AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader – Great Smoky Mountains Trail Crew 

It means more than just showing up and doing the work, it means setting an example of how to work hard with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It means facilitating a learning experience for Crew Members, both formally and informally.  This position may require additional participation time outside of standard project and crew hours.    

This position will be coached and mentored by an SECC Staff Crew Leader. ACLs are responsible for maintaining SECC’s high standards for technical work and hands-on member growth, managing projects and implementing feedback among crew members. The ACL Position is a key development opportunity designed to identify and overcome challenges in leadership through a hands-on leadership role in conjunction with close mentorship from the Staff Crew Leader. Qualified candidates will identify growth plans and assist the Staff Crew Leader in administrative functions.   

Trail construction and maintenance  

Grip hoist/rigging  

Timber work  

Rock work  

Corridor clearing  

Invasive species removal  

Habitation restoration  

Fence installation/repair  

Bridge installation/repair  

Community Service  

14 weeks of project work on the Ramsey Cascades Trail/other trail in the Great Smoky Mountains  

1 week of project work with TN State Parks – Cumberland Trail.  

1 week of project work at Jimmy Carter National Historic Park 

Expect to work long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Workdays will contain 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 own housing when not in the field.  

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 on conservation and/or corps related topics.   

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.   

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 in a professional manner.  Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).   

Crew members work together to learn and apply new environmental conservation skills/restoration skills/outdoor-living skills, actively participate in environmental education activities, practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned, and use, maintain and repair hand and power tools as necessary.    

Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.  

A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting is preferred.  

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    

Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (individuals are eligible if they have not already completed 2 full years of AmeriCorps service, or 4 AmeriCorps service terms, whichever comes first – please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility  

Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission   

Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions   

Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills   

Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others   

Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment   

Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders   

Must be adaptive, patient and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout   

Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles   

Must be 21+, OR have a clean driving record for 3+years (insurable by SECC) and a current driver’s license   

Willingness to deploy on a Disaster Response   

0-1 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps   

Background with experiential and/or environmental education   

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

Leadership experience with youth or young adults   

Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects   

Technical trail construction and maintenance experience   

Strong conflict resolution skills   

Experience with Disaster Response   

Relevant Bachelor’s Degree   

Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others   

Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen   

Required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms   

Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds   

Specific vision abilities required by the position include close vision and the ability to focus   

Required to drive an SECC vehicle   

Must be able to speak, understand, read and write English   

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions   

Ability to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history checks    

Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this   

Manage, supervise, and assist in leading the day-to-day details of project work   

Implement skills training on work-site 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 healthy, supportive community   

Must be willing to follow and enforce all SECC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent Southeast Conservation Corps. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program   

Assist in training and motivating a crew of young adults to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands  

Delegate project work & investment among co-leader and crew   

Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work   

Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems   

Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SECC staff   

Implement and enforce SECC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Policies and Procedures (provided to applicants during interview process), including mask use when required   

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 SECC’s vans or large vehicles with trailers   

As delegated by Staff Crew Leader, complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly project reports, corps member and peer evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, etc., and submit in a timely manner   

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 direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard   

Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions   

Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards 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   

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 SECC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers   

Learn, practice, and teach ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques   

Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as 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 may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care