Title: Leader Development Program (LDP)- Crew Leader II

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps  

Reports to: Program Coordinator, Program Director   

Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving within the Natchez Trace Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)

Season Dates: 03/03/2025 - 05/16/2025 (options to extend term through the 2025 season)

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt  

Wages: $925-1,125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications, paid biweekly 

Health Benefits: Medical benefit options may be available for individuals serving 6 months or longer 

Other Benefits:  Wilderness First Aid certification, USFS chainsaw recognized certification, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available 

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 5 Crew Members 

Southeast Conservation Corps:  
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service.  

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC provides members with impactful opportunities through a unique set of programs that engage people in meaningful education and service to their communities and natural landscapes. 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 partners with various land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, city municipalities, 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 projects are manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.    

Crews will serve in frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC strives to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.     

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and participate 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. Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.    

Position Summary: 

The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water.

Standard schedule generally consists of 9 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 5 days off with some exceptions. Workdays follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. While the 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. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. 

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on diverse teams and those from a variety of populations and communities.

Leader Development Program (LDP) is a two-phase program Initiative designed to prepare crew members for roles as crew leaders or assistant crew leaders with SECC during the summer, fall 2025 seasons, and beyond.

Phase one: Participants will focus on orientation, training, and skill development. This includes honing leadership abilities, receiving, technical trail building, camp life training, and learning project management essentials. As a crew member during this time, you will also get the opportunity to be the assistant crew lead (ACL). This role will rotate among the crew members each hitch.

Phase two: Implementation and continued leadership development as a crew leader or assistant crew leader during the 2025 summer/fall seasons at SECC. In late May, CLDPs will transition to co-leading our summer programs. Crews will complete various conservation and community projects within the greater southeast region.   

As the Crew Leader Development Program Lead, this position is responsible for implementing SECC’s Leader Development Program, including both technical (trails, invasives, camping, etc.) and fundamental skills (communication, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, etc.). This leader will work closely with the Program Coordinator to develop lesson plans, coach members through growth plans, and prepare members for future employment within SECC’s leadership structure (either as an Adult Assistant Crew Lead or a Youth Staff Crew Lead). 

This position will be joined by a rotating member to be an Assistant Crew Leader per project. An AmeriCorps leadership position focusing on the continued development of leadership skills. While this will be a collaborative relationship, the Crew Lead Development Program Leader bears ultimate responsibility for member development, as well as high quality and high quantity project accomplishments for our partners.  

Service Project:  

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) and The Natchez Trace Parkway have partnered to host a Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail rehabilitation crew. The crew will be based out of SECCs Chattanooga, TN office and travel to The Natchez Trace Parkway to primarily focus on rehabilitation projects along the Ridgeland section of the parkway in and around Jackson, MS. The crew will be managed by the Trail Program Coordinator and collaboratively aid in these pre-identified restoration projects.  During their time in the field, crew members camp overnight and serve outdoors in all weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects.  Most projects require hiking out to project sites for the day with tools, equipment, and a day pack. Projects can include the following, but are not limited to:

• Repair or replace trail bridges and boardwalks
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Corridor clearing
• Invasive species removal
• Replace equestrian hitching posts
• Repair or install water structures along trails
• Signage installation and repaint blazes
• Habitat restoration
• Fence installation and repair
• Community Service

Responsibilities:

 Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
• Understand and integrate Conservation Legacy’s DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within crew community context.
• Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
• Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
• Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program.

Project Management & Implementation 

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader (or Crew Leader in Development), & staff

Safety & Risk Management 

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with CL Driver policy.
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.

Administration 

• Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases.
• Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.

Camp Management

• Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks).
• Monitor and manage crew community needs in camp.
• Instruct crew in how to create a safe, hygienic, and tidy camp environment while mitigating crew caused impacts to campsites, practicing minimum impact camping techniques.
• Maintain all program policies and procedures in camp environment.
• Leading a camping crew is an intensive commitment requiring a continuous physical presence. Leaders must remain physically present, and cognitively and emotionally available to support community and individual crew member needs.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Full commitment to the program and its mission.
• Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies.
• Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (for backcountry crews: 80 hours Wilderness First Responder with CPR/AED or higher; for front country crews: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50+-hour work week including managing projects, camping, and programmatic policies and integrity throughout.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment. 
• Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders.
• Able to work long days in adverse conditions. 
• Must be able to speak, understand and write English. 
• High School diploma or GED certificate. 
• Must over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following: 

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel. 
• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people. 
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others. 
• Strong conflict resolution skills.
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience. 
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
• 1-2 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps 
• Technical trail construction and maintenance experience
• Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED 
• Forest Service chainsaw certifications 
• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people 
• Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects 
• Experience with Disaster Response 

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 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 reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.