Position Title: Recreation Trails Technician – MAY START

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps

Site Location: Cherokee National Forest Unaka & Watauga Ranger Districts

Address: Unaka: 4900 Asheville Hwy, Greeneville, TN 37743 Watauga: 4400 Unicoi Dr, Unicoi, TN 37692

Position Available: 3

Terms of Service: 50 Weeks

Start Date: 05/11/2026

End Date: 04/23/2027

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hr

Purpose:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position. SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service and environmental stewardship. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning.

USFS: The phrase, “Caring for the Land and Serving People,” captures the Forest Service mission. As set forth in law, the mission is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept.

The Unaka Ranger District, located in Greeneville, TN, administers approximately 185,000 acres in four counties – Cocke, Greene, Washington, and Unicoi. The climate consists of four very distinct, very mild seasons, which allow residents and visitors to take advantage of limitless outdoor recreational opportunities available. The average annual temperature is 55 degrees with 11 inches of snowfall and an average of 42 inches of rainfall.

The Watauga Ranger District, located in Unicoi, TN, is the northernmost district and administers approximately 167,000 acres in three counties – Carter, Johnson and Sullivan. There are two TVA lakes located on the district, South Holston Lake near Bristol, TN and Watauga Lake near Elizabethton, TN. Both lakes are used year-round for recreation activities such as boating, swimming and fishing. There are approximately 175 miles of single and multiple use non-motorized trails, including 69 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The District Office is located in Unicoi, TN about 10 miles south of Johnson City, TN with a work center in Hampton, TN.

Position Overview:

This Individual Placement is designed as an entry-level professional opportunity to serve directly with a federal land management agency, developing relevant skills, qualifications, and experience. The service focuses on trails, recreation facilities and NNIS treatment. Hurricane Helene, along with many other recent impacts, has created significant impacts on the north zone of the Cherokee National Forest. The individual placement will serve alongside Forest Service technicians and specialists in a variety of resource areas, including trail management, wilderness stewardship, engineering, archaeology, outdoor recreational facilities, wildlife management, silviculture, forestry, and wildland fire. While the service will focus on trail maintenance, the exposure and training are designed to equip the individual with the necessary experience to compete for an entry-level position with a land management agency upon program completion. The individual placement will also use GIS technology and associated devices to collect data from across the district, helping trail specialists build a comprehensive assessment of current conditions. Service will involve hiking, inclement weather, and physical demands.

Description of Duties:

Trail Operations

· Serve with the Supervisor or shift lead to gain an understanding of basic trail custodial care.

· Clear trails of areas affected by post-Helene blowdown.

· Mitigate post-Helene run off damage on system trails.

· Keep consistent records of data gathered and stay organized.

· Serve with trail staff to mitigate immediate concerns or develop recommendations on remedies.

· Treat NNIS that established post Helene in remote areas along system trails.

Recreation Facility Operations

· Perform routine maintenance on recreation facilities, which involves trade skills such as plumbing, carpentry and minor electrical.

· Operate string trimmers and lawn mowers for grounds keeping.

· Clean and restock bathrooms and shower facilities.

· Assist the recreation lead in planning and organizing project service tasks.

· Identify required project materials, tools, and equipment needed for the day.

· Use a variety of hand tools and power tools to accomplish the assigned tasks.

· Assist team with clean-up and monitoring after the service is completed

Potential environmental/human risk involved with this term of service: Uneven terrain, physical exertion, inclement weather, and remote service sites.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent before using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Valid Driver’s License
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong interest in road construction, serving outdoors, and natural resource management.
• Proven ability to complete assignments and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable navigating by map throughout the forest, including areas with limited or no cell coverage.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience with hand tools and power tools.

· Crosscut or chainsaw sawyer Certification. (B Certifications)

· Experience collecting data in the backcountry.

· Experience with navigation by map and terrain association.

· Experience with ESRI Field Maps, Survey123, and ArcGIS software.

· College degree or professional experience in environmental studies, natural resources, outdoor recreation, or a related field.

Transportation:

A personal vehicle is required due to the limited public transportation and rural character of this location. USFS/SECC vehicles will be provided for transportation only for forest capacity. This Individual Placement will have to be a driver.

Physical Requirements:

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

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve 8 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week – but exact service schedules may vary and will include evening and weekend service depending on project needs. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Defensive Driving, how to drive on gravel roads / USFS Roads

· Driver education, trailer, mini ex, UTV (RHOVA), and other certificates/trainings for various equipment if required

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395.00
• Living Allowance: $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit: $420 per week.
• Benefits: yes
• Possible student loan forbearance.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or service-life balance specialist.
• Uniform shirts
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Bi-weekly timesheets
• Monthly Accomplishment Report
• Narrative Monthly Report.
• Bi-Monthly Check-Ins
• Midterm and Final Evals
• Exiting Task

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.

Applications will begin review on November 10, 2025, with a selection by February 9, 2026.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Seong Hopkins

District Program Manager

USFS – Cherokee National Forest

SEONG.HOPKINS@USDA.GOV

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson

Individual Placement Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org

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.