ACE - Crew Leader, Southeast Gulf

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of a volunteer labor force to help restore America's public lands. ACE has a national reputation for providing exceptional training and support to enable crews to safely and economically implement technically complex and physically demanding conservation projects for the US Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, USFWS and numerous state and local land management partners.

Job Title: Crew Leader

Location: Based in Corpus Christi, Texas (Field project locations will take place on public lands throughout Texas, Oklahoma and southern Gulf region)

Department/Division: CREW, Southeast Gulf

Status: Regular Full-Time (Exempt)

Schedule/Hours: Full-time. Flexible Schedule with varying shifts; 40 hours/week with additional hours as needed (field projects typically run on a 4-day (10 hour/day) hitch, 3 days off schedule or on an 8-day (10 hour/day) hitch, 6 day off schedule)

Reports To: Associate Director

Travel: Yes, extensive regional travel required

Compensation: Full-Time, $684.00/week, $35,568.00 annualized salary.

Additional Benefits:

• Competitive pay with a benefits package that includes health, dental, vision and supplemental insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, designated holidays, and 401k retirement for qualified employees.
• Food and provisions are provided during field projects.
• Shared ACE housing may be available in Corpus Christi, TX

Start Date: August 2021

About ACE Southeast Gulf:

The ACE Southeast Gulf Division is located in the beautiful coastal bend region of South Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi sits on indigenous Coauiltecan and Karankawa lands (visit the Native Land website to learn more) and is home to Padre Island National Seashore, the largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island seashore in the world. Corpus Christi has world class fishing and is home to over 380 species of migrating birds. In fact, the city is called the birdiest city in the world! The ACE Southeast Gulf Division was opened in September 2017 in order to better serve the invasive species removal needs of the coastal region. Although the workload is diverse, ACE Southeast Gulf's efforts are primarily focused on restoring gulf coast prairies and watersheds to support threatened and endangered animals and neo-tropical migrating birds, such as the Whooping Crane. Working on public lands throughout Texas, Oklahoma and southern Gulf region, ACE crews conduct a variety of field projects with a focus on invasive plant management and wildland coastal forest management using chainsaws, brushcutters, gas powered augers, herbicides and specialty tools to regain control of encroaching, toxic plant populations. Additional project work includes feral hog trapping, revegetation, restoring fragmented habitat, surveying, mapping, and water quality testing.

Position Summary:

As the primary front-line staff of the ACE Southeast Gulf Operations Team, Crew Leaders (CLs) lead diverse teams of young adults in completion of environmental conservation and restoration projects. CLs train and lead crew members in conservation work skills, basic environmental education, and outdoor living skills, and engage their crews in environmental work projects that address critical environmental needs. Work is almost exclusively outdoors, involves strenuous physical labor in all weather conditions and climates, and typically involves "spike" camping for several days at a time in remote wilderness locations. The position requires extensive travel to public lands across Texas, Oklahoma and the Gulf region and may involve working for other ACE offices/locations for temporary periods.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and hold Corpsmembers accountable while serving on conservation projects.
  • Lead, train, and supervise a conservation corps team during conservation work projects, which may include: restoring wildlife habitat, maintaining public parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas, planting trees, conducting native plant revegetation, eradicating exotic/invasive plant species, surveying, conducting ecological testing and monitoring, mapping and monitoring using GPS technology, wildfire restoration, restoring forest health and reducing wildfire risk through tree thinning using powered equipment, constructing and maintaining trails, and constructing and maintaining fences and outdoor facilities.
  • Arrange environmental education activities and opportunities and help inspire the next generation of conservation and public lands stewards.
  • Support, coach, mentor and supervise members in both technical and interpersonal professional development.
  • Hike, backpack, camp and cook outdoors while at front country and wilderness spike camps.

• Collect, record, and submit accurate, detailed project data.
  • Accurately complete project field paperwork including weekly reports, safety sheets, incident reports, end-of-week checklists, feedback forms and others as necessary.

• Ensure personal and Corpsmembers safety while in the field, especially as it relates to running chainsaws and other power tools.
  • Arrange details of transportation, tools, equipment, camp/field living arrangements, field communication, and work project completion. Responsible for leading rig-up and de-rig before and after a project. Serves as primary transport for crew to worksites and camp during projects.
  • Maintain and repair hand and power tools and other equipment as necessary.
  • Responsible for enforcing the use of appropriate safety procedures in all tasks.
  • Manage and replace items as needed in the cook set, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment (PPE) set.
  • Safely transport crew and equipment in ACE vehicles with trailers.

• Responsible for producing high quality work and guarantee successful project outcomes.
  • Collaborate and communicate with ACE Project Managers and project partners to ensure that ACE crews safety complete the highest quality of work and achieve established project outcomes.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. BA/BS degree from an accredited college/university preferred.
• At least 3-6 months of experience working in field conservation positions, preferably within a Conservation Corps and with a record of advancement to assistant leadership or leadership positions.
• At least 3-6 months of experience performing habitat restoration or invasive species removal activities.
• At least 3-6 months experience applying herbicides in a professional setting and must be able and willing to pass Texas State Pesticide Applicators License Test.
• At least 3-6 months of experience safely operating chainsaws in a professional setting; S-212 Chainsaw Certified or equivalent
• Experience in field work performing environmental restoration, trail construction and maintenance, and other conservation tasks; basic skills in the maintenance and repair of chainsaws, brush cutters, herbicide sprayers and other field tools as well as mapping and monitoring data collection experience preferred.
• Experience leading, training, and supervising teams of diverse individuals.
• Ability to drive vehicles/trucks and trailers in a variety of road conditions.
• Knowledge of environmental conservation skills, basic environmental education, and outdoor living/camping skills.
• Experience performing a wide variety of heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, often under adverse conditions and in various climates.
• Ability to lead, train and supervise a team.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently and up to a month at a time.
• Ability to camp on a project for two to four weeks at a time.
• Working knowledge of young adult development, team-building and motivational techniques.
• Experience serving as a positive role model and mentor for team members.
• 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.
• Ability to adapt to the surrounding work environment and conditions that can change frequently.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with corpsmembers, 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 including supervisor key responsibilities.
• Must secure First aid/CPR certification within 14 days of employment and maintain certification.
• Must maintain a positive, constructive work environment conducive to team dynamics including timely, effective communication with project partners, supervisors, and crew members.

Other Requirements:

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record
• Proficient in English
• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check
• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talks and hears. Manual dexterity required for use of hand and power tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently lifts up to 50 lbs., ability to lift up to 60 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise.
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel.

To Apply: Please use the APPLY NOW link to submit your application. You must include a resume, one-page cover letter and three professional references. Qualified applicants will be contacted by email to arrange an interview. Applicants must follow all application instructions in order to be considered for this opportunity. Applications will be received as they are received.

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.

Learn More About American Conservation Experience (ACE)!

Current Openings for ACE Crew Leader, Southeast Gulf Jobs at Mellon Fellowships