Project Leader

The Student Conservation Association in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking outgoing individuals to join the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps as Project Leaders for the 2024 field season. Project Leaders train, supervise, and administer a crew of five young adults as they work on a variety of conservation projects, career development, and environmental education. Project Leaders work closely with SCA and DCNR staff to ensure a successful and meaningful season for their crews. This is a Full-Time contract position.

Position Dates: Feb 26th 2024 – December 6th, 2024

*Project Leader training will take place 2/26//24 – 3/8/24. This training will be on-site in PA (exact location TBD). This is a paid, mandatory training.

Field Season Schedule: Crew hours are Monday-Wednesday 7:00am-5:00pm, Thursday 7:00am-4:30pm. 

*Crew leaders may need to complete tasks outside of those hours

Compensation: $800/wk, employee-sponsored benefits, paid trainings, career-development opportunities

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as a Crew Supervisor, by facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, and guiding crew dynamics
• Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environment stewardship
• Act as a Project Manager, by communicating with agency park partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA. Projects Leaders also coordinate professional development and environmental education opportunities throughout the season
• Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing a budget, and communicating with SCA staff

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 1 year of leadership, teaching, or supervisory experience. 
• Strong preference for experience working with youth or young adults ages 18-30.
• Experience with conservation work skills or related skills- i.e., trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, carpentry, landscaping, and gardening. 
• Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 8 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/ or move 40 pounds or more
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification required by the start of training
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
• Must have the ability to legally work in the US
• Must have a valid driver’s license for 3+ years and MVR that meets SCA standards
• Must be able to meet SCA’s criminal background check standards

CONSERVATION PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE

• Trail maintenance and construction including: implementing water management techniques, brushing, blazing, reroutes,
• Facility maintenance projects including: painting, staining, carpentry, plumbing, electrical.
• Constructions projects such as: bridges, stairs, picnic tables, pavilions, concrete, and roofing
• Habitat Restoration including: invasive species identification and treatments, herbicide applications, Tree Planting, installing Riparian Buffers.
• Fencing and Boundary Line Maintenance

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MEMBERS MAY INCLUDE

• Networking Opportunities – work alongside a variety of DCNR park staff and learn about different state positions, building rapport with personnel throughout the season
• Job shadowing – gain exposure to professionals across specialties within DCNR and explore opportunities to shadow them for a day
• Environmental Education Opportunities with DCNR Staff
• Workshops on resume writing for state positions and applying for state jobs