ACE AmeriCorps Team Leader, ACE Crew Member - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trail Crew

Summary:

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is seeking and AmeriCorps Team Leader (ATL) Corps Members committed to serving 12 weeks (450 hours) on The Abrams Falls Trail Project in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

American Conservation Experience is a national non-profit conservation corps, with it's Eastern division based out of Asheville, NC. ACE is dedicated to providing career development and outdoor experiential learning opportunities to young adults interested in careers related to environmental conservation. The ACE AmeriCorps ATL program engages and motivates participants seeking to broaden their leadership skills and expand professional knowledge in the field of conservation.

Start Date: May 25th, 2021

Estimated End Date: August 21st, 2021

Schedule: The project schedule will generally conform to a 4 days on/ 3 days off schedule, with 10-hour days in the field including travel. Occasionally throughout the three-month period, the crew members may be asked to participate in other projects that may follow a different schedule or go on a back country assignment on the project.

Location: Asheville, NC based, but work site is in Great Smokey Mountains National Park

Position Description: This opportunity is intended for environmental stewards who are eager to give back to our public lands. Corps Members serve in professionally supervised teams as they explore future outdoor careers, learn practical field skills, and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation. Members are afforded opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional mentors within ACE, while gaining invaluable career perspectives working alongside staff from the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and many other stewards of our nation's public lands.

Corps Members get experience working with or in conjunction with the following tools and equipment, depending on their level of training:

• Trail Maintenance: Pick mattocks, Pulaskis, shovels, single/double jacks, McLeods, single bit axes, rock bars, chisels, crosscut saws, and griphoists
• Power Tools and Gas Powered Equipment: Chainsaws, brush-cutters, drills, saws, and compressors

As a member of ACE's GSMNP trail crew, the AmeriCorps Team Leader (ATL) will assist the Crew Leader in the logistics and administration of teams of Conservation Corps members performing trail work and other environmental-related work in GSMNP. The ATL will provide leadership to Corps members, training in technical skills and lead partial teams of Corps members. The ATL may also train Corps members in conservation work skills and outdoor living skills. Work projects are almost exclusively outdoors, involve 40 hours per week of strenuous physical labor in all weather conditions and climates, and may involve backcountry camping for several days at a time in remote wilderness locations.

Location: While ACE's Eastern division is based out of Asheville, NC and does work projects throughout the East Coast, this specific ATL position will solely work in Great Smokey Mountains National Park, TN. The crew will return to member housing in Asheville, NC once every 3-6 weeks.

Schedule: Project schedules vary greatly, but Corps Members typically work 4 consecutive 10-hour days with 3 days off, while camping in remote wilderness areas. Some weeks may be 5 8-hour days Monday through Friday, with a 2 day weekend. Most weekends Corps members will spend off-days nearer to their project location, and return to Asheville once every 3-6 weeks.

F ield work and other duties might include but are not limited to:

• The construction of drainage structures
• Removal of vegetation within the trail corridor
• The removal or relocation of rocks using rigging systems
• The construction of stone and wood trail structures such as staircases and turnpikes
• Movement of equipment and maintenance
• Hiking up to 10 miles a day

Typical Duties:

• Model exemplary performance as outlined in ACE's core values and AmeriCorps Member Service Agreement (MSA)
• Complete project photo documentation and paperwork with CL direction
• Leading partial crews or temporarily leading a work crew performing conservation work projects, including, but not limited to: constructing and maintaining trails; constructing and maintaining fences and outdoor facilities; maintaining public parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas.
• Assisting the Crew Leader in logistical details of transportation, tools, equipment, living arrangements, field communication, and work project completion.
• Assisting the Crew Leader in transporting crew to worksites, and camping with crew during projects.
• Maintaining and repairing hand/power tools and other equipment as necessary.
• Hiking, backpacking, camping and cooking outdoors while at front country or backcountry campsites.
• Assisting in the completion of project paperwork where necessary, including weekly reports, safety sheets, accident reports, end of week check lists, feedback forms and others as necessary.
• Organizing and overseeing the efficient and orderly management of crew camp.
• Assisting Crew Leader in overseeing aspects of the de-rig process and assuring that all corps members are assigned and perform their de-rig responsibilities properly and completely.
• Assist Crew Leader in ensuring job site safety, assistance with safety circle, and providing guidance and instruction to corps members, under Crew Leader's guidance

Qualifications:

• Has 3 - 6 months of Conservation experience.
• Able and willing to work in a group
• Ability to assist in leading and train a team.
• Knowledge of environmental conservation skills, basic environmental education, and outdoor living/camping skills.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, and often under adverse weather conditions and in various climates; capable of hiking moderate distances in somewhat rough terrain
• Ability to adapt to the surrounding work environment and conditions that can change frequently.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Conservation Corps members, Crew Leader, partner agency staff, and the general public.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes
• Must be self-motivated and able to work without direct supervision.
• Must maintain timely, effective communication with crew, supervisors
• Must maintain a positive, constructive work environment.
• Must be flexible and possess a high work ethic
• Must help enforce the use of appropriate safety procedures in all tasks.
• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
• Must be between the ages of 18 and 30, or up to the age of 35 for veterans
• ACE maintains a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs and underage drinking. Alcohol use is prohibited on ACE projects, on ACE property, and at ACE rentals including: Air BnBs and hotels. Any evidence of drug use or violating ACE's alcohol policy will result in immediate release from the program. ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.
• Must submit to a criminal history background check prior to hire.

Compensation and Benefits:

• ATL Members receive a living allowance of $320/week, paid bi-weekly.
• Upon successful completion of a full term, eligible AmeriCorps Members receive an Education Award of $1,638.89 (for 450 hours/13 weeks).
• ACE provides Corps Members with food on project days; Corps Members are responsible for providing their own food on off-days.
• Housing: While on project, the crew will be camping in a public campground near Gatlinburg, TN. ACE provides Corps Members housing on off-days during their term of service. When working in or near North Carolina, Corps Members spend off-days in our hostel-style housing in Asheville. When working remotely, Corps Members will be provided housing in those remote locations. The member will provide his or her own blankets/pillow/sleeping bag/towels.
• Gear: ACE provides each member their own tent. The member will provide his or her own sleeping bag, sleeping pad, rain gear, hiking boots. Upon acceptance to the program, Corps Members will receive a more extensive packing list. Weather during this time of year can be highly variable so plan on bringing layers of warm clothing and adequate rain gear.
• Travel: ACE provides transportation to and from worksites; personal vehicles are not necessary throughout the member's term of service. ACE does not provide relocation assistance.

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section located in the upper right hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservationcrew.applicantpool.com/jobs/ If you have questions about the position you may reach out to Josh Burt, ACE Eastern Director of Field Operations jburt@usaconservation.org.