SECC Americorps Member - Kentucky Fire and Disaster Crew (In Partnership with the US Forest Service)

Title: Kentucky Disaster and Fire Crew, Crew Member

Reports to: Crew Leader and Assistant Crew Leader, Fire and Fuels Coordinator 

Duty Station: London Ranger District (761 S Laurel Rd, London, KY 40744)

Locations: Crew will be based out of Berea/Richmond, Kentucky. Crew work will take place in Kentucky. Ideally will live within 1 hour of duty station.

Season Dates: 01/29/2024 - 07/26/2024

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Stipend: $600 per week, paid biweekly. A $3,447.50 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program

Hitch Schedule: Highly variable. This program will operate on various schedules. For example, work 9 days on - 5 days off, work 4 days on - 3 days off, or 5 days on – 2days off. Schedule will shift based upon project and partner needs and will include group camping.

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members

Research shows that members of marginalized groups – including women, LGBTQIA+ identifying people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) – tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. Here at Southeast Conservation Corps, we want the best candidates for the job, and those candidates don’t always meet 100% of the requirements listed. If you are passionate about uniting, empowering, and celebrating diverse communities for all and breaking down barriers for equity, we encourage you to apply – especially if you’re a member of a structurally marginalized group. We look forward to your application.

Southeast Conservation Corps: 
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. 

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days.

SECC works with a variety of land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The project work is manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack. 

Crews work in front country and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Workdays are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project work and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC works to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.  

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites. 

Position Summary:

Want to gain skills in natural resource management while being part of an innovative, intentional space? Join our Kentucky Disaster and Fire Crew.

In this 6-month program, members will engage in various natural resource management and disaster mitigation activities, including prescribed burns and related wildland fire project work. You can perform hands-on work in Kentucky that increases landscape and resident preparedness for disasters. This program provides an open and supportive space for members to work with, learn from, and grow alongside one another and federal agency partners. You will gain leadership and technical skills and engage in professional development opportunities through trainings and certifications related to fire, natural resource management, and disaster mitigation. 

Project Work: 

SECC’s Kentucky Disaster & Fire crew will engage in various natural resource management and disaster mitigation projects through fuel management and prescribed burn project work. The Kentucky Disaster & Fire crew provides an open and supportive space where members work with, learn from, and grow alongside one another as members gain leadership and technical skills, and engage in professional development opportunities through trainings and certifications related to fire, natural resource management, and disaster mitigation. 

You will perform manual labor and complete conservation projects using various manual and power tools as a crew. You will be engaged in the program as a leader and participate/ facilitate environmental education and leadership development activities in addition to project work. 

Risk management is paramount, and all policies and procedures must be followed. 

Projects may include but are not limited to prescribed burns, natural resource management, habitat restoration and fencing, re-vegetation, invasive species removal, trail construction and maintenance, and various other local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster response if the opportunity arises. 

Project work may include:

• Prescribed burns/fuels reduction and management
• Habitat restoration and fencing
• Invasive species removal/re-vegetation
• Trail construction and trail maintenance
• Disaster response
• Disaster preparedness

Certifications and Trainings included:

• ICS-100 (Intro to Incident Command System)
• IS-700 (Intro to the National Incident Management System)
• S-130 (Firefighter Training)
• S-190 (Into to Wildland Fire Behavior)
• L-180 (Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service)
• S-212 (Wildland Fire Chain Saws)
• Red Card via successful completion of the Moderate Pack Test
• 2 miles in 30 minutes with 25 pounds
• Trail construction and Maintenance
• Wilderness First Aid certification
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours)

Compensation:   
AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $600 per week before taxes, dispersed biweekly. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.   

Benefits: 

• Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight
• $600/week, paid bi-weekly  
• $200 boot stipend 
• Diversity and inclusion training for all employees.
• Flexible work arrangements to enable you to meet the requirements of your role in a way that’s right for you.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist 
• Uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, group camping equipment, and some individual camping equipment were provided.
• On-the-job training with paid certifications and training
• Public Land Corps Authority Certificate 
• Additional subject-specific training will be offered internally and externally.
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill internship requirements. 
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths. 

*Housing is NOT provided for this position when not on hitch.

Hitch Schedule:  

This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule, but it generally will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Workdays follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. While the staff at SECC work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected. It should be prepared when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.   

The crew will tent camp in the field for the entire season. Workdays are typically 10 hours with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project work and location, other schedule variations may be implemented.

While the staff at SECC and partners work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.    

 Expectations of an SECC Corps member:

• Expect to work long days in a front-country or backcountry location. Workdays will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.
• SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their housing when not in the field.
• Crews prepare all their meals and work together to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps-related topics. 
• Crew members must supply their outdoor gear and equipment, such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between the SECC office and project sites. 
• While serving a term of National Service, SECC crews are expected to work in diverse team settings.  Respect for all members of the program, our partners, the public, and the land they are visiting is expected. 
• SECC expects members to represent the program professionally.  Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 
• Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.

Required Skills:

Minimum Qualifications:   

• Must be between ages 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a military veteran
• Able to pass the arduous level pack test. (https://bit.ly/3QKjKF3)
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this
• Must be cleared through an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, as well as state and federal Criminal History Checks
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)
• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and working in a fast-paced team driven by innovation and entrepreneurial approaches.
• A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)
• Experience with BIPOC communities
• Strong interest in a future career in natural resources, environmental science, parks and recreation, or conservation.

 Participation and Expedition Behavior

• Work effectively as a team member despite potentially stressful and challenging conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level and a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, with no harassment of others.
• 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, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to carry out the service work requirements effectively.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Safety and Judgment

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise, such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow directions from others so that you will be able to execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards successfully. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or must be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those previously identified by others. 
• 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. 

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate)

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and appropriately dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries. 
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require a minimum of one hour, but perhaps over 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care. 

Substance Free:  In accordance with a drug-free workplace, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.    

This program is available to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

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

Any questions can be addressed to: 

Ray Wilson

Recruitment Coordinator

Rwilson@conservationlegacy.org