Crew Leader

Earthcorps • Seattle, WA

16h • $3,600 • Onsite

About The Position

EarthCorps (EC) is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that believes all people and nature can thrive together. Our aim is to create a global community of environmental leaders through local, hands-on service to the land and community. Putting our mission into action looks like an intensive year-long training program that unites young adults (ages 18-26ish) from across the United States and around the world to learn skills in leadership, environmental restoration, and culturally resonant community building. EarthCorps is committed to work that closes persistent and pervasive gaps, expands access and opportunity and promotes values of fairness in outcomes, belonging and respect. We prioritize fair access to environmental benefits, community-centered environmental practices, and balancing environmental outcomes across under-included communities. Each year, we strive to build a cohort program reflective of many different perspectives and experiences. Through this lens, EarthCorps builds a network of leaders who have the skills to build a bright future, while restoring vital lands and waters and connecting people to nature. This work is ongoing, and the organization is committed to being transparent with program participants about our work, as well as including their input to drive the direction of the organization towards a healthy, welcoming, and sustainable community for us all.
The EarthCorps program is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in environmental restoration. Crewleaders act as mentors for crews of 5-7 members. Crews make a difference on the land through on-the-ground restoration projects throughout Western Washington. Crews at EarthCorps have an opportunity to directly improve the resiliency of our land by restoring habitat, improving water and air quality, reducing erosion, sequestering carbon and engaging the broader community to become stewards of our shared resource. Crew Leads guide environmental restoration projects throughout the Puget Sound region (in urban, suburban, and rural settings). The Crew Lead is responsible for: project coordination between land management agencies, EarthCorps project managers, and 5-6 Crew Members; facilitation of crew safety and well-being, productivity, morale and quality of work; and Crew Member training and education in the field. In addition to impactful service, Crewleaders will grow professionally and personally through training, engaging with environmental agencies, collaborating with staff, providing feedback, and practicing structured reflection. Crewleaders learn values-driven team building and leadership skills as they work on bridging a wide range of lived experiences and backgrounds, their cross-cultural communication skills, and conflict resolution management. This position is supervised by the EarthCorps Operations Manager, managed by EarthCorps project managers, and is offered through AmeriCorps. As such, all applicants must meet the requirements to become an AmeriCorps member and abide by AmeriCorps policies.

Requirements

• Experience in environmental restoration or a similar work environment
• Experience leading others in outdoor activities (especially peers in a physical work environment)
• Demonstrated high level of personal responsibility and professionalism
• Capacity to delegate, multitask, stay organized and be responsive
• Experience communicating to a wide range of audiences and sensitivity to cultural differences
• Demonstrated ability to make safe decisions with limited information
• Commitment and ability to serve for the full AmeriCorps term
• Must meet the requirements to become an AmeriCorps member
• Must abide by AmeriCorps policies
• Clear Criminal History Background Checks conducted to fulfill AmeriCorps requirements

Nice To Haves

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training provided if needed

Responsibilities

• Motivates, directs and coordinates a crew of young adults in a structured program of service, restoration, and training.
• Coaches the crew to achieve quality results, monitors safety and efficiency of crew work.
• Encourages crew morale and supports teamwork amongst corps members.
• Clarifies the standards of behavior as well as policies and procedures of EarthCorps and ensures adherence to program goals and mission, including attendance policies.
• Leads by example while serving alongside corps members.
• Serves as onsite liaison between agency partners, project managers and crewmembers.
• Coordinates fieldwork projects with project managers and crewmembers
• Serves as on-site project leader for EarthCorps in the absence of a project manager.
• Maintains project and equipment logs/records as directed by a project manager.
• Assists project manager in maintaining production, quality, and safety goals/standards for crew.
• Responsible for implementing environmental restoration projects throughout the Puget Sound region. These projects (with typical percentages per year) include but are not limited to: Vegetation control (manual, / mechanical, chemical) 45%, Indigenous Plant installation (planting) 15%, Stewardship/ Site maintenance 20%, Trail construction/maintenance 20%.
• Fosters and encourages quality service and interaction amongst corps members.
• Conducts training and presentations in areas such as: proper tool use, first aid, workplace safety, leadership skills, & community service.
• Prepares oral and written reports of service projects, equipment use and maintenance, corps member feedback and mentoring, education and training completed, attendance and incident reports.
• Conducts regular, individual crew member check-ins to discuss corps member progress and communicates status to program manager.
• Mentors and motivates individual corps members.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and awareness of cultural differences and their effect on crew and corps leadership.
• Participates in other meetings as directed.

Benefits

• AmeriCorps education award up to $7,395 dependent on 1700 service hours completion
• Medical, Vision and Dental Insurance
• Paid Time Off (8 sick days and 6 personal days) and Holidays designated by EarthCorps
• Subsidized ORCA Pass for bus transportation
• Approximately 30 Training and Education Days as part of Program Participation
• Boots, pants, t-shirts, rain gear and safety equipment provided

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed