Fire and Forest Management Crew Member

Fire & Forest Management Crew Member 

***Please submit your application by August 26th, 2024 to receive priority consideration *** 

***Interviews will begin after August 5th, 2024*** 

Fire & Forest Management AmeriCorps Crew Member 

Start/End Date: December 9th, 2024 – April 18th, 2025 

Stipend:  $600/week plus an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of $2,626.27 upon successful completion of program 

Status:  675-Hour AmeriCorps Service Term 

Location:  North Carolina State University Hill Research Forest, Camp Slocum, 918 State Forest Road, Bahama, North Carolina 27503 

Benefits 

• Shared housing provided
• Option for limited Paid Time Off
• Conservation Legacy Employee Assistance Program
• Food budget while on project
• Fire boot stipend

Training and opportunities for the following certifications: 

• S-212 Chainsaw
• ICS-100 Introduction to ICS
• IS-700 NIMS Introduction
• S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighting
• S-190 Basic Wildland Fire Behavior
• L-180 Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service
• FFT2 (Firefighter Type 2 – crew member)
• Red Card
• FAL3 (Beginner (A) Faller)
• FAL3 (Beginner (A) Bucker)
• WFA
• Direct experience on prescribed burns with a variety of public land managers throughout the state of North Carolina
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of term. The education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools, or to repay qualified student loans

Potential opportunities for the following certifications: 

• FAL2 (Intermediate (B) Bucker)
• FAL2 (Intermediate (B) Faller)

About Conservation Corps North Carolina:    

The mission of Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) 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. 

Project Summary  

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of CCNC’s Fire and Forest Management program that works with multiple land management agencies, municipalities, non-profits, and landowners on a variety of prescribed burn and forest management projects. The Sandhills region of North Carolina offers a unique opportunity with its geographical location and wealth of available projects for our conservation efforts. The crew will operate largely in the Sandhills, with the potential to travel elsewhere in the state as additional opportunities are available. During travel, the crew will be expected to camp in established or even primitive campsites with the necessary supplies to support their needs. The program will provide education, certifications, and on-the-job experience that will help participants pursue a variety of natural resource management careers. The crew will partner with Sandhills prescribed Burn Association, the North Carolina Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and various other project partners on forest management projects. 

These projects will include but not limited to: 

• Prescribed burn operations with multiple land management agencies and burn bosses
• Fire prep-work such as creating and maintaining fire breaks and fuels reduction projects
• Timber stand improvement including pre-commercial thinning
• Invasive species removal
• Trail building
• Various other projects that benefit public agencies and private landowners across North Carolina

Service projects will include timber stand improvement, prescribed fires on private and public lands, trail maintenance, and various other projects. Hand tools, drip torches, and backpack blowers will be frequently used by this crew for the preparation and completion of prescribed burns. Tools such as chainsaws, brush cutters, and more will be used as required when additional equipment is beneficial.  

Compensation  
AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $600 per week before taxes, dispersed biweekly. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.     

Training 

The program will begin an intensive two to three weeks of training focused on certifications and outdoor leadership skills.  Informal training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training that will include things like tool maintenance, plant identification, and an overview of public land management agencies. Formal certifications are awarded at the end of the season.  

Supplies and Equipment 

Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, and work pants. CCNC may have loaner camping gear should members need assistance. It recommended that crew members arrive with everything they need to be safe and comfortable as loaner gear is limited and not guaranteed.  

CCNC will provide tools, food, group camp equipment (i.e., cook stove, water jugs), transportation to and from base camp to project locations, and Personal Protection Equipment (i.e., Nomex pants and shirt, $150 stipend for fire-rated work boots, helmet, leather gloves, etc.). 

Required Qualifications 

• Be able to pass an arduous pack test for Firefighter Type 2 (carry a 45-pound pack for 3 miles under 45 minutes)
• Ability to work a flex (variable) schedule that may change with little notice (some weeks may be four days, others five days, and some days may require longer hours to meet objectives)
• Ability to use a chainsaw, and other equipment frequently on rugged terrain and in inclement weather
• Be between the ages of 18 and 30
• Must be a US Citizen
• High School Diploma or GED
• Pass Background Checks: All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex
• Eligible to serve an AmeriCorps term

Preferred Qualifications 

• Associates degree with 1-year experience or bachelor’s degree in forestry, biology, ecology, natural resources management or related field.
• Ability to operate and conduct field maintenance of vehicles and to recognize and avoid hazards associated with operating them.
• Ability to operate various types of hand and power tools and machinery in a safe and efficient manner.
• Ability to handle and maintain tools, equipment, and supplies in good working order for daily operation.
• Ability to record and maintain data and keep accurate monitoring records.
• Experience with prescribed or wildland fire.
• Previous AmeriCorps experience.

Position Work Schedule 

• Crew members will live, train, and work together as a team. Project work and schedules will vary throughout the season. Common projects will require the crew to live in tents or cabins, on or close to project locations for various periods of time with overnight travel. In general, the typical schedule will be 4-5 days per week and will include two paid fifteen-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour lunch break.
• Members should expect work to vary depending on project partner needs and season.
• Comfort with ambiguity and working in a fast-paced team is a must with this position as schedules and work change often.

 Essential Responsibilities and Functions 

• Represent CCNC and AmeriCorps appropriately to the public
• Perform chainsaw work with an unwavering commitment to safety
• Use, maintain, and repair hand and power tools as necessary
• Operate heavy machinery as necessary
• Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects
• Work long days outdoors in all types of weather
• Apply environmental conservation and restoration knowledge and outdoor living skills to all outdoor settings and work projects
• Support the creation of a positive team environment that nurtures personal and professional growth
• Follow written and verbal instructions from supervisors and co-workers
• Obey communication-based standard operating procedures and policies
• Commit to completion of all program activities, including conservation project work, education, training, and crew/team activities

 Physical/Outdoor Skills and Fitness Requirements 

• Sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time
• Safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis
• Work in variable weather conditions at remote locations on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances
• Successfully pass the Arduous/Pack Test/3-mile hike with 45-pound pack in 45 minutes
• Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries
• Live in a physically demanding, possible isolated environment for up to several days. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at least one hour, but perhaps in excess of 6 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 Safety and Judgement Requirements 

• Communicate danger to others in the form of a warning of danger others may encounter or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance – 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
• Perceive, understand, and follow directions by others so that appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques can be successfully executed to manage hazards – these directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or during the exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in a variety of weather conditions
• Maintain proper dosage of any prescription medications without assistance from others

Participant Behavior Expectations 

Complexity/Problem Solving 

• Communicate ideas and concerns with a variety of people, including colleagues, landowners, and supervisor
• Resolve challenges with supervisor
• Resolve management problems independently or as delegated by natural resource staff
• Consult with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems
• Consult with supervisor on unusual or complex issues
• Make responsible day-to-day decisions that benefit the work of other crew members and the crew itself

 Responsibility/Oversight 

• Follow detailed instructions to complete required tasks
• Work responsibly whether under close supervision or infrequent supervision
• Proactively support duties such as routine maintenance of equipment under the guidance of a supervisor

 Communications/Interpersonal Contacts 

• Positively interact with members of the crew, public agencies and partners, and the general public
• Consult with supervisor in the event of unusual circumstances, problems or questions that falls outside of general management expectations

Environmental Ethics  

• Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques

CCNC is a drug-free organization.  Alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited while participating in program activities and on CCNC and program partner 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 a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.” 

To Apply:

Complete the application, and upload resume. Cover letter is optional.

Any questions can be addressed to:  

Drew Gotwals 

Fire and Forestry Coordinator 

agotwals@conservationlegacy.org 

**To be considered, you must upload a resume in addition to your application**