Reimagining the future of fire and forestry work

0
companies
0
Jobs

Youth Conservation Corps Crew Leader I

Conservation Legacy

Conservation Legacy

Chattanooga, TN, USA
USD 20-25 / hour
Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Title: Youth Conservation Corps-Crew Leader I

Reports to: Program Coordinator, Program Director

Location/s: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, serving in various locations across the greater Chattanooga, TN area

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Day Crew, Non-Exempt

Dates:

Leader Training:

  • 5/18/2026-5/22/2026
  • 5/25/2026-5/29/2026

Session I – Day Crew

  • Start Date: 06/01/2026
  • End Date: 06/26/2026

Unpaid Week off: 6/29/2026 - 07/03/2026

Session II – Day Crew

  • Start Date: 07/06/2026
  • End Date: 07/24/2026

*Leader must be available for both sessions*

Wages: $20-25 per hour, depending on prior experience and certifications, plus overtime

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

Other Benefits: Uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Youth 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.

SECC, a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-18) 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 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.

Position Summary:

The Crew Leader I 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 Monday – Friday, 8-hour workdays, plus occasional overtime. Crew Leaders may also be required to come into the office to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff.

The Crew Leader I 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 dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities.

Service Project:

Session I project: The Town of Walden Tennessee and SECC have partnered to host a Youth Conservation Corps Day Crew to build a new trail network connecting Walden’s community and its beloved pumpkin patch playground. The second session will take place constructing a new trail within a newly developing pubic park for the City of Chattanooga.

Service projects vary depending on seasonal factors and safety considerations. While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs. However, tasks may also include, but are not limited to:

  • Trail construction and maintenance
  • Corridor cleaning
  • Invasive species removal
  • Habitat restoration
  • Fence installation and repair
  • Bridge installation and repair
  • Community Service

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

Mentor assistant crew leader (or Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP): 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.

Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

  • Mentor assistant crew leader: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
  • Understand and integrate Conservation Legacy’s DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within crew community context.
  • 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.
  • Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.

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.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel.
  • Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
  • Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
  • Strong conflict resolution skills.
  • Technical trails and Chainsaw experience.
  • Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

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.

To Apply: Complete the Application, upload cover letter and resume.

Any questions can be addressed to:

Carlyle Grundon

Program Coordinator

Cgrundon@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.