Senior Crew Leader

Reports to: Regional Program Manager

Classification: AmeriCorps Participant

Position Summary:

The Senior Crew Leader (SCL) will act as an integral part of the regional office team. The SCL’s responsibilities will include training of Field Leaders, field visitation and logistical support to help ensure the successful completion of MCC projects and programming, and logistical support to ensure regional operations run smoothly including material and equipment management. The SCL, under the supervision of the Regional Program Manager, works with all regional staff and must maintain communication between the office and the field.   The SCL helps ensure that MCC policies and procedures are followed by all members and leaders while establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with project partners. The needs of the position will vary based on the time of year and the region where the SCL is serving. The SCL will play a key role in the development and delivery of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) and will be frequently asked to take on the role of instructor, teacher, and mentor during the three month training period preceding the field season. During the field season, the SCL can expect to spend a majority of their time in the field supporting crews and crew leaders, and will be called upon to lead or join an existing crew when necessary. The SCL is entitled to the benefit package offered to all AmeriCorps participants.

The SCL is an AmeriCorps member and is entitled to the benefit package offered to all AmeriCorps members. This is not a 9-5 job, rather a commitment to service and an experience where long hours and extended time away from your home base are to be expected. Serving as a SCL at MCC means having passion for service to others, for wild lands and wild places, for personal growth, or for any number of MCC’s values.  SCLs must be self-motivated and flexible in order to meet the changing needs of the position. 

Senior Crew Leaders understand that commitment, flexibility and self-motivation are integral to maintaining the high expectations placed upon them.  They use their training, experience and commitment to facilitate their crew’s development.  They are creative in their approach to problem solving and motivating others, and are invested in the idea that their personal development and growth as a leader are most fully realized when used in service to their crews, their communities and the environment.

Primary Work: Overall responsibilities will include training of Field Leaders, field visitation and logistical support to help ensure the successful completion of MCC projects and programming, and logistical support to ensure regional operations run smoothly including material and equipment management. Field work will be regionally dependent. Since this position supports all types of crews in the field, work may include building or maintaining trails, treating or removing invasive species, low tech process based restoration (beaver dams), building fences, operating chainsaws to reduce wildfire risks by thinning trees, clearing trees with crosscuts and axes in the backcountry, and many other types of projects. Not all SCLs will work on all types of projects. SCLs may be called upon to lead a crew when necessary and may be deployed for natural disaster relief.

Programmatic Duties:

• Spend a large portion of their term in the field supporting crews, project work, and crew members/leaders (Approximately 75% field/25% office as an estimate)
• Assist staff in planning and implementing trainings for members and leaders
• Guide crew leaders through their technical skills and leadership training
• Facilitate and deliver MCC education components to leaders and crews in the field
• Visit crews during the field season to help ensure the successful completion of MCC projects and programming
• Senior Crew Leaders may be called upon to lead an existing crew when necessary
• Provide logistical support to ensure regional operations run smoothly
• Ensure safety is the top priority during all MCC activities and projects; promote a ‘culture of safety’
• Follow and model all MCC policies and procedures and ensure crew compliance
• Assist regional staff with recruitment of crew members
• Assist in planning, coordinating and leading volunteer service opportunities
• Assist in project logistics, including coordinating the regional tool cache, assisting with regional inventory, field visits to crews, and communicating with project partners from the office
• Support Crew Leaders with leadership or crew dynamic challenges and help facilitate debriefs
• Contribute to MCC diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

Administrative Duties:

• Maintain accurate crew, project, program, and safety records
• Maintain accurate inventory and records
• Complete and submit required reports and other paperwork in a timely manner before end of term of service
• Provide information for evaluation of Crew Leaders and Members; include both positive feedback and areas of potential improvement  

Qualifications:

• High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
• 21 years old on the start date of the program
• Valid driver’s license, ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records check
• US Citizen, National or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check
• Ability to hike 3-12 miles per day in terrain that can be steep, rocky or uneven, often wearing a 45lb backpack while carrying tools and sometimes backpacking with full packs of 60 – 70lbs
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds repeatedly and use hand and power tools
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Ability to obtain Wilderness Advanced First Aid/CPR training. (Training is reimbursable to allotted amount/ MCC provides training)
• Demonstrates strong service ethic and desire to serve the community and the environment
• Embraces willingness to work long, hard hours in all weather conditions; ability to be away on overnight trips for up to 10 days at a time
• Commitment to completing term; available for duration of entire term of service

Preferred Qualifications:

• One season as a Crew Leader with a Conservation Corps Program
• Have gone through MCC’s Leadership Development Program

MCC is committed to being diverse, welcoming, and inclusive. We are working to reduce barriers to participating in our programs. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

While this position description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position, it is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All Montana Conservation Corps positions may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities.