ACE Crew Leader - Phoenix Field School

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.

ACE's Youth and Community Conservation Program is seeking a Crew Leader to manage and lead a crew of five young adult corpsmembers on various conservation, trails, and habitat restoration projects for ACE's Conservation Field Certification Program ("Field School"), a 16-week (semester long) conservation education and field training program in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Arizona.

Location:  Phoenix, AZ

Weekly field projects will take place on public lands throughout Arizona.

Job Title:  ACE Phoenix Field School Crew Leader

Exemption Status: Exempt

Phoenix Field School Program Description:

Phoenix Field School is a unique 16-week education and workforce development training program dedicated to provide opportunities for youth (ages 18-24) to gain meaningful, hands-on conservation experience through a variety of field-based projects, trainings, and certifications with land management and conservation agencies throughout the state of Arizona. While building job skills and careers in conservation, Field School corpsmembers will earn college credit, obtain industry-recognized trainings and certification (Type II Wildland Firefighting, Wilderness First Aid Training, S212-WIldland Saw Training, A Feller) and make a substantial impact on the conservation and restoration of Arizona's Public Lands. Under the leadership and guidance of an ACE Crew Leader, Field School corpsmembers work Tuesday-Friday on diverse field projects including but not limited to trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, wildlife and biological monitoring, recreation management, invasive plant management and cultural resource management projects. In addition to the field work and trainings, Field School corpsmember participants may also earn up to 15 college credits through Phoenix College by taking classes every Monday in areas related to conservation and career development, all of which are eligible towards the Phoenix College Environmental and Natural Resource Stewardship Academic Certificate. 

Position Description:

As the Phoenix Field School Crew Leader, you will be responsible for assisting ACE and BLM coordinators with preparing and organizing project logistics and program activities as well as leading and managing the Field School members on diverse weekly conservation field projects.

As the primary front-line staff of American Conservation Experience (ACE), crew leaders (CLs) lead teams of young adult corpsmembers in the completion of environmental conservation and restoration projects. CL's train and lead corps members in conservation work skills, basic environmental education, 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 may involve "spike" camping for up to 5 days at a time in remote wilderness locations. 

Key Accountabilities

• Lead, manage, and hold corpsmembers accountable while serving on conservation projects.
• Collect, record, and submit accurate, detailed project data.
• Ensure personal and corps member safety while in the field.
• Responsible for producing high quality work and guarantying successful project outcomes. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Lead, train, and supervise team during conservation work projects, which may include: constructing and maintaining trails; constructing and maintaining fences and outdoor facilities; maintaining public parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas; surveying, mapping and monitoring using GPS technology.
• Complete project paperwork correctly including weekly reports, safety sheets, accident reports, end of week check lists, feedback forms and others as necessary.
• Transport crew to worksites and camp during projects.
• Coordinate with primary BLM project partners and field sponsors to organize weekly field project logistics and set up crew for success.
• Hike, backpack, camp and cook outdoors while at front country and wilderness spike camps.
• Arrange details of transportation, tools, equipment, camp/field living arrangements, field communication, and work project completion.
• Plan, purchase, and organize weekly food provisions for crew.
• Maintain and repair hand and power tools and other equipment as necessary.
• Replace items as needed in the cook set, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment (PPE) set.
• Arrange environmental education activities and opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to lead, train, supervise 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; Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to adapt to 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 maintain a positive, constructive work environment conducive to team dynamics
• Must maintain timely, effective communication with project partners, supervisors, and crew members
• Must enforce the use of appropriate safety procedures in all tasks
• Must secure First aid/CPR certification within 14 days of employment and maintain certification
• Proficient in English
• Must be able to legally work in the U.S.
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record; comfortable driving ACE vehicles as needed
• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check
• Willing to be drug free throughout position term. ACE reserves the right to drug trust at any time.

Compensation:  Full-time, starting at $600/week; Provided meals during field day projects and designated paid holidays.

Schedule: Monday- Friday, 40 hours/week for 18 weeks. Mondays will be project preparation / office days for the Field School Crew Leader while the Field School members are in college program classes. Tuesday- Friday will be dedicated to leading and completing field projects.  

Start Date: January 6, 2019 

The Spring Semester Program Dates:

• Crew Leader Program Prep/Training Weeks: January 6, 2020 January 17, 2020
• Program dates: January 20, 2020 May 8, 2020

The Spring Season Crew Leader employment is for 18 weeks with the possibility of recurring employment seasons (Fall semester) or full-time employment term with ACE as agreed upon with ACE and selected candidate.

To Apply: Navigate to the website: https://usaconservationstaff.applicantpool.com/jobs/ to fill out an application.  You must include a detailed resume,an introduction letter expressing how your qualifications and experiences align with the above job description and the mission of the American Conservation Experience, 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.

Deadline: Open until filled. Please note that ACE will schedule interviews and may make a selection as applications are submitted. Please submit your application materials as you prepare them. Apply now!

Check out our website and our Facebook page for more details about ACE!

www.usaconservation.org

www.facebook.com/usaconservation

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ex, 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.

Current Openings for ACE Crew Leader Phoenix Field School Jobs at Mellon Fellowships