Lead Coordinator, Conservation Leadership Corps

~ The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail-ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. ~

ATC was founded in 1925 and is a private nonprofit organization with more than 43,000 members. It is responsible to the federal government for ensuring proper management of the 2,189-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail (known as the A.T.), most of which is located on public lands administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or agencies of the 14 states through which it passes.

ATC assigns sections of the A.T. to 31 Trail-maintaining clubs and provides numerous services to their volunteers, who work to build and maintain the Trail and its facilities. ATC's crew programs supplement the work done by those volunteers.

Position Overview

The Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) is quite different than the rest of ATC's seasonal Trail crews, and other Conservation Corps across the U.S.

CLC provides training for young people (ages 18-25) interested in careers in conservation and looking to build the skills necessary to begin working in the field. As such, to expose corps members to a variety of professional opportunities in conservation, the work of the CLC includes a variety of projects outside of the scope of traditional Trail crews.

While the corps will spend 2-3 weeks doing trail rehabilitation and maintenance, CLC members will also perform natural resource management work, learn the basics of field ecology through citizen-science projects, become Leave No Trace Master Educators, shadow ATC Ridgerunners, and more. CLC members are recruited through a partnership with Groundwork USA. Read more about the CLC here.

The CLC is based predominately out of Gatlinburg, TN, and projects may be located in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and D.C. The CLC begins with training in mid-May and operates through early August. We will hire one Lead Coordinator and one Field Coordinator for CLC in 2017. The Lead Coordinator will work from mid-March to mid-August (20 weeks), while the Field Coordinator will work from early May to early August (12 weeks).

The CLC Lead Coordinator (LC) is the primary in-field coordinator and liaison while the CLC is in season, and will also work for several weeks before and after the mid-May to late-July dates required of the corps members. This means that the LC will have a wide variety of responsibilities during their term of service. Beginning in mid-March, the LC will assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring the corps members, as well as confirming program logistics. Once corps members are hired, the LC will be the main liaison between corps members and the ATC, helping them prepare for their term of service.

Responsibilities 

• The LC will be responsible for coordinating meals and travel logistics (including driving the six-person crew to and from work sites) as well as supervising the crew during their days off.
• The LC will be the main liaison connecting with staff, partners, and instructors for each component of programming.
• The LC will foster positive group dynamics to ensure a high level of corps functioning, and will coordinate regular professional development opportunities for corps members.
• The LC will work with program instructors to collect all data and work projects, and evaluate each program component.
• Finally, after the crew season, the LC will work for several weeks compiling program evaluations and writing a full report of the corps' achievements and recommendations for the program.

Pre-season:

• Serve as the main point of contact for CLC applicants and assist Director of Education and Outreach in candidate selection, interviewing, and hiring.
• Work with Program Leads, including ATC staff as well as agency and non-profit partners, to coordinate corps work schedule and travel logistics.
• Communicate with CLC members and Groundwork staff after hiring to ensure preparedness for the term of service.

In-season:

• Plan menus for CLC meals on days off at base camp and in the field, and supervise and conduct meal preparation while participants are at base camp.
• Purchase food and supplies for CLC as cost effectively as possible.
• Support Project Leads by assisting in arrangements for repairs and adjustments to vehicles and tools and providing other assistance as requested.
• Assist with program orientation for corps members and support positive group dynamics throughout season.
• Ensure that ATC policies and procedures are followed by all corps members.
• Coordinate regular professional development opportunities, such as networking, skills workshops, and team building.
• Assist with program duties, record-keeping, and financial management, including managing CLC credit card and staying within budget.
• Work closely with the Soak Ash basecamp coordinator to ensure safe, clean, and environmentally sound conditions at base camp and positive living and working relationships with S.W.E.A.T. crew volunteers.
• Assist participants in planning recreational activities on their days off.
• Coordinate travel and drive corps members to and from base camp and work sites.

Post-season:

• Communicate with Project Leads to evaluate program components and determine corps successes and opportunities for growth.
• Communicate with corps members and Groundwork staff to ensure positive transition home.
• Write season report and present program successes and lessons learned to Director of Education and Outreach.

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• A high-school diploma and an excellent driving record
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and education skills
• Proven ability to work without direct supervision, individually and as part of a team, with a varying schedule
• Experience working as part of a close-knit group and managing group dynamics
• Excellent leadership and risk management skills
• Food preparation and menu-planning experience (or willingness to learn)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience and proficiency in working with diverse groups of people (especially youth ages 18-25), and a strong desire to motivate and empower corps members
• Positive attitude and a desire to work hard and model a strong work ethic
• Ability to participate in outdoor activities and to travel on foot over rough terrain

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of the Appalachian Trail, ATC, and/or Groundwork USA
• Knowledge of and experience with trail maintenance
• Hospitality experience
• Current CPR and first-aid or Wilderness First Aid certification
• Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain and for long distances while carrying equipment
• Experience with facility, equipment, and tool maintenance
• Experience working or recreating in the outdoors, particularly in the backcountry

Compensation: $800-$900 biweekly DOE, plus housing for the duration of employment. Meals provided while crew is in session.

To Apply

First, click here to download and then fill out an application. Then, please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to email your resume, completed application, and a list of three references.

Deadline for applications for Lead Coordinator is December 15, 2016.