Senior Crew Leader

position Title: Senior Crew Leader (Position Announcement PDF)

Position Service Site: WisCorps is based in La Crosse, Wisconsin; project sites throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest, with a focus on National Park Service-managed areas. Priority NPS project locations include but are not limited to: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Voyageurs National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, River Raisin National Battlefield Park, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Service Dates: The AmeriCorps Senior Crew Leader will start two weeks before other leaders and finish a week after the summer field season.

• April 7th – August 22nd, 2026 (20 weeks) – 1200-Hour Service Term
• This position is eligible to extend through the WisCorps 10-week Fall Session (September 8th – November 14th, 2026), but is not required to do so.

Benefits:

• $675 Biweekly living stipend paid throughout the season ($13,500 total)
• $5,000 education Award earned upon successful completion of service
• Housing accommodations provided
  Food budget provided (covers all meals and snacks)
• Field industry certifications

Housing: During the five-week pre-field onboarding and training program, WisCorps uses a summer camp located in northern La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Leaders are assigned to shared cabins. The camp is equipped with standard amenities. In the field season, accommodations include single-occupancy tents at campsites, dormitory-style indoor settings, and occasional stays at summer camps or rental houses.

Requirements: Must have a valid driver’s license, pass a background check, and be fully available throughout the season. Requires at least one year of crew leader experience with a conservation corps. See below for more information.

To Apply: Email cover letter & resume to Eric Robertson at Eric.Robertson@WisCorps.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Position Overview: Our AmeriCorps Senior Crew Leader will serve as a mentor, educator, and technical resource within WisCorps’ Crew Program and the AmeriCorps Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP). This position is designed for experienced conservation corps leaders who are prepared to assume greater responsibility, mentor emerging leaders, and support high-priority conservation partnerships. The Senior Crew Leader will play a critical role in building leadership capacity within WisCorps while making a positive impact through hands-on conservation projects across the Upper Midwest.

During the 20-week summer commitment, the Senior Crew Leader will participate in orientation, training, and personal development activities alongside other leaders. They will receive project-specific overviews and training and will participate in pre-project visits. The onboarding and training process for the Senior Crew Leader is expected to last five weeks. Additionally, the Senior Crew Leader will serve as WisCorps’ primary point of contact for the National Park Service’s regional staff. They will report directly to WisCorps’ Operations and Training Manager.

After the pre-summer onboarding and training, the Senior Crew Leader will work alongside four or five Developing Leaders. The crew will spend approximately 12 weeks serving on restoration projects across the Upper Midwest, under the guidance of the NPS Great Lakes Invasive Plant Management Team. Projects typically follow a hitch-style schedule, with non-project days spent together as a crew in pre-selected housing accommodations. The four Developing Leaders will enhance their field skills, increase their leadership capacity, and build confidence while receiving mentorship, guidance, and support from the Senior Crew Leader and WisCorps staff.

Service description: The NPS assigned crew will work together to complete restoration-focused projects that make positive, lasting change in natural areas across the Upper Midwest. The primary focus of this crew is the treatment and removal of invasive species from federally managed lands. The crew will spend the entire summer living, serving, and traveling together. Non-project times during the season are an opportunity to explore nearby towns and natural areas, handle chores such as laundry and grocery shopping and relax at camp or in provided housing. WisCorps does not allow the use of alcohol, recreational drugs, or tobacco throughout the entire crew season, during the service day, or during non-project time. WisCorps crews live sustainably and follow Leave No Trace principles. Participants are responsible for developing a menu, grocery shopping, and cooking together, while accounting for all dietary restrictions.

Anticipated NPS Locations and Projects:

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway – 4 Weeks – Removal of garlic mustard and buckthorn, which will involve cutting with brush cutters or chainsaws, followed by treatment using herbicides. (Two of the four weeks will be dedicated to training)
• Voyageurs National Park – 2 Weeks – Limiting the spread of various invasive species along roadways that access lakes, which will involve cutting followed by treatment using herbicides.
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – 2 Weeks – Efforts will be at Grand Sable Dunes to control the spread of spotted knapweed.
• River Raisin National Battlefield Park – 2 Weeks – Removal of brush and thinning projects with additional invasive species work, which may or may not include herbicides.
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – 2 Weeks – Treatment of slender false brome with herbicides.

Senior Crew Leader Training: The Senior Crew Leader will receive technical and safety training during a five-week training program provided by WisCorps at the beginning of the season. This includes the certifications listed below, with additional mentorship and leadership development support during the first phase of the summer. Depending on the Senior Crew Leader’s current skill sets and certification expiration dates, WisCorps will tailor the training accordingly.

• NPS Chainsaw Safety Program for Non-Wildland Fire Operators (NCSP)
• Pesticide Applicator Certification in Wisconsin (with reciprocal Michigan certification)
• Fleet Vehicle and Trailer Use and Driving Training
• NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications are possible.

Responsibilities:

• Complete a 5-week training and onboarding period, ensuring that all necessary certifications are obtained
• Serve as a solo crew leader on a roving NPS-assigned crew made up of 1 Senior Leader and 4 to 5 Developing Leaders
• Be a primary point of contact with NPS project partners and oversee project implementation and documentation, crew safety and logistics, and camp life
• Guide the leadership development of 4-5 Developing Leaders and teach day-to-day crew management tasks (budgeting, scheduling, cooking, logistics)
• Assist in the repair or replacement of damaged tools, PPE, and camp supplies
• Complete service projects and camp in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures
• Hike extended distances on various terrain with a 25+ pound backpack
• Support a functional and positive crew community
• Practice Leave No Trace principles and sustainable living techniques
• Serve up to 10 hours per day on the project for 4 to 10 consecutive days in outdoor locations. A total of 40 hours per week of direct project field service time is expected, along with another 40 hours of indirect non-project service time.
• Operate and maintain chainsaws, brush saws, carpentry and power tools, herbicide applicators, backpack sprayers, mowers, and hand tools to accomplish conservation projects as assigned
• Abide by all WisCorps & AmeriCorps policies and procedures
• Alcohol, recreational drug, and tobacco use is strictly prohibited throughout the season, during project work, evenings, and non-project days

Qualifications:

• A citizen of the United States, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States
• Possess a valid driver’s license and be at least 21 years old, or have a minimum of three years of driving experience and an insurable driving record
• A minimum of one year of crew leader experience with a conservation corps
• Able to perform field duties while exposed to adverse conditions such as inclement weather and biting insects
• Willingness and ability to use herbicides, chainsaws, and any other tools required to complete assigned tasks
• Ability to adjust leadership style according to the needs of different crews and partners
• Must provide personal items such as all-leather boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, water containers and rain gear; WisCorps has a small library of outdoor gear that may be borrowed for a season (supplies are limited and are not guaranteed to be available upon arrival)
• Upon hire, all WisCorps Crew Leaders must consent to a Criminal History Check; service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed

Preferred Qualifications:

• A current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder medical certification with CPR/AED, or a willingness to recertify
• A current formal chainsaw certification covering safety, maintenance, and skills
• Experience with herbicide and or current herbicide applicator certification
• A background in or a strong willingness to learn about different conservation practices and land management techniques
• Able to commit to the full 20-week season

WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@wiscorps.org or Wisconsin Relay 711.