JOB DESCRIPTION

THIS POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN PERMANENTLY. APPLICANTS WILL BE SELECTED ON A “ONGOING” BASIS DEPENDING UPON CURRENT CREW AND PROJECT NEEDS. IF A POSITION MATCHING YOUR SKILL SET AND AVAILABILITY OPENS UP, YOU WILL BE CONTACTED FOR FOLLOW UP. THIS APPLICANT POOL WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR ALL OFFICE LOCATIONS FOR AZCC. 

START DATE: Ongoing

STATUS: 300-hour, 450-hour, 675-hour or 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Terms (availability varies each season and location)

STIPEND: $330/wk for AmeriCorps Member positions, $425/wk for Veterans Fire Corps Members, issued bi-weekly with direct deposit or a program-issued debit card.

LOCATION: Tucson or Flagstaff, AZ

BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Segal Education Award; Paid training; Food budget while on project; Employee Assistance Program

CREW MODELS

GENERAL FIELD CREWS:

AZCC's Field Crew program engages motivated young adults (18-30) to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout Arizona and southern New Mexico.  There is a variety of conservation projects with our adult camping crews!

NATIVE AFFINITY CREWS:

A crew experience for NATIVE, young adults (18-30) looking to have a hands-on experience completing conservation projects on public lands. The power and impact of native affinity programming is due to the network of operational support from AZCC and the shared corps experience.

TUCSON LOCAL CREWS:

This conservation crew is for young adults (18-30) FROM PIMA COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA interested in completing local conservation projects. Local crews for young adults provide members with job skills, leadership opportunities, challenging project work and personal and professional development. Crew members primarily live at home and work on projects during the day, however camping may be requested for certain projects.

CREW LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CREWS:

This AZCC crew is focused on connecting young adults (ages 21-30) ASPIRING TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS with conservation service work projects on public lands. The goal of the leadership development program is to provide participants with a variety of training focused on hard skills as well as leadership through peer leadership activities to prepare members for leadership roles within the conservation corps setting.  Upon completion of the leadership development program, members are encouraged to apply to be Assistant Crew Leaders, Crew Leaders or Youth Conservation Corps Mentors.  

VETERANS FIRE CORPS CREWS:

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 other military veterans, AGES 21-35 YEARS OLD, in an environmental setting.  The crew will have to work together and maintain a flexible, positive, and professional attitude. 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 using chainsaws. This crew model also helps recent-era veterans transition from military to civilian careers. Participants MUST BE A MILITARY VETERAN, PROVIDE A COPY OF A VALID DD-214, OR RELEVANT DISCHARGE PAPERWORK, AND BE ABLE TO PASS A USFS PACK TEST AT THE “ARDUOUS” LEVEL (3-MILE HIKE WITH 45-POUND PACK IN 45 MINUTES)

YOUTH CONSERVATION CREWS:

Youth Conservation Corps members, AGES 17-18, OR 17-20, DEPENDING ON THE CREW, WILL WORK ON LOCAL PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES!  It is a day program where members will meet in the morning, work all day and then go home at night. Members must be able to actively participate in environmental education activities and practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned. This includes safe use of and maintenance of hand and power tools as necessary. 

COVID STRIKE TEAM CREWS:

The USFS COVID Response Crew will help support RECREATION MITIGATION PROJECTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE IMPACTS OF HIGH USE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, performing activities such as cleaning up and restoring of campground infrastructure, performing basic maintenance and rehabilitation of trails including new social trails, and other recreation infrastructure projects and activities that are directly impacted from the high visitation use due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. (1 crew leader and 2 crew member positions available). Members should expect to camp during some of the term and should be comfortable interacting with the public. Camping accommodations will be provided at developed campgrounds. 

PROGRAM SUMMARY                                               

ARIZONA CONSERVATION CORPS (AZCC):

Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson. AZCC IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. ALL MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING HOUSING WHILE NOT ON PROJECT.

PROJECT WORK:

AZCC AmeriCorps members serve a term of National Service in the State of Arizona and parts of the Southwest on professionally supervised crews as they explore a variety of opportunities for careers in the outdoors, learn practical field skills, and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation.  Members are provided opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional staff within Conservation Legacy, while gaining career perspectives working alongside agency staff from the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Municipal, State and Non-profit organizations that work on our nation's public and tribal lands. AZCC Crews will become proficient in environmental stewardship practices, general worksite safety, Leave No Trace principles and outdoor living skills.  Most crews receive First Aid trainings.

Project work may vary due to seasonality and environmental safety concerns.  Projects that crews typically work on may include, but are not limited to:

• Trail construction and maintenance
• Invasive species management, including pesticide application
• Habitat restoration
• Fence installation/repair
• Land Management Inventory and Mapping
• Fire fuels reduction
• National Disaster Relief
• Community Service
• Recreation and facilities maintenance and construction

TRAINING:

Most AmeriCorps terms will begin with an orientation: crew members who attend the full orientation will receive training on First Aid (typically Wilderness First Aid), Leave No Trace, Outdoor Living, Crew Culture and Diversity, and goal setting.  Informal hands-on training will continue throughout the term with on- the- ground skills training.

Depending on the project needs, crews may receive specialized training in herbicide handling, crosscut saw, chainsaw, dry stone masonry or rigging. 

SCHEDULE:

Generally, crews work a 9-day,10-hours/day ‘hitch’ schedule, while camping in front and backcountry settings. Typically, followed by 5 days off in the town of the home base office.  Drive time to and from the work site from the home base office is typically included in the hitch schedule.  Applicants should expect the project schedule and type of work to vary. 

Workdays will start with a Job Hazard Analysis safety meeting followed by a 15-minute warm-up exercise and a 15-minute stretch.  Days will include two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN AZCC CORPSMEMBER:

Members can expect to work long days and must successfully adapt to various climates and working conditions.  Workdays will contain strenuous labor in remote settings and all weather conditions.

While serving a term of National Service, AZCC crews are expected to work in diverse team settings.  Respect for all members of the program, our partners, the public and the land they are visiting is expected. 

AZCC expects all members to represent the program in a professional manner at all times.  Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).  Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible and complete all functions of the tasks assigned, including tough physical labor and hiking several miles to remote locations under adverse weather conditions.

MEMBERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING UNDER OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: 

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques at all times
• Outdoor Skills and Fitness
• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living, travel, and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, practice self-care by staying adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed, so as to remain 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 challenging weather conditions. These remote locations may require up to 12 hours to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

THE CREW MEMBER MUST SUPPLY HIS/HER/THEIR OWN PERSONAL OUTDOOR GEAR 

WHAT WE PROVIDE:       

• Tools and Personal Protective Equipment
• Transportation from office to projects
• Budget for meals is provided while in the field
• Field uniform shirts & First aid kits

 YOU PROVIDE:

• Transportation from home to the office
• Camping gear, such as a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad
• Work pants and boots over the ankle
• Day pack and multiday pack
• Rain gear

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 25, there is some flexibility to accept members up to age 30.
• Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status. 
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• All offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable:
  • A nationwide check of the National Sex Offender Public website;
  • A fingerprint-based check of FBI criminal history record; and
  • A check of the State criminal history record repository for the individual’s State of residence AND State of service,
• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award

PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL SAFETY:

Proper safety procedures must be observed in all tasks, including the repair and use of hand and power tools used on projects.

• 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 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.

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 provide some accommodations, excepting that which 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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• On-the-ground conservation work experience
• Technical trainings and work skills development
• Exposure to potential employers
• Teamwork and leadership skills development
• AmeriCorps Education Award and a weekly stipend.

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 property. AZCC is a drug-free organization; alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited.

Required Skills Required Experience

• Adhere to all airport and facility regulations regarding proper security and identification procedures, including correct escort responsibilities and challenge procedures.

• Comply with all safety regulations, methods, and procedures required by WFS, USPS, airport, and all applicable government agencies

• Advice Supervisor immediately regarding any hazardous materials (HAZ-MAT) cargo and/or any irregularities (e.g., spills, damaged items, pilferage, etc.).

• Compliance with WFS policy for reporting injuries, incidents, damage, and theft:

• Ability to lift 70 lbs. No exceptions.

• Report ALL injuries, incidents, damage, and/or theft immediately to the Supervisor.