Leaders of Color Crew Member 2022

Job Overview

Position: Leaders of Color Crew Member

Number of Positions: 4 Crew Members

Start/ End dates: May 23, 2022 – May 2023

Service Term: 47 weeks total [1700-hour minimum]

Status: Seasonal, Full-time

Location: Richmond/Berea, Kentucky

Stipend: $400 per week, paid bi-weekly. $6,345.00 AmeriCorps Education Award

Ages: 18 – 30

Southeast Conservation Corps:

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 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 Summary

SECC is seeking crew members for its first ever Leaders of Color Crew.

In this year-long, Kentucky based program, members will engage in a variety of natural resource management and fire and fuels related projects within The Daniel Boone National Forest and Land Between The Lakes.

The Leaders of Color crew provides an intentional and supportive space where BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) identifying members can work with, learn from, and grow alongside one another as members gaining leadership and technical skills. Crew members can expect to engage in a variety of projects related to fire, natural resource management, and disaster mitigation.

As a member of the crew, you will perform manual labor, and complete conservation projects using a variety of manual and power tools. You will be engaged in the program as an AmeriCorps Member and will participate in environmental education and leadership development activities in addition to project work.

Risk management is of utmost importance, and all policies and procedures must be followed.

Project work on this crew may include but are not limited to:

• Prescribed burns
• Natural resource management
• Habitat restoration and fencing
• Re-vegetation
• Invasive species removal
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster response if the opportunity arises.

Work Schedules

• 10-hour shift workdays with routine breaks on a flexible weekly schedule dependent on project specifics
• Examples of weekly schedules may include:
  • 9 day in-field camping “hitch” with 5 days off.
  • commuting schedule of 4 days on and 3 days off, or similar schedule
• Depending on the project work and location, other variations may be implemented.
• While staff at SECC work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term, as schedules, times and work locations are subject to change per project needs
• Paid trainings are included in working hours and all crew members are expected to complete paid orientations and trainings related to this position

Special Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health Insurance
• Food provided while in the field.
• Uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, group camping equipment provided.
• Basic personal camping equipment provided
• $200 boot stipend
• Loan deferment for qualifying loan
• Public Land Corps Authority Certificate

Paid Certifications and Trainings

• IS-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)
•  S-212 (Wildland Fire Chain Saws)
•  Red Card via successful completion of the Arduous Pack Test
• Trail construction and Maintenance
• Mental Health First Aid training
• Wilderness First Aid certification

Minimum Requirements

• As an entry level position, no field or fire experience is necessary to participate in this program
• To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30
• Must self-identify as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) community member
• A US citizen that has received (or on track to receive) a high school diploma or GED
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of employment and ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting
• Ability to commit fully to the program and its mission
• 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
• Physically fit and able to work long days of manual labor in adverse conditions
• Must be able to pass the Arduous Work Capacity or “Pack” Test
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check

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 particular position.

Participation and Expedition Behavior

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.  Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times

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 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

Environmental Ethics

Learn and practice ‘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 more than 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free

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

To Apply: Complete the Application by visiting: southeastconservationcorps.org/open-positions , upload cover letter and resume if available.

Any questions can be addressed to:

Alexa Sharp

Leaders of Color Program Intern

[email protected]