Position Title: Crew Leader II - Forest Health Crew

Location: Based out of Harrisonburg, VA 

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program   

Dates: August 25th to November 18th, 2025 

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

 

Purpose 

Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) works to connect young people to critical conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania.  As a corps program, ACC partners with public land managers to identify, plan, and complete projects that improve public access, habitat quality, and economic development. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation service organizations envisioning a world with healthy lands, air, and water, thriving people, and resilient communities. ACC aims to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our public lands through community-based service. ACC welcomes national applicants but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.   

 

Position Summary:   

The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young people’s 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. 

 

The standard schedule generally consists of 9 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 5 days off with some exceptions. 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. 

 

Projects take place across the Appalachian Region, including partnerships with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and other land managers. During their time in the field, leaders camp overnight and work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects.

 

This crew focuses on sustainable forestry and invasive species treatment. Crew members will go through the West Virginia Registered Technician Pesticide Training and USFS Chainsaw Training and will earn their A-Faller chainsaw certification.  The crew provides a supportive learning environment where members work with, learn from, and grow with one another while gaining skills and certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship.  

 

ACC is an independent, non-residential program. Participants are responsible for their own housing, food, and transportation when they are not in the field. In addition to providing food while in the field, ACC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between ACC offices and project sites. 

 

Responsibilities:   

 

Leadership & Mentorship  

Mentor Assistant Crew Leader: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development. Understand and integrate Conservation Legacy’s DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within a 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 Conservation Legacy policy. 

 

Administration   

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

 

Camp Management 

Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores and tasks. Monitor and manage crew 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 the 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. Must be able to speak, understand and write English. High School diploma or GED certificate. Agree to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a Criminal History Check. Must be over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for at least 3 years without any restrictions (to meet minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties). 

 

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:   

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. 

 

Any questions can be addressed to:   

Eleanor Tott 

etrott@conservationlegacy.org  

 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

  

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 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.