2023 Roving Forest Management Corps Project Leader
Location: Teams move throughout the United States Forest Service Southern Region national forests.
Primary Responsibilities:
The 2023 Roving Forest Management Corps Project Leader will work closely with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and a team of three adults (18+) and members for 19 weeks. Project Leaders will attend either in-person or virtual leader training and will have time before and after the team is on-site for the season set up and closeout.
In 2023, three roving forest management teams will be fielded. At the start of the season, all members will go through an SCA orientation, wilderness medicine, herbicide application, and chainsaw training. Some teams may train together before traveling to their sites.
These three highly mobile teams will assist National Forests across USFS Region 8 (states include NC, TN, AR, OK, TX, SC, VA, and KY) in achieving their land management objectives, some of which include.
- Restoring native plant communities and diversity
- Improving and maintaining forest health
- Supporting fish habitat
- Eradicating and managing invasive species
PLEASE NOTE: This team will be applying chemical herbicides. Chemical treatments include the treatment of trees and non-native plants with pesticides. Mechanical treatments will require falling saplings and/or mature trees with a chainsaw. The crew may also assist with non-native plant reconnaissance, tree planting, preparation of silvicultural treatment areas (e.g., flagging and mapping boundaries), and other conservation tasks.
Specifically, the Crew Leader will:
- Act as a Crew Supervisor, by facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, and guiding crew dynamics
- Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environment stewardship
- Act as a Project Manager, by communicating with agency park partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA
- Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing a budget, and communicating with SCA staff
Leader Qualification:
- Experience working with youth or young adults ages 18-30, teaching or environmental education a plus
- Experience with conservation work skills or related skills preferred- i.e., trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, chainsaw, carpentry, landscaping, and gardening
- Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up t 8 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/ or move 40 pounds or more
- Current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification required by the start of training
- Must be able to attend Crew Leader training: January 3-13, 2023
- Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
- Must have the ability to legally work in the US
- must have a valid driver’s license for 3+ years and MVR that meets SCA standards
- Must be able to meet SCA’s criminal background check standards
- Strong candidates will have a background in tree and non-native plant identification and/ or a degree or experience in forestry, biology, environmental science, or similar natural resource field
- Strong candidates will have experience with herbicide application
Leader Benefits and Compensation:
- $700-&800/week, paid bi-weekly. Training time is paid
- Up to $1,000 is available to offset travel costs
- Cell phone stipend of $45/month
- Housing and field-based meals
- SCA hear and uniform items provided