Job Details

Visitor Services Assistant - Tahoe National Forest, Multiple Districts

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking 3 members to contribute to visitor services alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 2026

Estimated End Date: September 2026

*a 16-week minimum commitment is required, flexible start and end dates*

Location Details/Description: Tahoe National Forest, one position per district

The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard ownership pattern. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.

Sierraville Ranger District: The Sierraville Ranger District office is located in Sierraville, California, a small town on scenic Highway 89 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sierraville is a beautiful community located at approximately 5,000 feet in elevation. Communities within 30 minutes of Sierraville include Truckee, Loyalton, Calpine, and Portola.

American River District: The American River Ranger District is located in Foresthill, California. Foresthill is a beautiful mountain community, located 17 miles east of Auburn and Interstate 80. Foresthill is surrounded on the south and west by the Auburn State Recreation Area, on the north by BLM lands, and on the east by National Forest. The American River Ranger District is distinguished with a portion of Granite Chief Wilderness, the North Fork American Wild River and Placer County Big Trees (northernmost grove of Giant Sequoias).

Truckee Ranger District: The Truckee Ranger District Office is in Truckee, California on Interstate 80, approximately 35 miles west of Reno, Nevada and 15 miles north of Lake Tahoe. The town elevation varies between 5200 and 7200 feet. Summer temperatures average in the upper 70s/low 80s, while winter temperatures can be as low as 14. Average annual snowfall is more than 200". The population is about 12,600.

For more information, please visit the Tahoe National Forest website.

Position Overview: This opportunity is an entry level position, intended for a candidate with a strong interest or well-developed working background in conservation, natural resources management, wilderness management, recreation management, or a similar field. The Visitor Services Assistant should possess a passion for public land management, customer service, and a professional interest in advancing their career towards natural resource management.

Duties may include:

• Providing excellent customer service by enthusiastically answering questions, greeting and assisting visitors
• Work closely with recreation staff, seasonal and other permanent staff to provide current and accurate information with a welcoming environment for visitors
• Inform visitors of rules and regulations, safety risks and recreational opportunities
• Evaluate public inquiries in order to provide the most useful and appropriate information or to suggest other options or redirect caller to the appropriate District staff
• Assist with tracking visitor use
• Respond to radio traffic in support of District personnel
• Administrative work including computer work, paperwork, filing, answering multi-line phones, cleaning and organization of the front office and Visitor Information desk
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Serves as Collection Officer to sell forest timber permits maps and passes, and other items, such as merchandise, in accordance with Forest Service manual and handbook requirements

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

Schedule:

• American River: Approximately 8am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Hours may vary based on outreach events and cross-training.
• Sierraville: Approximately 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Hours may vary based on outreach events and cross-training.
• Truckee: Approximately 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Hours may vary based on outreach events and cross-training.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. However, housing may be available at a daily bunk rate of approximately $7-20 per day by the Forest. A Housing Allowance of up to $240/week will be available. Local candidates are encouraged to apply.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include Wilderness First Aid, conflict management, customer service, communication, interpersonal, and relevant software. ACE members will have up to $55 to spend on eligible training/professional development opportunities, which must be approved by ACE and Forest Service staff prior to purchase.

Qualifications

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can have relevant experience in subject areas such as Recreation Management and/or Natural Resources.
• Passion for conservation education!
• Ability to educate visitors in responsible recreation and/or other natural resource topics in accordance with Forest Service objectives and policies, to reinforce compliance with laws/regulations, to resolve problems, and to provide assistance to forest visitors. Contacts may include dealing with some persons and/or groups that may be uncooperative, hostile and who have different viewpoints.
• Must have strong communication skills
• Must be able to work alone and in small groups with minimal supervision, and adhere to instructions, procedure and use initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently
• Public outreach and making contacts with visitors is a key component of this role.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Occasional physical activity such as hiking over rough terrain.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

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 self, 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 US Forest Service. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the USFS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the USFS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to USFS 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 our 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 Tahoe Project Director, Al Richert, arichert@usaconservation . org

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 or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, 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, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, 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.