Climate Forestry Crew Leader

Due to summer crew starts, we will start responding to applications no later than June 6th."

Climate Forestry Crew Leader

Reports to: Program Management 

Locations: Crew will be based out of Bahama, NC but will be camping and working on various public land agency locations across North Carolina. 

Season Dates: Training: 1 to 2 weeks of training in July 29th : August 5th, 2024 – September 27th, 2024

Pay:  $844 per week, depending on experience

Status: Full Time Seasonal Staff, Exempt

Hitch Schedule: 9 days on, 5 days off

Questions? Contact Mallory James at [email protected]

 **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

This position is an exciting opportunity to work with The Nature Conservancy on climate-resilience centered conservation projects across the state of North Carolina. Project will include different methods of vegetation management guiding forest resilience to become more fire adapted as the climate warms and wildfire becomes more likely. This work will benefit the forest ecosystem and protect critical breeding habitat for amphibians. Management methods will include hack and squirt, cut stump, and backpack spraying as well as removal by hand, brush cutter, and chainsaw.

The crew will occasionally be in wet and difficult to traverse terrain, and potentially in high temperatures and humidity. Participants will get to understand the habitat dynamics and management needs of ephemeral wetlands and will be introduced to several management techniques. Participants will get to work in some of the most beautiful longleaf forests remaining in North Carolina.

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 3 AmeriCorps crew members. 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. 

Schedule and Crew Life

This CCNC crew will consist of 3 crew members and 1 crew leader who provides 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, Crews 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 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. 

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.

Required Qualifications:

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

·    Current North Carolina Pesticide Applicator License or willingness to acquire 

·    Willingness to mix and use herbicide

·    Must hold current/relevant Wilderness First Aid Certification or basic first aid with CPR 

·    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:

·    Experience with CCNC or other conservation corps

·    Experience with experiential and/or environmental education

·    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

·    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.