Field Leader - 2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Wilkes-Barre Adult Crew

Student Conservation Association•Wilkes-Barre, PA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is hiring Project Leaders for the 2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps field season. A Project Leader trains, supervises, and administers a crew of four young adults working on conservation projects, career development, and environmental education. Leaders work closely with SCA and DCNR staff to support a successful and meaningful season. This full-time contract position serves various sites throughout the Wilkes-Barre region, potentially including Pinchot Forest District and Hickory Run, Promised Land, Tobyhanna, Lehigh Gorge, Vosburg Neck, Nescopeck, Beltzville, and Locust Lake State Parks, as well as community partners and other organizations. The position runs from February 22 through November 26, 2027. Leader training is February 22–March 5 (weekends off), leader preparation week is March 8–12, and members are in the field March 15–November 18. The regular crew schedule is Monday through Wednesday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; leaders may need to complete tasks outside these hours. Compensation is $850 per week, with optional employee-sponsored health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits. Conservation projects may involve facility maintenance and rehabilitation; construction; trail maintenance and construction; habitat restoration and herbicide application; tree planting and landscaping; and fencing or boundary-line maintenance.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years old.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Must have a valid driver’s license held for at least three years and a motor vehicle record that meets SCA standards.
Must meet SCA criminal background check standards.
At least one year of leadership, teaching, or supervisory experience.
Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with staff, crew leaders, and other members.
Ability to work effectively with team members toward shared goals and contribute to team success.
Ability to understand verbal and/or written communication.
Must be dependable, flexible, and cooperative.
Ability to take initiative and complete tasks without prompting.
Ability to accept leadership and supervisory authority.
Ability to complete tasks appropriately and in a timely manner.
Ability to perform physically demanding service in outdoor conditions, including standing or remaining on one’s feet for up to eight hours per day.
Ability to regularly walk or hike two miles over uneven terrain, including uphill and downhill, and hike up to five miles, often carrying a backpack, tools, and equipment.
Ability to lift objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
Ability to swing hand tools such as shovels, pick mattocks, and McLeods for six or more hours per day.
Ability to work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and rain.
Ability to communicate the presence of safety hazards visually and auditorily.
Must model safe and professional behavior, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Experience mentoring or coaching youth or young adults ages 18–30 is strongly preferred.
Experience with conservation work or related skills, such as trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, carpentry, landscaping, or gardening.
Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

Manage the daily flow of work and keep crew members on task.
Conduct morning safety briefings and project debriefings.
Oversee or provide training in technical conservation work, directly or through agency partners.
Mentor members’ personal and professional development in accordance with program standards.
Monitor and guide crew dynamics to promote a healthy crew culture.
Encourage members to participate in job shadows, networking, and professional development opportunities.
Coordinate the crew project schedule with agency partners.
Conduct pre-project site visits in person or virtually.
Monitor project progress and report to agency partners.
Work with agency staff to adjust plans when projects finish early or are delayed.
Coordinate environmental education opportunities throughout the season.
Track monthly expenses and maintain receipts.
Track program accomplishments by completing hitch reports on time.
Manage attendance and member timecards.
Coordinate logistics for overnight hitches and trainings.
Manage the crew vehicle throughout the season.
Maintain the crew tool cache, including sharpening hand tools and maintaining chainsaws or other power tools.
Manage crew gear and project materials, including running errands to restock supplies.