Cumberland Trail Crew: Staff Crew Leader II

Conservation Legacy; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Uniform shirts

PPE provided

Development opportunities

Job summary

Conservation Legacy in Chattanooga, TN, seeks a Crew Leader II for the Cumberland Trail Crew. You will mentor and lead a youth-focused conservation crew on the Cumberland Trail, camping and conducting field work along the trail network in the Southeast.

Typical on-site schedule is 9 days in the field and 5 days off, with occasional admin duties. Requires 4 seasons of trails experience, strong leadership, English fluency, and WFR or higher certification.

Qualifications

• 4 seasons of technical trails construction and maintenance.
• Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth.
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (WFR) or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and supervise crew members to complete conservation projects.
• Train, motivate and coordinate field activities and safety.
• Administer crew hours, supplies and incident documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Outdoor skills

Communication

Safety culture

Education

High School diploma

Tools

WFR/First Aid

Job description

• Location 2001 N. Chamberlain Ave., Chattanooga, TN, 37406, United States


• Job Category Conservation Crew, Trails


• Industry Conservation, Trails

Position Title

Cumberland Trail Crew: Staff Crew Leader II

Conservation Legacy Program

Southeast Conservation Corps

Site Location

Based out of the SECC office in Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving in various locations along the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail.

Status

Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program

Dates

0 1/18/2027-04/30/2027

Wages

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

Benefits

Medical benefit options may be available for individuals serving 6 months or longer

Other Benefits

United States Forest Service-recognized chainsaw certification, Wilderness First Aid Training, Food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available

Purpose

Southeast Conservation Corps works to empower youth (ages 15-17) and adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship throughout the Southeast region of the United States. As an AmeriCorps program, Southeast Conservation Corps collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, state parks, local municipalities, and non‑profits) to host crews and individual placements.

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.

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 on 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.

Requirements

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistent 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 dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities.

Project Description

SECC has partnered with the Cumberland Trail Conservancy and the Cumberland Trail State Park to host a Cumberland Trail Crew. The Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail stretches roughly 300 miles across eastern Tennessee, providing users with access to waterfalls, overlooks, and a rugged experience. The Cumberland Trail Crew will build and maintain segments of the Cumberland Trail to finish connecting the route and maintaining the existing segments. The crew will be based out of SECC’s office in Chattanooga, TN and travel to complete various conservation projects across the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail. The crew will be managed by land managers who will collaborate with crews to complete conservation projects. Crew members should expect a mix of primitive camping and front country camping.

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. However, tasks may also include, but are not limited to:

• Trail construction and maintenance


• Corridor cleaning


• Invasive species removal


• Community Service


• Collaboration with CTC's Crew


• Potential work with the volunteers and partnering agencies through CTC

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.


• 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 budgets 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 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

• 4 seasons of technical trails construction and maintenance


• Full commitment to the program and its mission.


• Understanding 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.


• 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 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 varied groups of people.


• Time‑management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.


• Strong conflict resolution skills.


• A sense of humor, a spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

Our Commitment: Conservation 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.

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 accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.