Position Summary:

The Crew Leader II 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 9 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 5 days off with some exceptions. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day on 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 Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistent 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.

Project Description:

SECC has partnered with the Southern region of the U.S. Forest Service to host a roving boundary maintenance crew that will be based out of Chattanooga, TN and will travel in a crew vehicle and hike out to various forest locations as needed by project partners.

During their time in the field, crews will perform heavy manual labor to complete conservation projects. These projects require traversing through challenging terrain to project sites while carrying up to 50lbs of gear and equipment. Crew members will camp overnight, serve outdoors (in all weather conditions), maintain equipment, and perform all duties with safety as a top priority. We ask that crew members embrace the learning opportunities, preserve through challenges, and build community with their crew.

Projects will vary based on the priorities and direction of SECC and USFS with a focus on:

• Maintenance/ renewal of US Forest Service exterior boundary lines within USFS boundary line marking standards to verify oil and gas lease applications, as well as mining and prospecting claims

• Maintenance of existing USFS exterior boundary corners to USFS standards to ensure accuracy of all mineral lease applications by updating corner cards (manually and/or electronically)

• Collecting field data related to leasing and maintenance activities (manually and/or electronically)

• Other surveying and mapping land boundary activities, as needed, for accurately verifying current and future leasing of minerals

The projects are extremely arduous and require traversing very challenging terrain; will require a high level of physical fitness of participants. During inclement weather, and to provide a more enriching experience, shadowing other departments will be added as a beneficial experience for the crew.

Crew Life:

• Crew Model: SECC Boundary Marking crews consist of 2 crew leaders and 2 crew members

• Hitch Schedule: Crews operate on a 9-day, 5-day off (Tuesday-Wednesday) schedule. The first hitch of the season will be Monday-Tuesday and will include training in skills and equipment needed for the season; the second hitch will begin the aforementioned schedule. Project days are 10-hour shifts with two 15-minute breaks, and one 30-minute unpaid lunch scheduled each day.

• Camping: Crews will camp in the front country or back country, depending on project needs.

• Housing, Food, and Transportation: This is a nonresidential program. Housing, food, and transportation are not provided in the off hitch. Members are responsible for providing their own lodging, food, and transportation when not in the field. Food and transportation will be provided when in the field. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance.

• Gear: SECC will provide tools, group camp equipment, and personal protective equipment. Members must supply their own personal gear, including: day pack, water bottles, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tent, and boots. SECC has a limited supply of gear to loan to members, but it may not fit personal preference or needs.

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

• Manage food budgets 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 advanced medical certification (for backcountry crews: 80 hours Wilderness First Responder with CPR/AED or higher; 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 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 backcountry navigation skills using compass/ArcGIS system

• 1-2 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps

• Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED

• 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.

• Experience with

• Strong conflict resolution skills.

• A 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.

Any questions can be addressed to:

Rhett Robinson- Program Coordinator

rhett@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.