Field Crew Member – Trail Crew

Start Date: Preference will be given to candidates with availability to start in late January or early February but anyone with ability to start in early 2026 should apply

Position Duration: Position is year-round with funding secured through August 2030, with potential to extend

Status: Regular/Full Time

Compensation: $20 per hour paid every two weeks

Position Supervisor: Virginia Program Manager

Location: One crew based in Roanoke, VA – performing work across the George Washington and Jefferson NF.

Schedule: Expectation for this position is 40 hours per week. Weekly schedule will be dependent on project and time of year but will include 8-day and 4-day hitches, generally camping overnight but returning home at the end of the workday when project logistics allow.

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members

Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled. Applicant review will begin in early January.

Four Field Crew Members will work under supervision of a Field Crew Leader and an Assistant Field Crew Leader while camping and working on remote projects with limited to no cell service. Crews are expected to backpack and live in physically demanding, remote environments often for 8 (and sometimes 10) days at a time. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly including freezing temperatures, high humidity, persistent rain, and high elevation. The remote nature of our work may mean delayed access to medical care. Crew Members should have good communication skills and judgment, an ability to be trained in the field, professionalism, initiative, willingness to learn, ability to express needs and concerns, emotional maturity and resilience, resourcefulness, and comfort in the outdoors with minimal contact to others while on hitch.

A typical work hitch includes meeting at the SAWS office, driving a SAWS vehicle to a trailhead (sometimes multiple hours), backpacking into the project site, staying in the field for up to ten days at a time, hiking out, traveling back to the office, cleaning gear, tools, vehicles, completing reporting requirements, and preparing your crew for the next work hitch.

Once the season starts, all field crews may address projects including, but not limited to:

• Trail relocations
• Erosion control (installation of water bars, grade dips, log or stone steps, etc.)
• Reestablishing trail surface
• Brushing trail corridors and removing downed trees
• Rockwork (stairs, retaining walls, etc)
• Trail conditions surveys
• Public lands boundary marking
• Public education (Leave No Trace, bear safety and awareness, Wilderness education, etc.)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties are done under supervision of the Crew Leader, Assistant Crew Leader, and at times the Field Coordinator

• Work with crew leaders to effectively complete critical backcountry stewardship projects while maintaining high standards for project completion
• Assist in developing and maintaining effective, positive relationships with US Forest Service personnel, partner organization staff, and partner organization volunteers
• Create media (blogs, photography, video, etc.) to share for reporting and documentation
• Backpack, camp, and work in physically demanding, remote environments for up to 8 days at a time in adverse weather
• Help to maintain a crew cache of tools and equipment
• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
• Follow SAWS organizational policies in the field
• Contribute to an inclusive, safe, positive, and fun working environment
• Use a variety of hand tools and understand complex rigging systems

Benefits

• USFS Crosscut saw certification
• Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification
• Opportunities for professional development and network growth
• May qualify for Public Land Service Corp (PLC) Hiring Authority certificate
• Opportunities for pro-rated gear deals
• Health, dental, vision insurance (Health: Employee pays 20% of monthly premium, 50% of premium for dependents. Dental & Vision: Employee pays 100% of premiums)
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid vacation (20) and holidays (14)
• Sick leave accrual
• Paid parental leave
• Food stipend of $20/day for over night trips

Qualifications

In addition to enthusiasm for the SAWS mission, applicants should have the following:

• Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain for up to 10 miles per day while carrying 60lbs. or more
• Ability and desire to create a safe and inclusive work culture
• Knowledge about group dynamics and conflict resolution preferred
• Ability to live and work in a remote and primitive setting with a diverse group of people without an ability to communicate with folks outside the crew
• Desire to be a member of a hard-working team and transformative non-profit organization
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds
• At least 10 months of active experience on a trail crew or similar role
• Experience backpacking or in the back country either in a personal or professional setting is preferred
• Ability to gain a First Aid and CPR certification. (Current certifications preferred.)
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Ability to pass a background check
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Has reliable transportation to and from the [duty station] at the beginning of each hitch

About Us

Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) sets standards of excellence that inspire, connect, and equip people to steward wild landscapes. We provide stewardship to protected public lands in the Southern Appalachian region, including Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Founded in 2010, SAWS partners with federal agencies, including the Forest Service, to supplement existing stewardship efforts and provide additional support for training, skill-building, and community engagement. SAWS works to support safe access to public lands, preserve natural resources, and develop the next generation of conservation stewards. SAWS is headquartered in Asheville, NC with offices in Roanoke, VA and Johnson City, TN.

SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe work environment, free from discrimination of any kind.