Staff Crew Leader - Watershed Restoration Crew
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Title: Staff Crew Leader - Watershed Restoration Crew
Reports to: Program Coordinator, Program Director
Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving within the Cherokee National Forest
Start/end date: 01/06/2025 - 05/02/2025
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt
Wages: $844/week, paid biweekly
Health Benefits: Medical benefit options may be available for individuals serving 6 months or longer
Other Benefits: Rigging training, Wilderness First Aid certification, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available
Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members
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, up to 35 for veterans, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC provides members with impactful opportunities through a unique set of programs that engage people in meaningful education and service to their communities and natural landscapes. 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 partners with various 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 projects are manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.
Crews will serve in frontcountry 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. Project days are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC strives to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project 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 participate 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:
Southeast Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. The Crew Leader position requires, mentorship, patience, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew. We encourage applicants who identify as Women’s+ to apply. Our program model fosters a supportive learning environment where participants can maximize their opportunities to grow and develop while gaining certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship. It also creates an intentional space for groups that are under-represented to step into conservation and natural resource management.
Service Project:
Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) and the Cherokee National Forest have partnered to host a Watershed Restoration Crew to perform advanced felling and rigging techniques. The crew will spend the first three weeks of their season completing onboarding, receiving their WFA and S-212 certifications, and completing rigging training in the Cherokee National Forest. The crew will be based out of SECCs Chattanooga, TN office and travel to the Cherokee National Forest to primarily focus on the Citico Creek Watershed and other streams in the Cherokee National Forest. The crew will use chainsaws to fell selected trees and then utilize griphoist rigging techniques to manually place the trees in pre-identified reaches of streams by the Cherokee National Forest Fisheries Biologists and Hydrologists. The crew will collaboratively aid in the restoration of aquatic habitats for native aquatic species by installing large woody habitat structures in streams of the Cherokee National Forest. Although orientations will be implemented, applicants with a strong background in chainsaw felling and rigging are encouraged to apply.
Crew Life:
SECC Members with SECC serve on a crew model variation of 4-6 other Crew Members and 2 Crew Leaders who provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support for the success of all participants. Food is provided while in the field. Together, crew members collaborate to plan meals and complete all necessary chores (cooking, washing dishes, etc.). Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if known ahead of time. Many evenings include group discussions on conservation topics. When living on site, members will camp, travel, complete service projects, and eat as a crew. No drug or alcohol consumption is allowed during service-related travel at any time.
SECC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew Members will set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance through both self-evaluation and a review with their Crew Leader in the middle and at the end of their season. Evaluations will cover areas such as professionalism, responsibility and leadership, communication, engagement, productivity, safety, and equipment use. Crew Members will also be asked to evaluate their Crew Leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term.
Hitch Schedule:
This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule, but generally it will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. Applicants should be prepared to camp during hitches for the duration of the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary.
While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.
Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:
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Expect to spend long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Project days will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.
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SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.
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Crews prepare all their own meals while in-field and as a group 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.
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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.
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While participating in a term of National Service, SECC crews engage in a variety of team dynamics, emphasizing respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land they encounter.
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SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner.
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Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
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Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.
Required Skills
Minimum Qualifications:
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To qualify for the Advanced Chainsaw Crew Leader Position, you must have a current B Faller / Fal2 Chainsaw Certification
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Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission
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Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions
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Leadership experience with youth or young adults
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Excellent organizational & communication skills
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Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills
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Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
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Ability to effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of crew life and production within a hitch schedule
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Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment
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Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders
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Must be adaptive, patient and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout
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Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles
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Must be 21+, OR have a clean driving record for 3+years (insurable by SECC) and a current driver’s license
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Willingness to deploy on a Disaster Response
Preferred Qualifications:
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1-2 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps
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Rigging for trail work experience
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Background with experiential and/or environmental education
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Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED
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Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
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Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects
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Technical trail construction and maintenance experience
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Strong conflict resolution skills
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Experience with Disaster Response
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Relevant Bachelor’s Degree
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Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others
Required Experience
Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements:
Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your position.
Participation and Expedition Behavior
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Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen
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Required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms
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Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
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Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus
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Required to drive an SECC vehicle
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Must be able to speak, understand, read and write English
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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
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Ability to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history checks
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Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this
Leadership & Mentorship:
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Manage, supervise, and assist leading the day-to-day details of project tasks
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Implement skills training on project sites and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics
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Promote individual corps member development and a healthy, supportive community
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Mentor AmeriCorps Crew Leader while delegating project responsibilities, crew life oversight, and member development to them
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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
Project Management & Implementation:
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Train and motivate a crew of young adults to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands
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Delegate project work & investment among co-leader and crew
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Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of service project
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Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems
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Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SECC staff
Safety & Risk Management:
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Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the project site
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Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety
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Transport crew and equipment safely in SECC’s vans or large vehicles with trailers
Administration:
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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
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Responsible for all project-related outcomes and deliverables
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Manage food budget and credit card purchases, including receipt reconciliation
Safety and Judgment:
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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.
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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
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Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and in various weather conditions.
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Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others
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Respond appropriately to stress or crises
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If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others
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Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety
Environmental Ethics:
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Learn, practice, and teach ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate):
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Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and industry 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
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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
Substance Free
In accordance with a drug free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
This program is available to all, without regard to 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.
Any questions can be addressed to:
Destiny Locke
Program Coordinator
This position is located at 2001 N Chamberlain Ave Ste 400, Chattanooga. View the Google Map in full screen.