Ice Harbor Lock & Dam-Visitor Center Host

Point of contact for this opportunity:  Janet.E.Cook@usace.army.mil  509-385-2263.

Description: Located in Burbank, in southeastern Washington State, along the lower Snake River at the confluence with the Columbia River (Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and surrounding public lands), near Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland).

JOB DESCRIPTION/DUTIES:

1. Open/close and staff the visitor center. Ensure that theatre and electronic kiosks are operational. Stock brochures and other handouts. Maintain calendar of events and facility use (Daily).

2. Provide 1 to 4 guided tours per week of the powerhouse, top of dam, and navigation lock, and enhance visitor experiences inside the visitor center and displays (Weekends).

3. Greet visitors, answer visitor questions, provide good customer service, educate visitors about recreational opportunities, and promote water safety. Increase awareness of Ice Harbor Lock and Dam Project’s story through effective communication techniques, providing accurate information when asked (even if this means taking down questions to allow for research and follow-up at a later time) (Daily).

4. Laminate posters and other items. Attend staff meetings when requested. Learn details of the Project and our mission via various media—videos, literature, etc. Research answers to questions asked by public. Attend volunteer-related functions, including training, potluck picnics, and recognition events (Occasional).

5. Perform other duties as agreed-upon (Occasional—see list of examples below).

6. Work may involve sitting and standing, walking up to 1-1/2 hours continuously over a 1-mile round trip over concrete (tours) and/or asphalt and uneven ground (in parks), and lifting up to 20 Pounds for 100 feet.

7. All of the equipment and training needed to complete the host duties shall be provided by the Government. Preview one of the movies we show in our VC, entitled "The Snake--River of Life", at http://vimeo.com/14616631.

8. Tasks will be directed by Volunteer Coordinator or representative. Scheduling and tracking of hours and tasks accomplished will be maintained by the Volunteer Coordinator or representative (Volunteer Point of Contact).

Examples of additional duties commonly requested, as appropriate:

1. Assist rangers with special projects in outreach areas, such as events in parks and schools, bulletin board displays, inspections of life jacket loaner boards and playgrounds, traffic counter readings, boat patrols, etc., as needed.

2. Collect and distribute paper supplies to campground gatehouses and similar tasks. Pre-package water safety and other handouts (for volunteers, tour groups/teachers, events, etc.).

3. Develop interpretive programs for various focus areas, such as hydropower production, or regional information to share with potential visitors and volunteers.

4. Collect communications and submit ideas to staff to possibly share out to the public, including identifying pertinent safety or event information for public announcements (posters, Facebook page, etc.). All suggestions will be fielded by NRM staff for approval.

5. Assist staff, contractors, and volunteers with maintaining the lost and found program, including logging in and tracking items and reports.

6. Transfer mail and other items to and from roadside mailbox, post office, main dam mail and UPS stations, campground gatehouses, and related locations.

7. Assist with office-related support tasks (mainly at Natural Resources “Overlook” Building), such as filing, photocopying forms, making labels, answering infrequent phone calls from the public (approximately 20 to 30 fielded by staff over all seven days of the week), and other light office support.

8. Gather and catalog photos within indexed database (assist Archivist).

Note: We are working toward eventually developing a “Volunteer Village” camping area at Charbonneau Park, and throughout the year, we may have a couple group work days where we’d like all of our volunteers to consider participating in the efforts needed to get this functional.

THE SITE: Located near the Tri-Cities, Washington, at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, Ice Harbor Lock and Dam includes a powerhouse, a navigation lock, fish passage, and a visitor center. Construction started in 1956 and is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is capable of providing over 608 MW of power to the Northwest. Tons of commodities pass through the navigation lock per year as part of the river system between the Pacific Ocean and Lewiston, Idaho. We manage several campgrounds and day use parks near the dam, as well as habitat management units (HMUs) for wildlife in the region.

QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRED SKILLS:

1. Ability to work independently, professionally, and cooperatively with a diverse team of personnel and visitors. Maintain professional image at all times, since you are representing the Corps of Engineers.

2. Cognitive, verbal and auditory ability to learn facts and figures about dams and our missions and answer questions and communicate with various visitors. Desire to meet and interact with persons from varied backgrounds.

3. Willingness to commit to a majority of the recreation season between May and September (round-trip mileage allowance may be authorized for 13 to 16 weeks of service), ability to pass a criminal background check.

4. Have or obtain a valid government-issued driver’s license and pass Corps-sponsored online driver safety course.

5. Willingness to follow safety regulations and policies, wear personal protective equipment as required to perform tasks, represent the “face of the Corps” to visitors at all times, and abide by same rules and regulations as the general public (“Title 36” Rules and Regulations Governing Public Use of Corps of Engineers Water Resources Development Projects, 36 CFR 327).

6. Be visually able to spot potential safety and security hazards and take prompt appropriate action to report and/or correct in accordance with training provided.

SCHEDULE FOR VOLUNTEERS CAMPING ON SITE: 24 to 32 hours per week, unless otherwise agreed-upon. Work schedule is often shared with other volunteers, and is typically balanced to accommodate personal preference and coverage needs, with 3 to 4 days off in a row to allow for exploring the area.

Visitor Center open daily from 9:00 am through 4:30 pm. Work may include Sundays, holidays, and evenings.

Landline phone is available for local and incoming calls while in the VC (cell service is weak to non-existent inside dam and in some of the patrol areas). Laundry facility is available at the dam (must provide own soap).

SCHEDULE FOR COMMUTER VOLUNTEERS: Local Commuter Volunteers work a minimum of one eight-hour work day per week.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online at volunteer.gov. Volunteer Coordinator will be notified of application. Applications will be collected through January 30th for the following year and adjusted as needed as spots fill up. Interviews, reference and background checks will be conducted.

Resumes, applications and other information can be emailed or mailed directly to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Janet E. Cook, Volunteer Coordinator
USACE—Ice Harbor Lock and Dam
Tri-Rivers Natural Resources Office
2339 Monument Drive
Burbank, WA  99323

janet.e.cook@usace.army.mil
Phone: (509) 543-6066
Walla Walla District website: www.nww.usace.army.mil

www.corpslakes.us/volunteer
1-800-VOL-TEER (865-8337)
(Updated 12/31/2019)