AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader - Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew

It means more than just showing up, it means setting an example of how to persevere 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 projects 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.  

Heavy Recreation Site Improvements 

Restoration/Stabilization 

Gravel Surfacing 

Painting and Repairs 

Data Collection 

Trail Building/Maintenance 

Chainsaw use  

Establishing prescribed fire containment lines 

Providing holding and ignition resources for multiple prescribed burn units 

Trail Building/Maintenance: 

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)  

USFS chainsaw recognized certifications  

Red Card via successful completion of the Moderate Pack Test  

2-mile hike in 30 minutes with 25 pounds  

Trail construction and Maintenance  

Wilderness First Aid certification 

Members are required to follow the set housing regulations required by LBL to utilize this housing.  

Midterm and Final Eval: Crew Leaders evaluate members' term of service. This is completed at the midway point of service and upon completion of service. 

Exit Survey: Conservation Legacy will require an exit survey for each member to provide an overview of their entire term of service.  

AmeriCorps Exit Survey: Completed by the member at the end of service per AmeriCorps compliance. 

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.   

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 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.    

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 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. 

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).    

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

Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for Veterans up to age 35)    

Able to pass the arduous level pack test. (https://bit.ly/3QKjKF3)  

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)  

Exhibits the ability to effectively collaborate on diverse teams or with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities. 

Comfortable with ambiguity and being a part of a fast-paced team driven by innovation and entrepreneurial approaches.  

Experience with BIPOC communities  

General comfort with and prior experience in outdoor environments. 

Strong interest in a future career in natural resources, environmental science, parks and recreation, or conservation.  

Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission  

Physically fit and able to perform long days in adverse conditions 

Leadership experience with youth or young adults  

Excellent organizational & communication skills  

Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills  

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

Ability to effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of crew life and production within a hitch schedule  

Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to thrive in a fluid, changing 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  

Background with experiential and/or environmental education  

Experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps  

Wildland Fire experience (Hot shot, hand crew, engine crew, etc.)    

Faller B Chainsaw certification (Or ready to evaluate as one)   

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

Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people  

Eagerness to take part in various conservation-based projects 

Technical trail construction and maintenance experience  

Strong conflict resolution skills  

Experience with Disaster Response  

Relevant Bachelor’s Degree  

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 job 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 leading the day-to-day details of project tasks  

Implement skills training on project sites 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 environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program  

Assist in training and motivating a crew of 4 young adults to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands  

Delegate project tasks & investment among co-leader and crew  

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

Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems  

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

Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the project 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, 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 in various 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  

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 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.    

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.