Strike Team – Crew Member

Crew Structure: 2 Crew Members, 1 Crew Lead 

Location: Will report to the SECC office for the first day of training and then to the Conasauga Workstation for the rest of the season.  

Season Dates:  June 3rd - August 2nd, 2024 (8 Weeks) 

Status: Full-time, seasonal  300-hour AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Compensation: $600/weekly living stipend, paid biweekly, including a $1,459.26 Segal Education Award upon program completion. 

Hitch Schedule: The crews’ schedule will depend on the project and partner needs. Members must remain flexible and expect partners to communicate crew schedule before off time. Typical hitch schedules: 5 days on 2 days off Monday-Friday OR 4 days on 3 days off Monday-Thursday OR Tuesday-Friday. 

This crew is a day crew model = No Camping, completing predetermined projects created in collaboration with SECC project partners. Crew members will begin and end each day at the Conasauga Ranger District Office within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Chatsworth, GA.   

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew members are responsible for finding and attaining housing when not in the field. Crew members have evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays off and return to the duty station every weekday morning at 7:30 am sharp and end  workdays  around 5:30 pm. The day includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half-hour break for lunch. Crew members must supply their equipment, such as a day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide tools and protective gear. 

Training: Crew Members will report to the SECC office for their first day. Then, will head straight to their workstation at the Conasauga Ranger District.  

The crew will be off from 06/29/24 – 07/07/24 for the July 4th holiday. This week will not include a living/housing stipend. 

Benefits: Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successfully completing hours), uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available.  

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, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population 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 works with various land management agencies in Tennessee and the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuel reduction, public land fencing, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The project work is manual labor based, and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.     

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

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Members are responsible for finding and attaining their housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their meals and work together to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation, and corps-related topics. The members must supply their 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’s office and project sites.    

Position Summary:   

SECC’s Strike Team will work directly with the Conasauga Ranger District within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The work completed by the Strike Team will help land managers prepare for future projects. Project work will include (but is not limited to): 

NNIS (non-native invasive species) plant treatment- Invasive plants degrade wildlife habitats by displacing native vegetation and reducing foraging and breeding habitats, among other effects.   Treating invasive plant species with herbicides (foliar spraying with backpacks or other hand-held equipment) is one of the most effective ways to recover native communities.  Invasive plants are most common near private land, roadsides, or areas where previous land uses favored them (such as wildlife openings).  We target several NNIS, including autumn olive, kudzu, Japanese knotweed, and privet.  

Wood loading in streams- Aquatic habitats benefit from the presence of large woody debris (LWD) for a variety of reasons.  One important function is to slow high velocity flows during storm events and prevent scouring and steeply incised streambeds.  Adding LWD is accomplished by selectively felling trees into streams or pushing or using grip hoists and cables to pull and position wood into place.  We add LWD to streams when surveys indicate it would be beneficial.   

Developed Recreation- The Recreation Team maintains all campgrounds, day-use areas, and trails on the district. Our with covers a variety of areas and our staff has a variety of skill sets. Work that will be included when working with recreation could include trail work such as brush clearing, crosscut and chainsaw work, and require some arduous hikes. Beyond trail work, members may be asked to assist with developed recreation. This work could include bathroom cleaning and maintenance, campground maintenance using weed-eaters and leaf-blowers among other power tools.  

Expectations: SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew members are responsible for their housing, food, and transportation to and from the duty station.  Some equipment is available to borrow throughout the season, but Crew Members are asked to supply as much of their gear as possible. A gear list is provided upon acceptance into the program; SECC will provide tools, protective gear, and uniform shirts.

Crew Members are asked to work hard, stay positive, and be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. This is a seasonal position; Crew Members are asked to commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline fully. 

 Minimum Qualifications:      

• Must be between ages 18 and 30 and up to 35 if a military veteran.
• Must hold current Chainsaw A certifications, including felling and bucking.
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this.
• Must be cleared through an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, as well as state and federal Criminal History Checks
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during the term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award).

Preferred Qualifications:   

• A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting.
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during the term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)
• Wilderness First Aid certified
• USFS recognized chainsaw certification.

General Qualifications:   

• AmeriCorps members must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Professionalism: Members must be willing to follow and enforce all SECC policies, maintain professional boundaries, communicate effectively with partners, crew leaders, members, peers, and SECC staff, and appropriately represent Southeast Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps. (This includes creating a substance-free work environment and refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while on “hitch”)
• Adaptability: Projects are uncertain and will include variable living conditions and last-minute changes. Members must be adaptive, patient, and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout changes.
• Community Building: Strong desire to help others grow as individuals while building cohesiveness in a group setting. Members must be willing to work hard, listen and respect others’ viewpoints, embrace diversity, be committed to equity, and be inclusive of differing backgrounds.
• Environmental Stewardship: Members must have a genuine enjoyment and desire to care for the land while living and working outdoors in various conditions.
• Fitness: SECC projects are physically demanding! 8 to 10-hour long workdays consist of hiking, backpacking, heavy lifting, and repetitive motions using tools. Projects often occur in variable weather conditions: hot, cold, rain, snow, etc.
• Conservation: Experience or a desire to learn the technical skills needed to maintain public lands effectively and meaningfully.
• Citizenship: Members must provide primary documentation of status as a U.S. citizen or National OR primary documentation of status as a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Essential Functions:    

• Enforce all SECC policies. SECC is a substance-free work environment. Participants must refrain from using tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements   

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. Suppose you are unable to meet specific requirements. In that case, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and may not apply directly to your particular position.   

Participation and Expedition Behavior   

• Work effectively as a team member despite potentially stressful and challenging 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 will be tolerated 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 ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to carry out the service work requirements effectively
• Appropriately always represent SECC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

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 directions from others so that you can successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or must be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those 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.

Environmental Ethics and Outdoor Skills 

• Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques.

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills appropriate to the project.
• Stay hydrated, fed, and appropriately dressed to remain healthy and safe and avoid environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe weather. Some remote locations may require a minimum of one hour, but perhaps more than 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free   

In accordance with a drug-free workplace, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. 

Onboarding: 

Once Crew Members are selected and before their start date, they must complete an online enrollment process, including completing e-forms, uploading IDs, enrolling with AmeriCorps, and beginning their background check process. For those with limited access to online platforms, accommodations may be available and can be discussed during the interview process.  

Equal Employment Opportunity  

This program is available to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. 

Questions? Contact Ray Wilson at rwilson@conservationlegacy.org  

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