AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader – Adult In-Town Crew

Title: AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader – Adult In-Town Crew

Season Dates:  July 24, 2023 – November 17, 2023 (17-weeks)

Reports To: Crew Leader, Field Supervisor

Status: Full-time, seasonal, exempt, 450-hour AmeriCorps National Service Position

Stipend: $650 per week, paid biweekly. A $1,718.25 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program.

Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN and will be working at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park located in Chickamauga, GA.

Benefits:  Transportation to and from project, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment. Members will also receive orientations and trainings as available. Members will earn hours towards a PLC Hiring Authority.

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 6 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, 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.

Position Description:

The AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader (ACL) is responsible for facilitating a positive Crew Member experience.  The ACL is a full partner in the crew’s leadership, helping to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term.  This position requires open dialog with the Staff Crew Leader; helping them to manage projects, project partners communications, overall logistics, and crew assignments.

• 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.

Project Work:

SECC’s In-Town crew will be working in partnership with the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Crew members will participate in a program that combines training and education with impactful conservation and service projects throughout the local area.  The crew members will perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects. Crews work in frontcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. As such, members should be open to adapting to various climates.

Crew Members effectively 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.

Project work may vary due to seasonality and environmental safety concerns but will focus on construction of trail structures such as turnpikes, but may also include:

• Trail design
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Watershed restoration
• Corridor clearing
• Habitat restoration
• Fence installation/repair
• Tree planting
• Invasive species removal
• Community service

Hitch Schedule:
Crews are in the field working Monday – Friday, completing predetermined projects created in collaboration with SECC project partners. Crew members will begin and end each day at the SECC office and spend some time each Thursday or Friday afternoon at the SECC office cleaning crew gear to prep it for the following week.

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. Crew members have evenings, Saturdays and Sundays off, and return to the SECC office every weekday morning at 7:30am sharp and end workdays at around 5:30 pm. The day includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half-hour break for lunch

Crew members will need to supply their own personal equipment such as a day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc.  SECC will provide tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC office and project sites.

Compensation:
Assistant Crew Leader AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $650 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.

Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:

• 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.
• Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide, 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.

General Qualifications:

• 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

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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

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.

• 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

Leadership & Mentorship

• 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

Project Management & Implementation

• 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

Safety & Risk Management

• 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

Administration

• 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

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 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

Environmental Ethics:

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

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate):

• 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

Substance Free

In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

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

 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.

Any questions can be addressed to:

Kelsey Durr

Field Supervisor

[email protected]