TITLE: Veterans Fire Corps – Staff Crew Leader (Veteran Status Preferred But Not Required)
SEASON DATES: January 10 – October 22, 2021 (Mandatory Crew Leader Training January 4-8, 2021)
STATUS: Seasonal, Full-time, & exempt
LOCATION: Based out of the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, located in GA. Travel and project work throughout the Southeast including, but not limited to, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, with potential limited travel within the western United States under AD (Administratively Determined) status as determined by SECC and the US Forest Service.
Please note: Housing is NOT provided, SECC only provides accommodations (camping, bunk housing, etc.) when crew is traveling away from home base for overnight stays.
SALARY: $700/week, paid bi-weekly
BENEFITS: Health Benefit Eligible after 60 days. Paid certifications and trainings related to wildland firefighting, uniforms, personal protective safety equipment, crew food will be provided when working/camping away from home base area.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 30, 2020, applicants selected on a rolling basis.
FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Southeast Conservation Corps’ Veterans Fire Corps (VFC) Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate high standards, compassion, excellent judgment, effective communication skills, initiative, and the desire to devote themselves (at least seasonally) to working alongside post-9/11 military veterans in an environmental setting. The Crew Leader position requires professionalism, patience, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and short-comings of the crew. The crew will be comprised of one Crew Leader, one Assistant Crew Leader, and six Crew Members.
The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a team of recent-era veterans work together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuels management and fuels reduction. Additionally, the crew should be prepared to assist with other natural resource management projects such as trail construction and maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat restoration, etc. In additional to technical skills, the program also heavily focuses on leadership development, soft-skills, and teamwork. Project work and schedules will vary depending on region and season. Some projects will require the crew to work 5 days at a time with 2 days off (going home each night), while other projects require the crew to camp and live on project locations for 8 - 14 days at a time, followed by a pre-determined amount of days off.
NOTE: When determined that camping on project location is required, this is mandatory, and the crew will camp, travel, work, and eat as a crew. No drug or alcohol consumption allowed during work related travel at any time.
Home base for this crew will be located within the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Crew members and leaders will be expected to live no more than a one-hour drive (or less) from the reporting site on District (12411 East Hwy 136, Lafayette, GA 30728). It is paramount that leaders understand commitment to this program will require flexibility with the work schedule since this crew will be roving throughout the Southeastern United States for the duration of the program.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Conservation, Fire, or Corps leadership experience.
- Excellent organizational & communication skills
- Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
- Ability to manage all aspects of crew life and production effectively and efficiently within a 40-50-hour work week.
- Ability to pass USFS Pack Test at the “arduous” level (3-mile hike with 45-pound pack in 45 minutes)
- 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.
- Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission.
- Must be adaptive, patient, and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout.
- Chainsaw operations and maintenance experience
- Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions
- Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, LNT principles
- High School diploma or GED certificate
- Must hold current/relevant medical certification (WFR, WEMT, or OEC) with CPR/AED
- Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by SECC) and a current driver’s license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with SECC or other conservation corps or youth corps
- Teaching, facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
- Wildland Fire experience (Hot shot, hand crew, engine crew, etc.)
- NWCG or equivalent Faller B Chainsaw Certification a plus
- Familiarity with basic conservation skills (hand tool use and maintenance, etc.)
- Strong conflict resolution skills
- 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.
All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
LEADERSHIP & MENTORSHIP:
- Manage, supervise, and lead 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 crew member development and a healthy community
- Mentor and delegate project responsibilities, crew life, and member development to Assistant Crew Leader (If applicable).
- 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 including alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION
- Train and motivate a crew of six to eight veterans to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands within a 10-12-hour work day
- Delegation of project work & investment among co-leader and crew
- Manage the 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, handwashing, and sanitizing crew vehicles and gear.
- 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’s and equipment safely in SECC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers
ADMINISTRATION
- Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, crew member and peer evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, etc.
- Responsible for all project related outcomes and deliverables.
- Manage food budget and credit card for purchases
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
- Always appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
- Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
OUTDOOR SKILLS AND FITNESS
- 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 and project partner property.
JOB LOCATION
Chattahoochee National Forest - Lafayette, GA, United States
POSITION TYPE
Full-Time/Regular
SALARY
$700 USD/Week
Required Skills
Required Experience