Position Title: Restoration Crew Member
Dates: Fall Crew, October 6th, 2025 - February 27th, 2026 (5 months/675 hours) 
Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:00 pm; 21 weeks 
There will be occasions where service is required outside of these hours; advanced notice will be given 
Total Living Allowance: $8,100.00 (pre-tax, paid bi-weekly) 
Segal Education Award: $2,817.14 upon successful completion of AmeriCorps service term 

The Sustainability Institute’s Environmental Conservation Corps (ECC) program is an AmeriCorps-accredited workforce development and service-learning program for young adults. These opportunities offer desirable field skills and training for people pursuing careers in conservation and environmental fields. 

AmeriCorps SC positions are available to young adults, aged 18-25, who are currently neither in school nor working full time (part-time/weekend jobs are permitted). : 

• Trainings: Build knowledge and skills in a diversity of conservation and sustainability jobs
• Certifications: Receive free professional certifications relevant to the field
• Compensation: Earn a living stipend paid bi-weekly and an end-of-service Segal Education Award
• Connections: Meet and work with a wide variety of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations
• Teamwork: Experience working in a team of peers and within a nonprofit organization
• Leadership: Help lead critically important conservation projects to combat climate change

AmeriCorps Qualifications: 

Program Hours: All Crew Members will be expected to participate during the program hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A 30-minute lunch break every day does not count towards the service hours required for the education award. There will be occasions where service is required outside of these hours; advanced notice will be given. 

Background Check: Program enrollment requires every member to successfully provide information to program staff for the completion of the CNCS (Corporation for National and Community Service) three-part criminal history check (NSOPW check, state of residence and/or state of service check, and FBI fingerprint check). Members must sign the CNCS - National Criminal History Service Check (NCHSC) at the time of interview. CNCS has established requirements that may not allow a member to serve due to the member’s previous criminal history. 

Age: Crew Members must be at least 17 years of age at time of enrollment and between the ages 18 - 25 (at time of enrollment) to qualify. Any member under age 18 at time of enrollment must receive legal parent/guardian consent, including signed forms provided by staff. 

Education: A high school diploma or GED is required to serve with AmeriCorps. If a recruit has not earned his/her/their high school diploma, GED, or accredited equivalent prior to starting the ECC Program, they are required to obtain it within two years following their service term. In these instances, we require members to either attend or enroll in future GED training while in our program. SI staff will assist the member in arranging class and testing needs through local educational institutions. 

Physical Requirements: Due to the conditions and scope of work performed by the Environmental Conservation Corps, members must be physically able to perform all program work, fully and equally, as other Corps Members. This includes, but is not limited to, climbing, heavy lifting, bending, working from one’s knees or back, working in excessive hot, cold, or rainy conditions and/or other work components deemed necessary by SI staff. 

Position Description: 

Crew Members will engage in habitat restoration activities in public parks, forests and waterways, including, but not limited to, activities such as contructing trails, boardwalks, and bridges, fabricating substrate and installing oyster castle reefs; planting native plants and trees; performing water quality testing and monitoring; and designing/maintaining rain gardens. 

Environmental Stewardship Work: 

• Trail stewardship and maintenance
  • Constructing boardwalks and bridges
  • Redirecting trails and trail corridor clearing
  • Tool safety, tool and chain saw introductions
  • Main Program Partners: Charleston County Parks, ACE Basin NERR, US Forest Service
• Salt marsh and oyster restoration along the coast of South Carolina
  • In collaboration with the SC Department of Natural Resources SCORE (South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement) program, we will be performing:
    • Oyster shell pickup, recycling, and trash sorting
    • Fabricating manufactured wire reef substrate
    • Installing oyster castles in the marsh
    • Marsh grass seed collection
    • Marsh grass seed planting and cultivating
  • Other program partners may include but are not limited to: Coastal Conservation League, The Nature Conservancy South Carolina, Charleston Waterkeeper, ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, and South Carolina Aquarium.
• Freshwater and tidal saltwater quality monitoring
  • Work includes monthly monitoring of four designated sites and performing water sampling, testing, data collection, and reporting. Training is provided.
  • Testing for microplastics in waterways
  • Main program partner: SC Department of Environmental Services and Clemson University’s Adopt-A-Stream program, Charleston Waterkeeper
• Maintaining native rain gardens, pollinator gardens, and urban vegetable gardens
  • Partners may include but are not limited to: Clemson Extension Service, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Fields to Families, and Green Heart Project.

General Responsibilities: 

• Adhere to rules of conduct and service expectations as detailed in Member Handbook
• Maintain familiarity with AmeriCorps operations and procedures (the Corps Network/ CNCS)
• Follow and obey prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• Participate in all required trainings, days of service, and responsibilities toward projects and functions as directed by SI Staff
• Report daily (on service days) to the Restoration Field Manager
• Be prepared to accept delegated tasks from SI staff
• Maintain the ECC van, service trailer, and inventory of project equipment to ensure they remain “work-ready” and in good operation
• Assist with upkeep of office interior and equipment storage and supply areas
• Maintain a positive and encouraging work environment for fellow Crew Members
• Represent self and program well in front of partners, community members, etc.
• Participate in community outreach events
• Uphold self-accountability by coming into the office prepared for the day

Training Provided: 

The Sustainability Institute is committed to strong member development and includes in its plan a comprehensive set of resources offered to Crew Members that are designed to ensure member retention, personal growth, and success. These include, but are not limited to, in-depth assessment of skills and interests upon arrival, a strong orientation, financial literacy training, cover letter/ resume training, team-building activities, and exposure to outside employment opportunities upon completion of service with the Program.

The ECC Program is dedicated to providing members with field-based certifications and conservation-based trainings during their time of service: 

Fall Cohort: 

• Habitat Restoration
  • Adopt-A-Stream Freshwater and Tidal Saltwater monitoring
  • Clemson Master Rain Gardener
• Worksite Safety
  • CPR/First Aid
  • Jobsite and Tool
• Professional Development/Soft Skills
  • Financial Literacy Workshop
  • Resume/Cover Letter Workshop

The Sustainability Institute is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to our employees and applicants. Hiring and promotional decisions are made without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or marital status. The Sustainability Institute does not tolerate discrimination against anyone protected under federal or state law.

Please direct questions to the Director of Conservation, Marni Friedman at Marni@sustainabilityinstitutesc.org