Field Leader - Region8PrescribedFireCorps

Student Conservation Association; East Point (GA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel stipend up to $1,000

Housing provided

Meals on workdays

SCA uniform package

Job summary

Student Conservation Association in Atlanta, GA seeks a Field Leader for the Region8PrescribedFireCorps season (Jan 4, 2027 – May 15, 2027). The position supervises a four-member crew plus a crew leader, supporting prescribed burns and related projects with the U.S. Forest Service.

The role requires leadership, mentoring and safety focus, with 40 hours/week, housing provided, and meals on workdays. Travel stipends up to $1,000 are included, with a uniform package and equal opportunity employment.

Qualifications

• No prior wildland fire experience is required.
• Willingness to perform manual labor up to 12 hours per day and carry 40+ pounds.
• Experience working with youth or young adults.
• Pass the Work Capacity Test at the Arduous level (3 mile walk with 45lb vest in 45 minutes).
• US Work Authorization and valid driver’s license with clean MVR.

Responsibilities

• Act as a Crew Lead: facilitate teamwork and field tasks under USFS supervision.
• Serve as an Advisor: mentor development and environmental stewardship.
• Act as a Project Manager: coordinate with SCA/USFS; ensure timely completion and gear maintenance.
• Lead by example on fuels reduction, wildfire response and prescribed burning; lead additional projects as needed.
• Work long hours in remote locations, hazardous terrain and varying weather conditions.
• Organize logistics, documentation, and budget; manage team communications.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Teamwork

Safety-conscious

Job description

Field Leader - Region8PrescribedFireCorps

#PO-00802447-LDR

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Job Description

The2027USFSRegion8PrescribedFireCorpsisadynamicandexcitingopportunityforthosepassionateaboutwildlandfirefighting.This SCA crew will consist of fourcrewmembersand onecrewleader and will assistwithprescribedburnsand other projects alongsidetheU.S.ForestService.

Schedule

January 4, 2027 - May 15, 2027 (19 weeks)

Tentative Season Start Schedule:

Week one and two: SCA Leader Training and season preparation. Leader Training may take place alongside leaders from other teams or programs and may involve travel to a training location separate from the National Forest where team will be based. Season prep will take place on site alongside USFS staff supervisors.
Weeks three and four: Leader will join their team and other SCA teams for 2weeksofUSFSFireAcademyTraining.Certificationsandtopics at this traininginclude but are not limited to:

• RiskManagement

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as a Crew Lead: facilitatingteamwork, managing field-based tasks, guiding crew dynamics under the operational supervision of permanent USFS overhead, addressing team issues and challenges in a timely manner
• Serve as an Advisor: mentoring personal and professional development, teaching environmental stewardship
• Act as a Project Manager: communicating regularly with SCA and USFS supervisors, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, upholding a positive representation of SCA, ensuring gear, team vehicle, equipment, and PPE are being maintained and used properly
  Perform tasks as aProgram Administrator: organizing logistics, completing documentation and paperwork, managing abudget, and communicating with SCA staff
• Lead by example in the primary objective of this crew: fuels reduction, wildfire response, and prescribed burning projects;
  Lead a team in additional projects, such as recreation or conservation tasks, as identified by USFS
• Work variable hours, possible long days and possible weekends, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, in varying weather conditions, and under physically demanding circumstances
• Working conditions may involve extreme high temperatures, high humidity, unpredictable weather conditions, and steep terrain. With support from their team supervisors, members will be asked to monitor and be responsible for their well-being in these environments

Marginal Duties

• Whenconditionsarenotidealforburning,crewwillassistwithotherprojectsincludingvegetationremoval,firelinepreparation,and equipmentmaintenance
• Participateinnetworkingandprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities

Required Qualifications

• No prior wildland fire experience is required for this position
• Willingness to perform manual, physical labor for up to 12 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and carrying/lifting 40 pounds or more on a routine basis
• Experience working with youth or young adults.
• Pass the Work Capacity Test at the Arduous level (3 mile walk with 45lb weight vest that must be completed in 45 minutes or less). Participants who do not pass this test given at training will not be able to continue with this program. Click for a video on the WCT:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjOZA2sbdMo
• Undergoanin-personphysical required by USFS. In-person physicals should be initiated by December 1, 2027, and cleared by the start of the program
• Wilderness First Aid certification, or ability to obtain a Wilderness First Aid certification before start of season
• Must attend Crew Leader training: 1/4 - 1/9/2027
• Minimum of 21 years of age
• US Work Authorization
• Valid driver's license for 3+ years and MVR that meets SCA standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching or with environmental education.
  Experience with conservation work skills or related skills - i.e., wildland firefighting, trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, chainsaw, carpentry, landscaping, gardening

Hours:40 per week or 80 over two weeks

Living Accommodations

Crew will live and serve together for the duration of the season. The crew will be provided with shared housing throughout the season. Crew should expect to share rooms in team housing.SCA emphasizes the importance of community on our crews. Crew should expect to fully participate in activities related to communal living on their team. To ensure a well-run team, crew must all participate in house and crew responsibilities, including shared chores, cooking group meals, grocery shopping, and other team-based responsibilities.

Compensation

• Up to $1,000 travel stipend, to be used for travel to/from leader training, site location, and USFS Fire Academy
• Housing provided
• Mealsprovided duringworkdays
• SCA uniform package

Equal Opportunity Statement:

SCA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without unlawful discrimination.

SCA is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without unlawful discrimination.