The Hazardous Fuels Reduction Crew Leader 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 8 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 6 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 Hazardous Fuels Reduction Crew Leader 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.

This crew is funded by Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC). The crew will assist the Forest Service to address wildfire risk on National Forest System lands. Some projects may include fuels reduction, prescribed burning, silvicultural activities, facilities and infrastructure maintenance, and restoration/reforestation efforts. All Hazardous Fuels Reduction crew participants (including members and leaders) will obtain their Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) upon successful completion of required training courses. Courses needing to be obtained by start date listed above includes: IS-700 National Incident Management System, ICS-100 Incident Command System, and L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service. All participants selected for the crew (including waitlist) will need to complete eMedical-Health Screening process and Casual Hire (AD) paperwork with the Forest Service. Once cleared, AZCC/Forest Service will provide Arduous-Work Capacity Test (WCT), S-130 Firefighter Training, S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, Wilderness First Aid, and S-212 Chainsaw Training.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor crew members during their term of service: 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 and coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader, and 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.

• Must hold current medical certification in Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher certification 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.

• High School diploma or GED certificate.

• Must be 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 varied groups of people.

• 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.

• Familiarity working in Indigenous communities