USFS Region 8 Helene Recovery Crew–Staff Crew Leader II

Title: USFS Region 8 Helene Recovery Crew–Staff Crew Leader II 

jobshiringnearme.org Legacy Program: Southeast jobshiringnearme.org Corps  

Reports to: Program Coordinator, Program Director 

Site Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving in various locations within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest 

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt, Camping program 

Dates: February 23, 2026 through May 15, 2026 (with options to extend service through the 2026 season) 

Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.    

Health Benefits: Medical benefit options may be available for individuals serving 6 months or longer. 

Other Benefits: Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available  

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members  

Purpose — About Southeast jobshiringnearme.org Corps (SECC):   
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship. 

SECC, a program of jobshiringnearme.org Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-17) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host day or overnight camping crews and individual placements. 

Our AmeriCorps positions provide impactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes. SECC’s participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various ethnic and economic backgrounds. 

position Summary:   

The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water. 

Standard schedule generally consists of 9 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 5 days off with some exceptions. Workdays follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. While the staff at SECC work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.   

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on diverse teams and those from a variety of populations and communities. 

Service Project:    

The crew will be based out of SECC’s office in Chattanooga, TN and travel to complete various conservation projects directly supporting Hurricane Helene disaster recovery efforts in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The crew will collaborate with U.S. Forest Service land managers to complete conservation projects.   

In 2024, the southeast was impacted by Hurricane Helene, causing significant damage to trails and recreation areas within national forests. This crew will focus on repairing storm-impacted trails by constructing trail reroutes, restoring damaged tread, repairing bridges, re-establishing trail corridor, and logging out down trees. Trail maintenance will require use of carpentry and hand tools. During their time in the field, crew members camp overnight and serve outdoors on rugged terrain in all weather conditions, often in remote wilderness areas, performing heavy manual labor related to conservation and restoration projects.  Most projects require hiking out to project sites for the day with tools, equipment, and a day pack. 

Service projects vary depending on seasonal factors and safety considerations. While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs. Tasks may include, but are not limited to:    

• Repair and construct trail bridges and boardwalks
• Trail construction and maintenance
• ex. Water bars, drain dips, reroutes of sections of trail, fixing slope
• Corridor clearing
• Repair or install water structures along trails
• Log out trails impacted by fallen trees
• Invasive species removal
• Community service

Crew Life:    

• Crew Structure: This crew consists of 4 crew members and 2 crew leaders who will provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants.

Hitch Schedule: This crew will operate on a Tuesday to Wednesday, 9 day on 5 day off hitch schedule with 10-hour shifts and scheduled breaks throughout the day. Most projects involve strenuous manual labor in all weather conditions and require hiking to and from the project sites daily, carrying tools and day packs. 

• Camping: Frontcountry
• Housing: While on hitch, applicants should be prepared to camp throughout the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary. Housing is not provided from Wednesday-Monday evenings. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements while not in the field.
• Food: Food is provided while in the field. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance.
• Chores: Crew members collaborate to manage camp chores (planning meals, shopping, cooking, washing dishes, etc.) and participate in any group discussions.
• Gear: Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack). SECC has a limited supply of loaner gear available for crew members to borrow, but it may not fit personal preferences or specific needs. SECC will provide tools, group camp equipment, and personal protective equipment
• Transportation: SECC will provide transportation between SECC office and project sites.

Our Commitment: 

jobshiringnearme.org Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the Application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.    

**SECC is a nonresidential program. Housing is not provided during off-hitch (Wednesday-Monday) evenings. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements while not in the field. 

Participant Behavior Expectations:    

Expectations for SECC Corpsmembers:    

• Teamwork & Responsibilities: serve effectively as part of a team by assisting with meal preparation, camp chores, and group discussions on corps-related topics.
• Professionalism & Conduct: be punctual, hardworking, flexible, and complete all assigned tasks. Always represent SECC and AmeriCorps in a professional manner when interacting with the public and project partners.
• Positive Atmosphere: contribute to a positive and safe culture, free from harassment. Demonstrate teamwork and respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land.
• Physical Readiness: be prepared for strenuous physical labor in both frontcountry and remote backcountry locations, in all-weather conditions.
• Personal Gear & Housing: Provide your own personal outdoor gear (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots) while SECC provides group camping equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between the SECC office and project sites. You are responsible for securing and paying for housing when not in the field.
• Corps Values: strive for an experience grounded in the corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, and integrity.

Responsibilities:   

Leadership & Mentorship  

• Mentor assistant crew leader (or Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP): provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
• Understand and integrate jobshiringnearme.org Legacy’s DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within crew community context.
• Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
• Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
• Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program.

Project Management & Implementation   

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader (or Crew Leader in Development), & staff.

Safety & Risk Management   

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with CL Driver policy.
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per jobshiringnearme.org Legacy policy.

Administration   

• Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to jobshiringnearme.org Legacy policy and procedure.
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases.
• Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.

Camp Management 

• Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks).
• Monitor and manage crew community needs in camp.
• Instruct crew in how to create a safe, hygienic, and tidy camp environment while mitigating crew caused impacts to campsites, practicing minimum impact camping techniques.
• Maintain all program policies and procedures in camp environment.
• Leading a camping crew is an intensive commitment requiring a continuous physical presence. Leaders must remain physically present, and cognitively and emotionally available to support community and individual crew member needs.

Minimum Qualifications:       

• Full commitment to the program and its mission.
• Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies.
• Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (for backcountry crews: 80 hours Wilderness First Responder with CPR/AED or higher; for front country crews: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50+-hour work week including managing projects, camping, and programmatic policies and integrity throughout.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
• Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders.
• Able to work long days in adverse conditions.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be between ages 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a military veteran.
• Must be able to speak, understand and write English.
• High School diploma or GED certificate.
• Must be over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).

Preferred Qualifications:    

• Crew leadership experience in a relevant field (trail crews, experiential education, outdoor leadership schools, conservation crews, etc.)
• Chainsaw operation (felling/bucking) and maintenance experience
• Basic carpentry skills, ability to operate carpentry power tools (drills, circular saw, hammer, measuring tape)
• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel.
• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Strong conflict resolution skills.
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

Substance Free: 

In accordance with a drug free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property