Staff Crew Leader - Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew - Conservation Legacy

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and participate 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 Members 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: 

Research shows that members of marginalized groups including women, LGBTQIA+ identifying people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. Here at Southeast Conservation Corps, we want the best candidates for the job, and those candidates don’t always meet 100% of the requirements listed. If you are passionate about uniting, empowering, and celebrating diverse communities for all and breaking down barriers for equity, we encourage you to apply especially if you’re a member of a structurally marginalized group. We look forward to your application. 

Southeast Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. The Crew Leader position requires, mentorship, patience, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew. We encourage applicants who identify as Women’s+ to apply. Our program model fosters a supportive learning environment where participants can maximize their opportunities to grow and develop while gaining certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship. It also creates an intentional space for groups that are under-represented to step into conservation and natural resource management.

Service Project: 

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), The Daniel Boone National Forest, and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area have partnered to host a Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew.Thiscrewwill engage in various natural resource management projects through fuels management, prescribed fire, and developed recreation service projects. The KentuckyFire & Recreation Crew provides an open and supportive space where members collaborate, learn from, and grow alongside one another as members gain leadership and technical skills, and engage in professional development opportunities through trainings and certifications related to fire and developed recreation management. As a crew, you will perform manual labor and complete conservation projects using various manual and power tools. You will be engaged in the program as a leader and will participate/ facilitate in environmental education and leadership development activities in addition to service projects. Risk management is of utmost importance, and all policies and procedures must be followed. 

SECC's 2025 Kentucky Fire & Rec Crew is an AmeriCorps program administered by Serve Kentucky and funded by AmeriCorps, the federal agency.

The term of service will include a variety of tasks aimed at improving and maintaining recreation sites and supporting forest management activities. The primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Developed Recreation:

• Heavy Recreation Site Improvements

• Restoration/Stabilization

• Gravel Surfacing

• Painting and Repairs

• Data Collection

• Trail Building/Maintenance

Prescribed Fire Activities:

• Chainsaw use

• Establishing prescribed fire containment lines

• Providing holding and ignition resources for multiple prescribed burn units

• Trail Building/Maintenance:

Members will earn the following training and certifications:

*Members my not exceed 20% of their total term hours as trainings

• ICS-100 (Intro to Incident Command System)

• IS-700 (Intro to the National Incident Management System)

• S-130 (Firefighter Training)

• S-190 (Into to Wildland Fire Behavior)

• L-180 (Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service)

• USFS chainsaw recognized certifications

• Red Card via successful completion of the Moderate Pack Test

• 2-mile hike in 30 minutes with 25 pounds

• Trail construction and Maintenance

• Wilderness First Aid certification

Hitch Schedule:   

This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule. For example, the schedule could be 9 days on - 5 days off, 4 days on - 3 days off, or 5 days on 2 days off. The schedule will shift based on project and partner needs and will include group camping while on hitch. Generally, it will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. Applicants should be prepared to camp during hitches for the duration of the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary.  

While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.     

Optional Housing during Off-Hitch*

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field.

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) has offered shared housing options for SECC crew members during their off-hitch time. This housing is optional and available at no cost from February 2025 May 2025. Housing will be a shared 3 bedroom/1 bathroom trailer with utilities and washer & dryer included. Internet not included.

• Members are required to follow the set housing regulations required by LBL to utilize this housing.

Prohibited Activities:

While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the Corporation, staff and members may not engage in activities listed in CFR §2520.65.

Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:  

• Expect to spend long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Project days will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.  

• SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible forattaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.  

• Crews prepare all their own meals while in-field and as a group complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.   

• Crew members 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.   

• While participating in a term of National Service, SECC crews engage in a variety of team dynamics, emphasizing respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land they encounter.

• SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner. 

• Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).   

• Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.  

Required Skills:

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission 

• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions 

• Leadership experience with youth or young adults 

• Excellent organizational & communication skills 

• Must be able to demonstrate strong project management skills 

• Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others 

• Ability to effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of crew life and production within a hitch schedule 

• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment 

• Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders 

• Must be adaptive, patient and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout 

• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles 

• Must be 21+, OR have a clean driving record for 3+years (insurable by SECC) and a current driver’s license 

• Willingness to deploy on a Disaster Response 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Background with experiential and/or environmental education 

• 1-2 years’ experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps 

• Wildland Fire experience (Hot shot, hand crew, engine crew, etc.)   

• Faller B Chainsaw certification (Or ready to evaluate as one)  

• Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED 

• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people 

• Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects 

• Technical trail construction and maintenance experience 

• Strong conflict resolution skills 

• Experience with Disaster Response 

• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree 

• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others 

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements: 

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, 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 therefore may not apply directly to your position. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior  

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen 

• Required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms 

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 

• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus 

• Required to drive an SECC vehicle 

• Must be able to speak, understand, read and write English 

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions 

• Ability to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history checks  

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this 

Leadership & Mentorship:

• Manage, supervise, and assist leading the day-to-day details of project tasks

• Implement skills training on project sites and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics 

• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy, supportive community 

• Mentor AmeriCorps Crew Leader while delegating project responsibilities, crew life oversight, and member development to them.   

• Must be willing to follow and enforce all SECC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent Southeast Conservation Corps. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program 

Project Management & Implementation:

• Train and motivate a crew of young adults to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands

• Delegate project work & investment among co-leader and crew 

• Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of service project

• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems 

• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SECC staff

Safety & Risk Management: 

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the project site 

• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety 

• Transport crew and equipment safely in SECC’s vans or large vehicles with trailers 

Administration:

• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly project reports, corps member and peer evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, etc., and submitin a timely manner 

• Responsible for all project related outcomes and deliverables 

• Manage food budget and credit card purchases, including receipt reconciliation 

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 direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard 

• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and in various weather conditions.

• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards 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 

• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety 

• Transport crew and equipment safely in SECC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers 

Environmental Ethics: 

• Learn, practice, and teach ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques 

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate): 

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as toremaingenerally healthy and safe, avoiding 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 and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care   

Substance Free 

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