Chainsaw Assistant Crew Leader

Position Title: Saw Assistant Crew Leader

Conservation Legacy Program: CCNC

Site Location: Reports to Bahama, North Carolina

Terms of Service: Start Date: September 22nd, 2025

End Date: November 19th, 2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 Hour/21 Weeks

Priority application date: July 16th, 2025 Purpose:

The mission of Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) as an AmeriCorps program 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, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.     

CCNC’s chainsaw crews work with a variety of partners across the state of North Carolina. This position may use chainsaws, brush cutters, hand saws, loppers, and a variety of mechanical/non-mechanical and chemical tools to remove plant species, remove hazard trees, and improve timber stands. Additionally, the crew should expect to work on rugged terrain in inclement weather with technical, advanced cutting operations. The work will be arduous and fast-paced in areas of high exposure. Assistant Crew Leaders (ACLs) are primarily responsible for facilitating a positive Crew Member experience. 

Description of Duties:

The ACL is a full partner in the crew’s leadership; helping the crew leader to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term.  This position requires open dialog with the Staff Crew Leader; assisting them with project management, project partners communications, overall logistics, and crew assignments. 

ACLs set the example of how to work hard with enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions, meanwhile practicing good judgement and safety. ACLs are co-responsible for facilitating a learning experience for Crew Members, both formally and informally.  This position may require additional participation time outside of standard project and crew hours. ACLs are asked to be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. Since this is a seasonal position, ACLs are asked to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline. 

Responsibilities:   

Participation and Expedition Behavior:   

• Support the crew leader in leadership/mentorship, project/camp management, administration, and safety & risk management.
• 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.

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.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission
• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions
• Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills
• Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
• 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
• Must be 21+, OR have a clean driving record for 3+years (insurable by CCNC) and a current driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Previous corps or crew experience
• Chainsaw experience
• Experience with camping/backpacking
• Wilderness First Aid certification or higher
• Adaptability
• Professionalism
• Community-Building ethic

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. 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.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve [blank-day] to [blank-day], but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1, 565.08
• Living Allowance of $530 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

CCNC Staff Contact Information:

Mallory James

Program Manager

mjames@conservationlegacy.org 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.