The health and safety of the crew, staff and communities is the top priority. The information provided below is an outline of how the Forest Management/Fire Corps program will operate, but is subject to change due to COVID 19.  Updates will be provided as the COVID-19 situation evolves and new decisions are made.  We encourage those interested in the position to complete the application process.  CCNC will keep consistent and direct communication with all applicants.

TITLE:  Conservation Corps North Carolina Forest Management Assistant Crew Leader

START/END DATE:  August 17, 2020 – July 23, 2021

STIPEND:  $450/week plus an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award

STATUS:  1700-Hour AmeriCorps Service Term

LOCATION:  North Carolina State University Hill Research Forest, Camp Slocum, 918 State Forest Road, Bahama, North Carolina 27503  

BENEFITS 

• Food budget while on project
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of $6,195 upon successful completion of term. The education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools, or to repay qualified student loans
• Conservation Legacy Employee Assistance Program
• Training and opportunity for the following certifications:
• • FFT2 (Firefighter Type 2 - crewmember)
    • FAL3 (Basic Faller)
    • FAL2 (Intermediate Faller)
    • Wilderness First Aid
    • ATV/UTV Operation
    • Herbicide Application

PROGRAM SUMMARY 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a program that is a partnership between Conservation Corps North Carolina and North Carolina State University Natural Resources Foundation.  Participants will be part of a six-member crew that will work on forest management projects that protect wildlife habitat, working lands, military bases, and the Southeast’s longleaf pine forest ecosystem.  The program will provide education, certifications, and on-the-job experience that will help participants pursue a variety of natural resource management careers. The crew will partner with North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Forest Service, the United State Forest Service, and the North Carolina Natural Resources Conservation Service on projects that benefit public agencies and private landowners in eastern North Carolina.

PROGRAM PARTNERS

Conservation Corps North Carolina

The mission of the 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 Appalachian Conservation Corps and public land managers in North Carolina.

North Carolina State University Natural Resources Foundation

The NC State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc. (NCSNRF), originally called the NC Forestry Foundation, Inc., is the oldest foundation at NC State University. The Foundation strives to meet the needs of the North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources, including management of land holdings support for academic and research programs, and funding support for Natural Resources Advancement.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Be between the ages of 18 and 27
• Have U.S. Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency Status
• High School Diploma or GED
• Pass Background Checks: All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal Criminal History Check
• Be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award
• 21 + WITH SOME LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
• VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE AND AN INSURABLE DRIVING RECORD
• Associates degree with 1-year experience or bachelor’s degree in forestry, biology, ecology, natural resources management or related field
• Ability to mix, handle, and apply herbicides in accordance with label directions and crew supervisor instructions
• Ability to operate and conduct field maintenance of vehicles and to recognize and avoid hazards associated with operating them.
• Ability to operate various types of hand and power tools and machinery in a safe and efficient manner.
• Ability to handle and maintain tools, equipment, and supplies in good working order for daily operation
• Ability to record and maintain data and keep monitoring records.
• Excellent communication and teaching/mentoring skills as well as strong conflict resolution and team building skills
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a changing work environment including willingness to work a varying schedule.
• Ability to perform administrative duties, such as managing the crew budget and documents and utilizing database and Microsoft programs

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior AmeriCorps Service
• Prior Conservation Corps Experience
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness travel, camp management and outdoor leadership
• Professional technical certifications
• Wilderness First Responder and CPR Certifications
• Relevant Bachelor’s degree

POSITION WORK SCHEDULE

Crew members will live, train, and work together as a team.  Project work and schedules will vary depending on season.  Typical projects will require the crew to live in tents or cabins on or close to project locations for a variety of periods of time.  In general, hours will be 6:00 am to 5:30 pm and include one hour of physical training, two fifteen-minute, breaks and a half hour lunch break.

TRAINING

The program will begin with an intensive two weeks of training focused on certifications and outdoor leadership skills.  Informal training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training that will include things like tool maintenance, plant identification, and an overview of public land management agencies.

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, and work pants. CCNC will provide tools, food, group camp equipment (i.e. cook stove, water jugs), transportation to and from base camp to project locations, and Personal Protection Equipment (i.e. Nomex pants and shirt, neck and face covering, fire-rated work boots, helmet, leather gloves.) 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Represent CCNC, North Carolina State University, and AmeriCorps appropriately to the public 
• Perform chainsaw work with an unwavering commitment to safety
• Use, maintain, and repair hand and power tools as necessary
• Operate heavy machinery as necessary
• Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects
• Work long days outdoors in all types of weather 
• Apply environmental conservation and restoration knowledge and outdoor living skills to all outdoor settings and work projects
• Support the creation of a positive team environment that nurtures personal growth
• Follow written and verbal instructions from supervisors and co-workers
• Commit to completion of all program activities, including conservation project work, education, training, and crew/team activities

PHYSICAL/OUTDOOR SKILLS AND FITNESS 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.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SAFETY AND JUDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

• 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
• Maintain proper dosage of any prescription medications without assistance from others

PARTICIPANT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

Complexity/Problem Solving

• Communicate ideas and concerns with a variety of people, including colleagues, landowners, and supervisor
• Resolve challenges with supervisor
• Resolve management problems independently or as delegated by natural resource staff
• Consult with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems
• Consult with supervisor on unusual or complex issues
• Make responsible day-to-day decisions that benefit the work of other crew members and the crew itself

Responsibility/Oversight

• Implement detailed instructions to complete required tasks
• Work responsibly whether under close supervision or infrequent supervision
• Proactively support duties such as routine maintenance of equipment with help of a supervisor

Communications/Interpersonal Contacts

• Positively interact with members of the crew, public agencies and the general public
• Consult with supervisor in the event of unusual circumstances, problems or questions that falls outside of general management expectations

Environmental Ethics

Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques

CCNC IS A DRUG-FREE ORGANIZATION.  ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES ARE PROHIBITED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AMERICORPS/PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND ON CCNC, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND PROGRAM PARTNER PROPERTY.

Required Skills Required Experience