Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Year Round Crew Leader (CL)- WA

POSITION: Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Year Round Crew Leader (CL)

LOCATION: Tacoma, WA. This is a community-based crew without housing or camping provided.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 02/03/2025

COMPENSATION: $18.25/ hour

BENEFITS OVERVIEW

• Personal Leave, Paid Holidays, Medical and Dental Coverage, Disability/Life Insurance, 401k Investment plan, Professional Development including but not limited to WFA recertification and other perks!

Participate in a comprehensive training that covers the following topics and more:

Paid Crew Lead Training may cover the following topics and more:

• NYC Leadership Philosophy
• OHSA Courses
• USDA Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance
• Brush Cutter Operation
• Power Pole Saw Operation
• Wood Chipper Operation
• Driver and Trailer Use
• Tool Use and Maintenance
• Defensible Space Inspection Training
• Work Site Analysis
• Crew Management and Motivation
• Conservation Education
• Risk Management and Safety Procedures
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Crew Management and Motivation
• Behavior Management
• Time Management
• Anaphylaxis training

Gear and Safety Equipment provided: 2 field work shirts, eye protection, ear protection, hard hat, rain gear, and more.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Since 1984, Northwest Youth Corps (NYC), a non-profit organization, has given tens of thousands of youth and young adults opportunities to learn, grow, and experience success. Since 2015, NYC has had an office in Boise and operated under the name Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC). Through partnerships with conservation agencies, youth and young adults gain the personal and professional skills needed to carry out a variety of stewardship projects, from which they can earn a stipend, high school credit, and/or an AmeriCorps educational award.

More importantly, these young people gain skills needed to become economically and socially self-sufficient, benefit their communities as citizen stewards, and recognize that they can make a positive difference. NYC also operates an accredited charter school and internship program.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Year Round Crew Leader (CL's) manage and supervise crews of up to 5 young adults, ages 19-26, during the Young Adult sessions in the spring and fall, and crews of up to 8 youth, ages 15-18, during the summer. UCF CL's support operational and programmatic capacity in the weeks between program sessions. Schedules will typically be Monday through Friday (or Tuesday through Saturday); however, schedules may vary for certain training, etc days. Crew Leaders are responsible for completing a variety of conservation-oriented projects on public and/or private lands and implementing a safe and highly efficient crew experience, including facilitation of work to be performed, break times, our education curriculum, and more. CLs are well-balanced individuals who work hard and embody compassion, patience, and inspirational attitude. In many ways, CLs teach our participants how to navigate the project work and social environment with grace and positivity. CLs deliver an impactful, educational experience to young people in their communities. This position can also provide an entry-point into the fields of natural resource management, youth development, outdoor education and more. CLs assist in creating resilient communities through improving urban forest health, reducing wildfire risk, and supporting environmental equity in the face of the impacts of climate change.

POSITION DETAILS:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support

• Promote continued organization support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
• Seek to remove barriers to participation in NYC programs for underrepresented populations.
• Represent and promote NYC's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in planning and decision making.

Department Supervision and collaborations

• This position is directly supervised by an NYC Woodsboss/Field Supervisor, Program Coordinator and/or Program Manager/Director.
• This position directly supervises UCF Crew Members.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Mentorship:

• CLs manage, supervise, and participate in all aspects of crew work. CLs maintains crew discipline, resolves conflicts, and establishes/maintains crew morale.
• CLs provide formal and informal feedback to crew members with specific attention to safety, work productivity and quality, efficiency, teamwork, and leadership.
• CLs work to empower crew members to build the skills necessary to lead the crews themselves.
• CLs receive feedback on their performance and are challenged to develop their leadership skills within this program.

Safety and Risk Management:

• Provide support, assessments and training to ensure all work is being completed in a safe, professional, and productive manner.
• Ensure that all staff and members are actively following NYC safety and risk management protocols; respond to field incidents and emergencies as necessary.
• Oversee the physical and emotional safety of crew members. Safety is the number one priority in everything we do, including work, education, and recreation. This includes not only the physical safety of participants but their mental and emotional safety as well.
• CLs may be responsible for transporting the crew and equipment to and from the worksite daily, safely in a Northwest Youth Corps fleet vehicle.

Project Management and Implementation:

• CLs are responsible for safely completing conservation projects to high standards by training, working with and supervising crews. Developing skills in effectively delegating responsibilities to make your crew as efficient as possible is a major key to successful leadership in our programs.
• CLs serve as the principal liaison with project partners and members of the local community. In the field, they will provide direction to their crew with specific attention to safe work practices, proper tool use, work quality, and productivity.
• CLs are mentors and role models and set the pace and tone of the project site. This position can be physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding.
• CLs will lift heavy loads, walk long distances, and should expect to find each project physically challenging.

Education Curriculum:

• CLs implement daily lessons based on NYC's education curriculum (SEED), which incorporates environmental education, life skills development, nutrition and health, and job readiness credentials.
• CLs track participant's progress throughout the program.
• CLs are encouraged to bring their own positive skills and experiences to the education curriculum and use natural surroundings for teachable moments.

Position Qualifications and Certifications

• At least 21 years old.

Education:

• Education in a related field and/or experience in outdoor recreation, environmental education, youth development or educational fields preferred.
• Experience in conservation work and/or youth programming will be considered in place of education.

Experience:

• Recreational/ professional outdoor experience.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and promote teamwork.
• Strong communication skills.
• Good judgment and decision making skills.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the environment.
• Experience/desire in working with diverse populations.

Certification(s)/License(s):

• Current Driver's License and acceptable driving record for the past three years (Driver's License Background Check required).
• Current First Aid (or higher) and CPR certification, or willingness to obtain prior to employment start date (please contact us for information about certification and training).
• Preferred "B Sawyer - Felling and Bucking" on the USDA National Certification program or the ability to gain certification through NYC.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Applicants must be in good physical condition; capable of working on strenuous, labor-intensive projects as training and work projects often require heavy lifting, constant bending, digging, and long hikes to and from the worksite, be on foot for 8-10 hours per day. The applicant must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds (with or without reasonable accommodation).
• The noise level in the environment is quiet to loud. PPE is provided and use is required.
• Applicants must be comfortable working in austere outdoor environments which include but are not limited to working year-round in weather conditions that include rain, wind, snow, wet, cold, dry, and hot conditions in temperatures that range from as low as 15F to over 100F.
• Applicants must be able and willing to frequently drive a Northwest Youth Corps vehicle to certain work locations that can be remote and may not have access to the internet, phone, or immediate emergency services.
• Applicants must be comfortable from switching to field and office responsibilities multiple times a week and sometimes within the day.
• While performing the duties of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation, the applicant is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or vehicle; reach with hands and arms; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear; and smell repeatedly.

**This Position Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the applicant. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice**

All job offers are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check (criminal history and driving history).

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Based in Tacoma, WA. This is a Full time salaried, exempt position. Typical hours are Monday - Friday (possibly Tuesday-Saturday or even Sunday through Thursday), 8:00AM to 5:00 PM; with occasional long days and/or evening and weekend responsibilities. No overtime will be allowed. Hours may vary due to weather, IFPL levels, training needs, etc.

To Apply

Send a cover letter and resume to Hannah Pauly, Washington State Program Manager, at hannahp@nwyouthcorps.org with "UCF Crew Lead" in the subject line and document attachments in word or PDF format. Please do not call or drop in. Additional program information can be found at www.northwestyouthcorps.org

Northwest Youth Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer - At Northwest Youth Corps, we believe diversity is an essential source of strength for our communities, and we strive to create a safe and empowering environment for all participants and staff from the widest range of backgrounds and abilities. While we are privileged to facilitate conservation service on our public lands, with humility, we also acknowledge that injustice and violence was at the heart of acquiring these lands. Therefore, we are deeply invested in addressing this traumatic legacy by supporting youth and young adults of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, economic status, and/or other socio-cultural identifiers to learn, grow, and experience success in our programs, and beyond.