NC Seasonal Crew - Assistant Field Crew Leader
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About the Job
We are hoping to fill this position as soon as possible. Preference may be given to interested individuals who are available to start quickly.
Position Duration: As soon as possible - End of October, potential to extend employment to Thanksgiving if desired. For the right candidate, this position could transition into a year-round role on another crew following the end of the season. See link for details: https://www.wildernessstewards.org/jobs/yr-field-crew-member
Status: Temporary/Seasonal
Compensation: $19.00/hr paid every two weeks
Training Schedule: This position is being filled mid-season. As much training as possible will be provided at the start of employment, but interested individuals should be prepared to learn many aspects on the job.
Hitch Schedule: 8 days working, 6 days off (8x10-hour days).
Location: Crews are based out of Asheville, North Carolina and will work primarily in Western North Carolina.
Supervisor: Field Crew Program Manager
Crew Structure: One Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members
Hiring Timeline: We hope to fill this position as soon as possible. The hiring process will be conducted accordingly.
Under leadership of the Crew Leader, the Assistant Crew Leader will help lead four Crew Members while camping and working on remote projects with limited to no cell service. Crews are expected to backpack and live in physically demanding, remote environments for at least 8 days at a time. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly including freezing temperatures, high humidity, persistent rain, and high elevation. The remote nature of our work may mean delayed access to medical care. Leadership of the crew will require excellent communication skills and judgment, maturity, organization, an ability to train in the field, professionalism, initiative, emotional maturity and resilience, resourcefulness, patience, ability to delegate tasks, technical trailwork skills, and comfort in the outdoors with minimal contact to others while on hitch. Assistant Crew Leaders are expected to help Crew Leaders make decisions in the field to keep their crew safe and provide a high quantity and quality of work for our partners. If a Crew Leader must leave the field or cannot head into the field, the Assistant Crew Leader is expected to fulfill the Crew Leader responsibilities.
A typical work hitch includes meeting at the SAWS office, driving a SAWS vehicle several hours to a trailhead, backpacking into the project site, staying in the field for 8 days at a time, hiking out, traveling back to the office, cleaning gear, tools, vehicles, completing reporting requirements, and preparing and prepping the crew for the next work hitch.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Duties are done under supervision of the Crew Leader
Attend all training
Submit paperwork (timesheet, hitch report, incident reports, project photos) in a timely manner
Assist Crew Leader in managing credit card purchases and receipt reconciliation
Adjust plans and make decisions as the season, work week, or day unfolds
Transport crew and equipment safely in SAWS 11-passenger vans or SAWS truck
Manage, train, supervise, and lead the day-to-day details of project work in varied weather conditions
Communicate directions and project specifications to Crew Members
Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site
Maintain a crew cache of tools and equipment
Use a variety of hand tools and understand complex rigging systems
Assist SAWS staff in developing and maintaining strong, positive relationships with agency personnel, partner organization staff and volunteers
Craft and curate media (blogs, photography, video, etc.) to share for reporting and documentation
Learn, practice, and teach ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
Follow and implement SAWS organizational policies in the field
Maintain high standards for project completion and quality work
Maintain an inclusive, safe, positive, and fun working environment
Benefits
Overnight stipend is provided ($40/day) during hitches
May qualify for Public Land Service Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority certificate
Opportunities for professional network growth and leadership development
Sick time accrual (2.15hrs every 2 weeks)
Holiday Pay (x1.5 for work on Holidays)
Opportunities for pro-rated gear deals
Qualifications
Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain for up to 10 miles per day while carrying 60 lbs. or more.
Ability and desire to create a safe and inclusive work culture.
Knowledge about group dynamics and conflict resolution.
Ability to live and work in a remote and primitive setting with the crew and with limited cell service or connection to friends and family.
Desire to be a member of a hard-working team and transformative non-profit organization.
Six to nine months of trail work experience; backcountry trail work experience preferred.
Three months of leadership experience in a field-based position.
Crosscut saw experience and current certification strongly desired
Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
Required to drive a SAWS vehicle, must be insurable on SAWS insurance.
Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to pass a background check.
Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
About Us
SAWS sets standards of excellence that inspire, connect, and equip people to steward wild landscapes. We provide stewardship to protected wild public lands in the Southern Appalachian region, including Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky. Founded in 2010, SAWS partners with federal land managers to provide shoulder-to-shoulder stewardship efforts and support for training, skill-building, and community engagement in trails, wilderness, and conservation needs. SAWS works to support safe access to public lands, preserve natural resources, and develop the next generation of conservation leaders. SAWS is headquartered in Asheville, NC with an office in Roanoke, VA and Johnson City, TN. Learn more about SAWS and what we do on our whttps://www.wildernessstewards.org./ebsite.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume at the bottom of this page. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Please state clearly if you are also interested in the year-round trail crew position: https://www.wildernessstewards.org/jobs/yr-field-crew-member
Questions regarding the application may be submitted to Blake Garrison, Field Crew Program Manager, at blakegarrison@wildernessstewards.org.
SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe, work environment, free from discrimination of any kind.