2022 NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Yellowstone National Park, is seeking 1 Member to work with the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps program as part of the 2022 NPS Academy Cohort. During this 12-week term the Members will participate in a wide variety of projects while learning about the National Park Service (NPS) as a career path.

For more information about NPS Academy, please visit: npsacademy.org.
For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: 05/15/2022

End Date: 08/20/2022

* A minimum 13-week commitment and participation in the orientation March 21st-25th is required for the position*

About NPS Academy: The National Park Service (NPS) Academy is an innovative and immersive program designed to introduce a diversity of participants from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks to career opportunities with the NPS. Participants come away equipped with knowledge about the NPS mission and the NPS Universal Competencies that are considered the foundation of all careers in the NPS and are critical to all park service employees. The NPS Academy maximizes career opportunities with NPS through training and hands-on experiences. This program is generously funded by Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Program Goals:The major goals of the NPS Academy are to:

• Connect a diverse group of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
• Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationship
• Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
• Create a more inclusive future for public lands

Location: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is as wondrous as it is complex. Established primarily to protect geothermal areas that contain about half the world's active geysers, the park also forms the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. At 28,000 square miles, it is one of the largest, nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth and is the first national park, established in 1872.

For more information about Yellowstone National Park, please visit nps.gov/yell.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $480/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing and travel to and from park location will be provided. ACE members will be accommodated in park housing at no cost for the duration of the position. Housing is within walking distance from work site. Accommodations are shared dormitory-style room.

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award $1,678.57 upon successful completion of service hours. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Scheduling: Length of service days will typically be 8 hours but might be as long as 12 on some days, with breaks, because of evening programming for youth participants. An average of 40 hours per week will be anticipated. The member will begin at 8 am. The varied schedule will include nights, weekends, and holidays.

Position Description: The member will assist NPS staff with completing important park work by facilitating deferred maintenance projects, education lessons, and recreation opportunities for teen-aged participants. One main project is to take, collect, and organize photos and create a multimedia presentation for two end of session banquets. Serving with the YCC program in Yellowstone requires a good deal of physical exertion while assisting with maintenance work projects and hiking in the backcountry.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Safety: the Crew Lead member is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of program participants at all times. Safety is the number one priority in everything we do - work, education, and recreation. Work, Play, Learn, and Grow. You will be working with another co lead at all times and are responsible for the well being of the seven teenagers camping 4 nights a week and working 5 days a week.
• Work Project Supervision: Crew Leaders are responsible for safely completing conservation and maintenance projects to high standards by training, working with, and helping co-supervise crews of up to seven young adults (ages 15 - 18). Crew Leaders provide direction for safe work practices, work quality, teamwork, and production efficiency. Projects may be located in remote settings with little contact to the "outside" world. Crew Leaders are expected to problem solve and motivate their crew to complete very physically demanding projects. Crew Leaders set the pace and tone, and are the hardest workers on the project site. This position is very physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding and rewarding. Crew leaders will move heavy loads, hike long miles, and work long hours (both on and off the project site).
• Project Types: Specific projects may vary week to week and may include the following: park maintenance, invasive species removal, bear box installation, social science (data collection), community science, trail building and maintenance, fence construction, fire fuel reduction, painting, and other projects. Training is provided for most if not all of the projects.
• Education: Crew Leaders are required to lead a variety of field trainings Crew leaders will also spend about 5 hours a week leading formal discussions and lessons based on the Yellowstone YCC Curriculum. Crew Leaders provide ongoing support and feedback for program participants.
• Leadership: Crew Leaders co-manage, co-supervise, and participate in all aspects of crew life from hauling rocks to setting up camp. They delegate responsibilities to crew members, camp operations, maintain crew discipline, resolve conflicts, and establish/maintain crew morale. Leaders provide formal and informal feedback and evaluations to members with specific attention to work productivity and quality, teamwork, and leadership. Leaders provide support for participant's personal growth through the creation of Individual Development Plan's. Crew Leaders will receive feedback on their performance and are challenged to expand their own leadership skills within this program.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service.

Skills: An important reminder: all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job; a good attitude, curiosity for learning, and a willingness to work hard contributing to the team are the only prerequisites to finding success.

Essential skills: Ability and Desire to safely work as a team member, desire to work with youth ages 14-18 in a residential setting; a willingness to learn and work hard outdoors in sometimes harsh conditions (cold, wet, hot, dry); ability to hike with day pack and tools with or without reasonable accommodation

Additional skills that are helpful: Willingness to learn about backcountry trail maintenance, backcountry camping, hand tools, power tools, and basic construction as well as youth group management skills

Skills that members will gain from this position: deeper understanding of resource protection through trails maintenance, residential youth programming experience

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms. Required to stoop, kneel, climb, and/or crouch.

Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 pounds, occasionally moves up to 50 pounds.

Environmental: Moderate noise such as tools and other equipment

Travel: Occasional overnight travel to other areas of the park may occur

ACE Requirements:

• Members must be US citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
• Attendance of the NPS Academy Orientation held March 21st-25th, 2022 (travel costs covered by ACE)
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and the NPS Academy program, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Member Coordinator, Deidra Goodwin at dgoodwin@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for 2022 NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC