must be stated at the time the position is recruited.
• 3-4 years of experience working in field conservation positions, with 1-2 years serving in a leadership role, preferably within a Conservation Corps
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing field operations in environmentally sensitive areas
• Considerable experience and demonstrable knowledge of methods, materials, tools, and techniques used in a wide variety of conservation field work including environmental restoration, trail construction and maintenance, and other conservation tasks
• Strong organizational and communication skills and experience leading, training and motivating diverse groups of young adults in a safe, organized and professional manner
• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFR preferred and in some cases may be required), CPR, and BBP certification
• Ability to perform a wide variety of heavy manual labor, for extended periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions and in various climates
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes including key responsibilities of crew leaders
• Must maintain a positive, constructive work environment conducive to team dynamics
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members, partner agency staff, and the general public
• Ability to adapt to dynamic work environments and conditions that can change frequently
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex safety issues
• Ability to handle concurrent operations in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel and camp out for extended periods of time
• Must be flexible and possess a high work ethic
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions
• Ability to prevent, analyze and resolve safety issues; possess knowledge of safety procedures as applied to field operations and experience in encouraging and enforcing compliance with safety policies
• Possess and maintain equipment operator skills and techniques used in conservation/environmental operations
• Working knowledge of young adult development, team-building and motivational techniques

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record
• Proficient in English
• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check
• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time.

ACE VALUES AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE WORKFORCE AND IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION IN CONSERVATION WORK ON PUBLIC LANDS. IF YOU ENJOY BEING OUTDOORS (OR GETTING OTHERS OUTDOORS!) AND MEET AT LEAST 70 PERCENT OF THE QUALIFICATIONS, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY!

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.
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

The Operations Associate (OA) serves in a temporary role fulfilling some duties normally undertaken by a permanent staff member who will be on leave. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating numerous aspects of conservation field projects alongside other Operations Team and partner staff while also collaborating with PW Member Services Team staff. The OA will have three major areas of responsibility:

• Project preparation
• Project implementation
• Project reporting