Contact Name: Ben Sugar
Company/Organization/Agency: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Address: 600 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430 United States
Email Address: bsugar@nynjtc.org
Contact Phone: (757) 406-0709
Job Title: Crew Leader
Job Description: Duties and Responsibilities:
• Lead, oversee, motivate, and coordinate a crew of 3-7 AmeriCorps members and episodic community volunteers in executing trail projects to build, renovate, and repair high-quality hiking and multi-use trails. Includes tread excavation and building structures such as native stone staircases and retaining walls, as well as wooden bridges
• Ensuring quality control and delegating tasks, while working alongside the crew to encourage good work ethic and to set the work pace
• Training, overseeing, and motivating volunteers during episodic workdays and hosting topical workshops to ensure quality trail work while improving the Trail Conference’s volunteer skill capacity
• Coordinate project logistics with staff Trail Builders and partner organizations
• Guide and support crew members, facilitate conflict resolution, and build crew cohesion
• Ensure proper crew and project documentation, including accomplishments, crew timekeeping and paperwork, photos, and monthly/annual reports. Help communicate crew efforts to the public via social media posts.
• Assist staff Trail Builders in initial crewmember training, including teaching safe and effective tool use and proper trail building methods and standards.
• Pre and post-crew season, assist Staff Trail Builders in project and crew planning and season wrap-up including but not limited to building trail alongside other Team Leaders.
• Members may not engage in any Prohibited Activities as outlined in the AmeriCorps Member Service Agreement. Team Leaders are prohibited from signing crew member timesheets, evaluating crew member performance, disciplining crew members, enrolling/dismissing crew members, writing and/or signing program reports, managing the program’s payroll and budget.
Skills and Attributes Required:
• At least 1 season trail work experience
• Outgoing, welcoming personality
• Strong work ethic and ability to teach and lead others.
• Ability to motivate, teach, and work with people of all ages and backgrounds
• Ability to conduct physically strenuous field work in rugged terrain including ability to lift and carry heavy loads up to 50 pounds and hike 5 miles on uneven terrain
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in primitive settings in all weather conditions
• Durable sense of humor, enthusiasm, and patience with others
• Ability to maintain a safe and enjoyable work environment under challenging conditions
• Must have a reliable personal vehicle for transportation of self, tools, and supplies to field sites
Preferred Skills and Attributes:
• Experience working with and teaching volunteer individuals and groups
• Leadership experience, especially of small teams from diverse backgrounds
• Experience with dry stone construction and griphoist rigging use
• Familiarity with using photos and social media to promote social causes
• Comfort with data tracking and entry
Benefits
• Build/maintain long lasting trails in beautiful locations
• Develop advanced trail building skills and knowledge in areas such as layout and design, rigging techniques, and project management
• Training in Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED and Leave No Trace Principles
• Training and experience in teaching and working with volunteers, public outreach, and teamwork
• Valuable leadership and project management experience
• Valuable professional development and networking opportunities
• Opportunity to serve local communities and the public by making a difference in the environment and improving habitats in a tangible way
• Eligible for SNAP (food stamp) benefits
• Bi-weekly pre-tax living allowance of $875; not to exceed $14,000 total
• Upon successful completion of the program, an education award of $4,546.50
• Become a member of the dynamic AmeriCorps community
• Free rustic, lakeside housing at a local park may be provided from May 12th-October 28th; Work will be done outside of the above timeframe.
• Opportunity for qualified student loan deferment and interest repayment
Job Start Date: 4/6/2022
Application Deadline: 4/1/2022
Additional Information: https://www.nynjtc.org/corps-positions
Enrollment Requirements:
An individual must be at least 18 years of age; have a high school diploma or GED; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien; pass a three-part national service criminal history check of the national sex-offender registry, state repository check, and FBI fingerprint check; and complete all preservice orientation and training requirements. Documentation of age, education and citizenship are due by the first day of orientation. Criminal
history checks will be initiated before the start of service; an individual will be ineligible if s/he is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry, has been convicted of murder, or fails to disclose any previous conviction. Other convictions or pending charges will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with program policy.