Crew Leader - Leadership Development Program
This is a unique opportunity to help build a local organization while leading a young adult AmeriCorps crew on meaningful conservation projects in and around the Shenandoah Valley.
The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgment, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. The Crew Leader position requires mentorship, technical aptitude, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors.
The goal of the Leadership Development Program is to provide participants with a variety of training focused on hard skills as well as leadership through peer leadership activities to prepare members for leadership roles within the conservation corps setting. Upon completion of the Leadership Development Program, members are encouraged to apply for leadership positions.
As the leader of a Leadership Development Program crew, you will be tasked with facilitating learning opportunities and lessons for your crew. Furthermore, this position must be able to balance work and education while ensuring that the project is being completed up to GAVCC’s and the project partner’s standards.
Leadership & Mentorship
- Manage, supervise, and lead the day-to-day details of project work & crew life in camp
- Implement skills & training on work-site 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 healthy community
Project Management & Implementation
- Train and motivate a crew of six young adults to efficiently complete conservation projects on public land
- Delegation of project work & investment among crew
- Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work
- Think critically to resolve issues
- Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners & GAVCC staff
Safety & Risk Management
- Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site
- Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety
- Transport crew’s and equipment safely in GAVCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers
Administration
- Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, incident reports, etc.
- Manage food budget and credit card for purchases
Minimum Qualifications:
- Leadership experience with youth or young adults
- Excellent organizational & communication skills
- Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
- Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment
- Technical trail construction and maintenance experience
- Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions
- Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, LNT principles
- High School diploma or GED certificate
- Must hold current/relevant medical certification (WFA, WFR, WEMT, or OEC)
- Good driving record (insurable by current GAVCC carrier) and current driver’s license
- Must be able to pass a criminal history background check
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with conservation corps or youth corps
- Experience teaching, facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
- Strong conflict resolution skills
- Relevant Bachelor’s Degree
- Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference