Position Title: Assistant Youth Conservation Crew Leader: Old Fort
Conservation Legacy Program: CCNC
Site Location: Based out of Old Fort, NC
Wages: $16.25 per hour, plus overtime
Terms of Service:
Start Date: June 1st
End Date: August 7th
(Season end dates may vary depending on crew assignment, project timelines, and organizational needs. Final service dates will be confirmed upon placement)
TO BE CONSIDERED, APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 11TH.
Organizational Summary:
Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit. The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands. These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air and water; thriving people and resilient communities.
Program Summary:
Conservation Corps North Carolina empowers young adults through meaningful outdoor work that benefits North Carolina’s land and water and fosters healthy communities. A program of Conservation Legacy, CCNC partners with public land managers and community organizations across the state to engage motivated individuals, typically ages 15–30, in challenging and impactful conservation service projects. These projects may include trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, hazard fuel reduction, invasive species removal, and other technical conservation work. CCNC crews and individual placements gain hands-on experience, professional development, and the opportunity to positively impact North Carolina’s natural resources and communities.
Description of Duties:
This position is part of a partnership between CCNC and the U.S. Forest Service to deliver the Old Fort Youth Conservation Corps program. The Assistant Crew Leader position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while supporting conservation projects on public and private lands. Assistant Crew Leaders work alongside the Crew Leader to mentor, supervise, and support youth participants, helping facilitate hands-on learning experiences that promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water.
In this role, the Assistant Crew Leader will support the Crew Leader in guiding and mentoring a team of up to six high school–aged youth (typically ages 15–18) through CCNC’s Youth Conservation Corps program. Assistant Crew Leaders play an active role in daily supervision, coaching, and technical instruction, helping create the structure and support youth need to succeed. This position requires patience, strong communication, and a willingness to model professionalism while helping participants build confidence, teamwork skills, and basic workplace readiness.
Through trail and land stewardship projects in Western North Carolina, Assistant Crew Leaders will work alongside the Crew Leader to introduce youth to careers in conservation and public lands while modeling professionalism, accountability, and a strong work ethic. The Assistant Crew Leader helps foster a safe, supportive, and growth-focused environment where young people can challenge themselves, build new skills, and see the real impact of their work on the community.
It means more than just showing up and doing the work, ACLs set an example of how to work hard with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It means facilitating learning experience for Crew Members, both formally and informally. This position may require additional participation time outside of standard project and crew hours.
ACLs are asked to work hard, stay positive, and be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. They also need to be prepared to work with youth participants and the specific challenges that come with the age range. This is a seasonal position; ACLs are asked to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline.
Standard youth crew schedule consists of working Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with evenings and weekends off.
All Youth Crew Leaders will complete two weeks of paid training from June 1st – June 12th before leading two separate youth crew sessions.
Session I: June 15th – July 3rd
Break Week: July 6th – July 10th
Session II: July 13th – August 7th
There will be a one-week break between sessions for both Crew Leaders and participants. Depending on project timelines and partner needs, some positions may run for 6 weeks, concluding as early as July 31st.
Assistant Crew Leader Responsibilities:
Project Management & Implementation
- Train and motivate a crew of six youth participants (ages 15-18) to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands.
- Delegate project work & investment among ACL and crew.
- Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
- Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
- Demonstrate and support a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, staff crew leader, members, and CCNC staff.
- Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
- Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
- Transport crew and equipment safely in CCNC’s vans or large vehicles with trailers.
- Manage crew medical history forms and incident documentation in conjunction with the staff crew leader.
Once selected and prior to their start date, ACLs are required to complete an online enrollment process that includes completing e-forms, uploading IDs, and beginning their background check process. For those with limited access to online platforms, accommodations may be available and can be discussed during the interview process.
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for veterans up to age 35)
- Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status.
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal and/or State criminal background check.
- Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions.
- High School diploma or GED certificate.
- Must have a clean driving record (insurable by CCNC) and a current driver’s license.
- Current CPR/AED certificate.
- Experience with CCNC or another Conservation Corps.
- Background with experiential and/ or environmental education.
- Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
- Strong conflict resolution skills.
Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements
Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your position.
Participation and Expedition Behavior
- Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
- Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities.
- Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise.
- Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements
- Appropriately represent the program to the public and project partners.
- Effectively perceive, understand, and follow directions to manage hazards.
- Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions
- Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.
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.
- Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary.
- This is a seasonal position; Assistant Crew Leaders are asked to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline.
Orientation and Training:
- Assistant Crew Leaders will be trained June 1st – June 12th (Monday through Friday) prior to crew’s start date.
- Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist.
- Uniform shirts, helmet, work gloves, eye protection, and other necessary safety equipment is provided.
- Depending upon the academic institution and program, ACL positions may fulfill internship requirements.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Exposure to natural resource career paths and opportunities.
Supervisor/Staff Name and Contact Information:
Jackie Meyer, Senior Youth Program Coordinator
jmeyer@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.
