AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader- Advanced Felling and Rigging Crew

Title:  AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader- Advanced Felling and Rigging Crew

Reports to:  Crew Leader, Program Coordinator

Location:   Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and working within the Cherokee National Forest

Start/end date:  1/5/24-4/26/24

Status:  This is a full-time, seasonal, 17-week- 450-hour AmeriCorps National Service position

Stipend: $450/week living stipend, $200/week housing stipend. A $1,824.07 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program

Other Benefits:  Rigging training, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours) food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available

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

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 that is 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 a variety of land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout 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 fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, 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 frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally 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 and 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. Crew Leaders are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The Crew Leader must supply their own personal 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 Office and project sites.

Position Summary:

The AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader (ACL) is responsible for facilitating a positive Crew Member experience.  The ACL is a full partner in the crew’s leadership, helping to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term.  This position requires open dialog with the Staff Crew Leader; helping them to manage projects, project partners communications, overall logistics, and crew assignments.

• It means more than just showing up and doing the work, it means setting an example of how to work hard with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It means 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.
• This position will be coached and mentored by an SECC Staff Crew Leader. ACLs are responsible for maintaining SECC’s high standards for technical work and hands-on member growth, managing projects and implementing feedback among crew members. The ACL Position is a key development opportunity designed to identify and overcome challenges in leadership through a hands-on leadership role in conjunction with close mentorship from the Staff Crew Leader. Qualified candidates will identify growth plans and assist the Staff Crew Leader in administrative functions.

Project Work:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) and the Cherokee National Forest have partnered to host an Advanced Felling and Rigging Crew. The crew will be based out of SECCs Chattanooga, TN office and travel to the Cherokee National Forest to primarily work along the Citico Creek Watershed. The crew will use chainsaws to fell selected trees and then utilize griphoist rigging techniques to manually place the trees in pre-identified reaches of stream identified by Cherokee National Forest Fisheries Biologists and Hydrologists. The crew will work collaboratively to aid in the restoration of aquatic habitats for native aquatic species by installing large woody habitat structures in streams of the Cherokee National Forest. Although orientations will be implemented, applicants with a strong background in chainsaw felling and rigging are encouraged to apply.