Position Title: Great Smoky Mountains Trail Crew– Staff Crew Leader II 

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps  

Reports to: Program Coordinator, Program Director   

Site Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park  

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt, Camping Program   

Dates: August 10, 2026-October 9, 2026 

Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications 

Health Benefits: Medical benefit options may be available for individuals serving 6 months or longer 

Other Benefits: Wilderness First Aid Training, Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available  

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members  

Purpose — About Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC):   
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship. 

Southeast Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-17) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host day or overnight camping crews and individual placements. 

Our AmeriCorps positions provide impactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes. SECC’s participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various backgrounds. 

SECC is an independent, non-residential program, and crew members are responsible for securing their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch, crews manage camp chores and prepare all their own meals, with evenings often including group discussions. Members must provide their own personal outdoor gear (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots), while SECC provides group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.     

Description of Duties 

The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water. 

Standard schedule generally consists of 9 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 5 days off with some exceptions. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.  

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on teams. 

Service Project: 

SECC and Great Smoky Mountains National Park have partnered to host a trail crew alongside the National Park Service Trail Crew. The primary focus of the project will be the restoration of the Bullhead Trail, with additional projects in various park locations. While the crew should expect to work on the lower portion of Bullhead Trail, this project is highly physically demanding. In addition to hiking 3-5 miles round trip per day there will be times participants will hike up to Mt. LeConte—an arduous level 5-mile trek each way with an elevation gain of approximately 3,000 feet—along with other tough hikes, all while carrying heavy loads of tools, equipment, and a day pack.  

The GRSM Trail Program Coordinator will lead the crew and oversee restoration efforts. Members will camp overnight in the field and complete service projects outdoors in all weather conditions, performing manual labor related to conservation and restoration. Potential tasks include, but are not limited to: 

• Trail construction and maintenance 
• Corridor clearing 
• Repair or installation of water structures along trails 
• Campground maintenance 
• Habitat restoration 
• Community Service 

Crew Life: 

• Crew Structure: SECC crews consists of 4 crew members and 2 crew leaders who will provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants. 
• Hitch Schedule: GRSM fall crew will operate on a Monday to Friday, 5 day on 2 day off hitch schedule with 10-hour shifts and scheduled breaks throughout the day. Travel days from and to SECC office (Mon/Fri). Project days on Bullhead Trail will take place Tues-Thurs. Most projects involve strenuous manual labor in all weather conditions and require hiking to and from the project sites daily, carrying tools and day packs.  
• Camping: Frontcountry 
• Housing: While on hitch, applicants should be prepared to camp throughout the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary. Housing is not provided from Friday-Sunday evenings. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements while not in the field. 
• Food: Food is provided while in the field. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance. 
• Chores: Crew members collaborate to manage camp chores (planning meals, shopping, cooking, washing dishes, etc.) and participate in any group discussions. 
• Gear: Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack). SECC has a limited supply of loaner gear available for crew members to borrow, but it may not fit personal preferences or specific needs. SECC will provide tools, group camp equipment, and personal protective equipment 
• Transportation: SECC will provide transportation between SECC office and project sites. 

**SECC is a nonresidential program. Housing is not provided during off-hitch (Friday-Sunday) evenings. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements while not in the field. 

Our Commitment: 

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

Responsibilities:   

Leadership & Mentorship  

• Mentor assistant crew leader: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development. 
• Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics. 
• Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community. 
• Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program. 

Project Management & Implementation   

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale. 
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed. 
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader (or Crew Leader in Development), & staff. 

Safety & Risk Management   

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety. 
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety. 
• Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with CL Driver policy. 
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy. 

Administration   

• Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure.   
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases. 
• Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month. 

Camp Management 

• Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks). 
• Monitor and manage crew community needs in camp. 
• Instruct crew in how to create a safe, hygienic, and tidy camp environment while mitigating crew caused impacts to campsites, practicing minimum impact camping techniques. 
• Maintain all program policies and procedures in camp environment. 
• Leading a camping crew is an intensive commitment requiring a continuous physical presence. Leaders must remain physically present, and cognitively and emotionally available to support community and individual crew member needs. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Full commitment to the program and its mission. 
• Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies. 
• Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults. 
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50 hour work week including managing projects, camping, and programmatic policies and integrity throughout. 
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment. 
• Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders. 
• Able to work long days in adverse conditions. 
• Must be able to speak, understand and write English. 
• High School diploma or GED certificate. 
• Must over the age of 21 OR have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties). 

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following: 

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education. 
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (for front country crews: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) or be willing to receive certification prior to start date. 
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel. 
• Facilitation and team-building experience. 
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others. 
• Strong conflict resolution skills. 
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience. 
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others. 

Substance Free: 

In accordance with a drug free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.   

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.