Climate Forestry

We provide an opportunity for young adults to do meaningful work on our public lands. Serving on a conservation crew is an immersive experience. Days filled with sweat, mud, hard work and beautiful country are all part of the job. The effort pays off when CCNC participants come out of the field feeling strong, confident and passionate for the outdoors and their work. CCNC will reach out to local young adults for local projects. Participants will receive a bi-weekly living allowance and an AmeriCorps education award.

Job Overview

Chainsaw Crew Leader – Climate Impact Mitigation Crew 

Reports to: Program Manager  

Locations: Based out of Bahama, NC but will be camping and completing service projects on either North Carolina’s Outer Banks or Croatan National Forest 

Season Dates:  January 6th, 2025 – March 19th, 2025 

Pay:  $1128/week

Status: Full Time Seasonal Staff, Exempt 

Hitch Schedule: 9 days on, 5 days off and one hitch 5 days on, 3 days off 

Questions? Contact Mallory James at [email protected] 

Application date: To receive priority, please submit your application no later than September 16th, 2024. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. 

**To be considered, you must upload a resume in addition to your application** 

Conservation Corps North Carolina:    

 The mission of Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) is to empower young adults through meaningful outdoor work that benefits North Carolina’s land and water and creates healthy communities. CCNC is a program of Conservation Legacy that partners with public land managers in North Carolina to engage motivated young adults (ages 18-30) to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout the region. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazard fuel reduction, and ecological restoration. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs. 

Position Summary 

For this exciting opportunity, we are recruiting an Crew Leader to join us on two separate saw crews – each comprised of 1 CCNC staff Crew Leader, 1 AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader, and 4 AmeriCorps Members. This is a great chance to gain experience working with either the National Park Service, or US Forest Service. 

The National Parks Service (NPS) Outer Banks Group crew will address critical deferred maintenance needs resulting from climate impacts across the Outer Banks Group including hazard tree mitigation, facilities repairs, and vegetation management. Work will occur at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Additionally, the crew will support other priority projects as identified by NPS staff as needed based on weather and other factors.  

The US Forest Service Croatan National Forest crew project work will include a variety of technical chainsaw work to complete timber stand improvement, fuels reduction, hazard tree removal, and forest health improvement projects.  

Both crews will use power tools including brush cutters and chainsaws. Crew members should expect to work on rugged terrain in inclement weather with technical, advanced cutting operations. The work will be arduous and fast-paced in areas of high exposure. 

CCNC’s Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. Leaders are expected to provide project expertise and offer mentorship, training, and support to 4 AmeriCorps crew members, and 1 AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards! Successful candidates will demonstrate the following qualities: 

• Resourcefulness 

• Situational flexibility 

• Effective communication skills 

• Excellent judgement 

• Maturity 

• Initiative 

• Professionalism 

• The desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. 

This position will be joined by an Assistant Crew Leader, an AmeriCorps leadership position focusing on the continued development of leadership skills. While this will be a collaborative relationship, the Staff Crew Leader bears ultimate responsibility for member development, as well as high quality and high quantity project accomplishments for our partners.   

Schedule and Crew Life 

The crew will be composed of 1 CCNC staff Crew Leader, 1 AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader, and 4 AmeriCorps Members. The Crew Leader and Assistant Crew Leader will provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support for the success of all participants. Field Crews will meet at Camp Slocum (located north of Durham, NC), travel in a crew vehicle to their project site and remain in the field for 9 days at a time, followed by 5 days off. While in the field, Crew Members work 8-10 hours a day. Each workday includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half-hour lunch break.  Food is provided while in the field. Crews work together to plan meals and complete all necessary chores. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation topics. 

CCNC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew Members and Assistant Crew Leaders 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 topic areas including Professionalism, Responsibility, Leadership, Communication, Community Engagement, Project Work, Safety, Organization, and Equipment. Crew Members will also be asked to evaluate their Crew Leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term. 

CCNC is committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work. We believe that a diverse and inclusive environment enriches our organization, strengthens our mission, and fosters innovation and creativity. CCNC is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where individuals of all backgrounds feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully to our conservation efforts. We actively seek to build a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve, recognizing that inclusive practices are essential to achieving equitable outcomes and lasting environmental impact. 

Expectations 

CCNC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Leaders are responsible for their own housing, food, and transportation when not in the field unless otherwise specified. Some equipment is available to borrow throughout the season, but Crew Leaders are asked to supply as much of their own personal outdoor gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc) as possible. In the field, CCNC will provide food, group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between Camp Slocum and project sites. 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. During their time in the field, CCNC field crews camp overnight and work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects. Most projects require hiking out to remote work sites for the day with tools, equipment, and day pack.     

Required Skills and Responsibilities 

Leadership and Mentoring 

• Manage, supervise, and lead the day-to-day details of project work and crew logistics 

• Work with CCNC staff to plan program activities, including project work, education, training, and crew/team activities 

• Implement skills training on worksite 

• Facilitate intentional discussions and informal lessons to cultivate individual professional and personal growth and foster a positive group dynamic 

• Delegate project responsibilities and mentor crew life and member development 

• Follow all Conservation Legacy policies with unwavering commitment 

• Maintain professional boundaries, including enforcing a substance free work environment 

• Represent CCNC appropriately to the public  

• Follow written and verbal instructions from CCNC staff and project partners 

 Project Management and Implementation 

• Train and motivate crew members to efficiently complete assigned forest management projects on site locations 

• Delegate project work and expectations appropriately to the co-leader and crew members 

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

• Use critical thinking and interpersonal skills to solve problems and resolve issues 

• Coordinate logistics and communicate effectively with CCNC staff and project partners 

• Use, maintain, and repair machinery such as hand and power tools as necessary 

• Set an example of doing long and challenging outdoor work in all types of environmental conditions   

• Apply conservation and restoration knowledge and outdoor living skills to all outdoor settings and work projects 

 Safety and Risk Management 

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on the work and camp site 

• Practice strong situational awareness and promote a culture of unwavering commitment to safety 

• Drive crew members and equipment safely in CCNC vehicles with trailers 

• Communicate danger to others in the form of a warning of danger others may encounter or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance – 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 

• Perceive, understand, and follow directions by others so that appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques can be successfully executed to manage hazards – these directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or during the exposure to the hazard. 

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

 Administration 

• Professionally complete timesheets, daily and weekly reports, AmeriCorps member evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, and other documentation as needed in a timely manner 

• Professionally complete all project related outcomes and deliverables 

• Manage food budget and credit card purchases 

Problem Solving 

• Communicate ideas and concerns to assistant crew leader, crew members, CCNC staff, landowners, and project partners 

• Resolve challenges that arise with and between crew members 

• Resolve management problems independently or as delegated by CCNC staff 

• Consult with CCNC staff to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems 

• Make responsible day-to-day decisions that benefit crew members and project goals 

 Environmental Ethics 

• Be a model of ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques 

 Essential Requirements 

• Sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear 

• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time 

• Safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis 

• Work in variable weather conditions at remote locations on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances 

• Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries 

• Live in a physically demanding, possible isolated environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several days. 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 6 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.  

Required Qualifications: 

• To qualify for the Chainsaw Crew Leader Position, you must have a Faller B Chainsaw certification (Or ready to evaluate as one) 

• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission 

• Ability to effectively and manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50-hour work week 

• 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 

• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions 

• Must be able to speak, understand and write English 

• High School diploma or GED certificate 

• Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by Conservation Legacy) and a current driver’s license. 

• Must be able to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history check requirements 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Must hold current/relevant Wilderness First Aid Certification or basic first aid with CPR, or be able to acquire during or before crew training 

• Experience with CCNC or other conservation corps 

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education 

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

• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people 

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

• Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects 

• Strong conflict resolution skills 

• Leadership experience with youth or young adults 

• Rigging experience 

• Technical trail experience 

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

CCNC is a drug-free organization.  Alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited while participating in program activities and on CCNC and program partner property. 

“Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.”  

To apply:  

Upload resume, cover letter and complete the Crew Leader application:  https://corpsnc.org/crew-positions 

Any questions can be addressed to: 

Mallory James, Program Manager – [email protected] 

This position is located at Camp Slocum near Durham, NC. 918 State Forest Road, Bahama, NC 27503. View the Google Map in full screen. 

Minimum Requirements

To be considered, you must submit an resume in addition to your application. A cover letter is optional.