Field Crew Leader

APRIL 15—AUGUST 18; OR

APRIL 15—NOVEMBER 22

Location(s):

Positions are available based in Logan, Moab, and Cedar City, UT.  Project sites are located throughout the state of Utah and region.

Schedule:

Full-time commitment.  Hours and schedule vary week to week (45-55 hrs). Nearly 100% time spent in the field with significant travel between project sites and field office.

Application:

Application review begins March 1, 2019. Positions are open until filled.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The UCC Crew Leader is an AmeriCorps position where the member participates in leadership skills development during the spring field season.  Candidates will be evaluated throughout the spring season and will only be promoted into the full leadership role upon demonstrating essential competencies.  Upon promotion, crew leaders will provide direct leadership, mentorship, training and teaching for UCC field crews during the summer and fall field seasons.

During the spring season, the Crew Leader candidate participates in essential hard and soft skills trainings and completes conservation projects as part of a crew of crew leader-trainees. Field staff give extra attention to debriefing crew leadership scenarios, helping leaders refine tool and project techniques, attending to areas of individual growth, and teaching the full responsibilities of the Crew Leader position.

During summer and fall seasons, Crew Leaders are responsible for preparing and leading a 5-10-person crew in conservation project work.  Leaders are also responsible for upholding UCC values, ensuring that UCC policies and procedures are followed, facilitating education time with their crew, communicating with project partners, as well as recording and reporting important weekly project outcome data and other documentation.

Field crews are assigned to a variety of conservation projects located across the state of Utah and the region. Projects may include habitat restoration, invasive plant removal, fence building, trail construction and improvement, forest fuels reduction and other forest fire mitigation efforts, surveying, and more. Each crew has a unique project, work, and travel schedule. All crews are trained in chainsaw and hand tool use, trails techniques, herbicide application, and wilderness first aid. Crews generally camp at or near project sites and return to their field office location for off time between project weeks. Crew Leaders are expected to have a place of residence near their field office location.

RESPONSIBILITIES and EXPECTATIONS

• UCC Program Leadership.  Crew leaders will:

• Work with co-leaders and field staff to plan, organize, and implement UCC program components, including but not limited to summer and fall crew member trainings.
• Act in the front line of uncertainty and discomfort, employing skills of motivation, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability.
• Collaborate and communicate with field staff to conduct risk assessment and management audits at UCC project and campsites.
• Engage in constructive feedback with field staff and members in a timely manner.

• Conservation Project Management.  Crew Leaders will:

• Ensure that UCC policies and procedures are being followed at the project site, camp site, and during travel.
• Ensure a safe, inclusive, productive working environment.
• Ensure that the crew is adequately equipped and prepared for project work, working and living conditions, including working through inclement weather and working and living in backcountry and front-country settings.
• Provide primary in-field leadership to accomplish daily/weekly project outcomes.
• Proactively communicate with UCC field staff and project partner (agency) staff about project goals, progress, techniques, problems, etc.
• Ensure that the crew has essential information, tools and supplies to complete assigned project work, travel to project site, and camp near project site.

•  Crew Member Mentorship.  Crew Leaders will:

• Provide in-field guidance, training, and direction to crew members.
• Facilitate positive and constructive crew dynamics and member development.
• Facilitate conflict management within the crew and proactively communicate with field staff about any issues.
• Document crew member incidents and behaviors related to policy violations and disciplinary action; report to field staff in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Lead and/or facilitate weekly environmental education hours.

•  Documentation and Reporting.   Crew Leaders will complete documentation and reporting as assigned by UCC field staff in a timely manner.  Documentation includes, but is not limited to:

• Weekly progress reporting.
• Vehicle inspection and reporting.
• Daily safety logs.
• Incident reports.
• Crew member check-ins and evaluations.
• Debrief notes.
• Tool and equipment logs.
• Rig-up and de-rig scheduling.

• OTHER DUTIES AS ASSINGNED.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Leadership experience and demonstrated leadership skills.
• Teaching, training, and mentoring skills.
• Conflict management skills.
• Effective communication & interpersonal skills.
• High degree of maturity & professionalism.
• Previous conservation corps, public lands management, or similar experience.
• Chainsaw experience, preferred.
• Trail maintenance and construction experience, preferred.
• Demonstrated outdoor skills.
• Camping experience, including backpacking, preferred.
• Alignment to UCC mission and values of safety, service, community, inclusivity, positivity and commitment.

REQUIREMENTS

• Support of UCC Mission & Values and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Commitment to personal growth.
• Flexibility – ability and desire to work in a dynamic environment and take on change.
• Ability and willingness to think creatively, adapt, adjust, and problem solve in order to manage a crew and project assignments.
• Ability and willingness to work an irregular schedule.
• Ability, willingness, and desire to live out of a tent and work in all weather conditions.
• Willingness and physical ability to work on a variety of conservation projects, which may include 12-hour days traveling, using chainsaws, hand tools, or applying herbicide.
• Employ proactive, active, and effective communication.
• Maturity.
• At least 21 years of age.
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps and willing to undergo a National Criminal History Check.

BENIFITS

• AmeriCorps Living Allowance, $725.00 paid twice-per-month for 3-months; increased to $825.00 paid twice-per-month thereafter.
• AmeriCorps Education Award:
  • $4,144.00 for November end date.
  • $2,255.24 for August end date.
• Forbearance on qualifying student loans while in service.
• Conservation leadership training, certifications, and field experience.
• Wilderness First Responder upon successful completion of both the practical and written examination, as well as satisfactory completion of term of service.
• Advanced chainsaw training. Nationally recognized certification upon successful completion of both the classroom and field evaluations, as well as satisfactory completion of term of service.
• Herbicide Applicator license.
• Working with land management agency professionals.

HOW TO APPLY

You will need to attach a resume, and a list of 3 professional references to the online application. Application review begins March 1, 2019. Positions are open until filled.

Utah Conservation Corps is an equal opportunity program. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran, or disabled status. UCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for application and service with our programs.

UCC’S MISSION

To develop the conservation leaders of tomorrow.

UCC’S VALUES AND CULTURE STATEMENT

Utah Conservation Corps is committed to an inclusive culture of community service in a safe and positive environment.

Who We Are

UCC is an AmeriCorps program made up of members, staff, and partners dedicated to service to our community and environment.  We engage in projects throughout the state of Utah that address goals relating to environmental conservation, leadership, education, and sustainability.

UCC AmeriCorps members have committed to a term of service for their country that may range from 3 months to a year. Our members are individuals seeking opportunities to give back, to improve the environment and explore the beauty of Utah's public lands. Many of our members are current students or recent graduates looking to gain experience in the fields of natural resource conservation, education, or social services. 

Utah Conservation Corps is a program of Utah State University's Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning.  

UCC offers service opportunities working on a conservation field crew or through individual placement with one of our non-profit or government agency partners.

AmeriCorps members placed on a field crew work on natural resource projects (habitat restoration, trail maintenace, fence building, etc.) alongside four to eight other members. UCC Americorps individual placement members are active in environmental education, habitat restoration, and community volunteer efforts. ]
 

The mission of the Utah Conservation Corps is to develop the conservation leaders of tomorrow through service & education

Our vision is to create sustainable communities and conserve the natural heritage of Utah and the Intermountain west 

We are committed to an inclusive culture of community and service in a safe and positive environment

We Value: 
* The strong traditions of conservation and stewardship in American Society
* Leadership development and personal growth among members
* Inclusion of underserved populations
* Partnerships to address environmental challenges
* The development of civically-engaged and informed citizens
 

The UCC proudly follows in the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) while expanding the national service tradition to more diverse audiences as a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. The UCC was developed by a group of committed citizens that formed a steering committee in the fall of 1999 and wrote a successful AmeriCorps grant proposal in the winter of 2000. The UCC began operation at Utah State University's Outdoor Recreation Center with its first group of AmeriCorps members in January 2001. Since inception, UCC AmeriCorps members have completed traditional conservation corps projects including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, fuels reduction, fence maintenance as well as travel management, habitat, and recreation surveys. The UCC has been a national leader in expanding the traditional conservation corps model to include AmeriCorps members serving with non-profits completing environmental education (2004), disability inclusive crews (2007), veterans crews (2010), Bilingual Youth Corps crews (2010), and bike crew (2015).