Title: Staff Crew Leader- Summer Trail Crew

Date: 5/29-8/11/2023. Possible extension into fall season

Reports to: Field Supervisor, Program Director

Starting Salary: $690-800/week DOE, paid biweekly

Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and working in regional National Parks, National Forests, and Local Non-Profit Lands

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Southeast Conservation Corps:
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service.

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days.

SECC works with a variety of land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The project work is manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.  

Crews work in frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Workdays are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project work and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC works to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.   

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Leaders are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The Crew Leader must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.  

Position Summary:

Southeast Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. The Crew Leader position requires, mentorship, patience, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew.

This position will be joined by an Assistant Crew Leader (ACL), an AmeriCorps leadership position focusing on the continued development of leadership skills. While this will be a collaborative relationship, the Crew Leader bears ultimate responsibility for member development, as well as high quantity project accomplishments for our partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 1-2 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps
• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission
• Leadership experience with youth or young adults
• Technical trail construction and maintenance experience
• Excellent organizational & communication skills
• Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills
• Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
• Ability to effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of crew life and production within a hitch schedule
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment
• Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders
• Must be adaptive, patient and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout
• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles
• High School diploma or GED certificate
• Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED
• Must be 21+, OR have a clean driving record for 3+years (insurable by SECC) and a current driver’s license
• Willingness to deploy on a Disaster Response

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background with experiential and/or environmental education
• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
• Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects
• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Experience with Disaster Response
• Forest Service chainsaw certifications  
• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others