Trail Operations Specialist
Apply Below
About the Job
Status:Full-time, non-exempt
Compensation:$23/hour
Locations:Must be located near Southern Appalachian mountains of NC (with regional travel as needed). Crews are based out of Asheville, NC SAWS office.
Reports to: Trail Crew Program Manager
Overview
The Trail Operations Specialist has one main area of responsibility: leading a seasonal SAWS trail crew from approximately April through October. The remaining five months of the year will focus on a variety of other trail-related field roles described below. Details of this off-season work are still being finalized and will be discussed more in depth in the interview and hiring process.
Seasonal Crew
While leading the seasonal SAWS crew, this position will lead an Assistant Crew Leader and 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 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 and provide feedback, 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. Crew leadership is expected to make decisions in the field to keep their crew safe and provide a high quantity and quality of work for our partners.
A typical work hitch includes meeting at the SAWS office in Asheville, NC, driving a SAWS vehicle several hours to a trailhead, backpacking into the project site, staying in the field for up to eight 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.
Additional Trailwork Responsibilities
While not leading the seasonal SAWS crew, this position will take on a variety of other trails-related tasks including but not limited to coordinating volunteer events on local USFS Districts by engaging with the public, local universities and colleges, and local businesses; working with the SAWS Year-Round Crews on their projects, aiding the SAWS Bridge Inspector in inspecting bridges, and assisting with data collection in Wilderness areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Seasonal Crew
Lead and support trail maintenance, recovery, and stewardship projects including brushing, drainage work, tread repair, and erosion control.
Support wilderness and backcountry trail projects requiring technical skill and logistical planning.
Assist with Hurricane Helene recovery trail projects across western North Carolina
Ensure all field activities follow SAWS safety protocols and land management agency requirements.
Partner closely with Job Corps and support the training and mentorship of young adults entering conservation careers.
Provide daily leadership, instruction, and performance feedback to supervisees.
Foster a positive, safe, and inclusive crew culture in demanding field environments.
Train seasonal staff in various trail maintenance and construction techniques
Assist with application review and hiring of seasonal staff
Additional Trailwork Responsibilities
Coordinate volunteer events including collecting all required paperwork.
Assist SAWS Year-Round Crews by joining trail projects across western North Carolina.
Aid the SAWS Bridge Inspector in inspecting bridges including completing paperwork.
Assisting with data collection by performing trail assessments or data contributing to Wilderness Stewardship Performance.
General
Track trailwork metrics, including quantities, locations, and accomplishments.
Complete required documentation for internal reporting and federal agreements.
Support accurate and timely reporting of project outcomes.
Work closely with SAWS program staff, U.S. Forest Service partners, and other collaborators.
Support coordination across districts and forests as projects require via email, phone, and in-person
Represent SAWS professionally in the field and in meetings.
Work independently to plan, prepare, and execute assigned projects.
Contribute ideas and solutions to improve trail stewardship practices.
Scout trail projects
Keep an organized inventory of trail tools and gear
Support broader SAWS stewardship goals as needed.
Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. Details available upon request.
Flexible work schedule outside of summer months. In summer, be prepared to work in hitch style either 4 days on 3 days off or 8 days on 6 days off.
Qualifications
Required
Commitment to SAWS’ mission and values.
Experience leading trail crews
Demonstrated experience in trail stewardship, trail maintenance, or outdoor construction.
Strong background in small to medium-scale trail maintenance and construction projects. (Ideally includes experience brushing, treadwork, digging drains, stonework, timberwork.)
Proven leadership experience in field settings, including supervising or mentoring crews.
Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a team.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly for data tracking and reporting.
Comfort working in remote, wilderness, and backcountry environments.
Willingness to travel across NC and occasionally out of state.
Valid driver’s license and must be insurable by SAWS insurance to drive SAWS vehicles.
Physical ability to perform demanding outdoor work in variable conditions.
Preferred
Experience working with the U.S. Forest Service or other public land management agencies.
Wilderness first aid or similar medical certifications.
Experience with disaster recovery or post-storm trail rehabilitation.
Strong passion for wilderness stewardship and wild public lands conservation.
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.
To Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter to Blake Garrison@wildernessstewards.org with the subject line Trail Operations Specialist. Questions regarding the application may be submitted via email as well.
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe, inclusive work environment, free from discrimination of any kind.