Field Leader - Cleveland Young Tree Care Team

Student Conservation Association • Cleveland, OH

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Field Leader will lead the Cleveland Tree Care Team’s field projects and work alongside team members on urban and community forestry activities at tree-planting sites in and around Cleveland. The team maintains Cleveland’s urban forest in low-canopy neighborhoods in collaboration with community groups. Work includes watering, young-tree training and pruning, mulching, staking and fencing, invasive plant removal, general site maintenance, and tracking, as well as community engagement and sharing information about the benefits of trees.

The leader supervises and mentors three young adult members, guides teamwork and crew dynamics, provides conservation and environmental stewardship training, manages project schedules and budgets, coordinates transportation and equipment, and communicates with community and agency partners and SCA staff. Administrative duties include output logs, incident reports, timecard approvals, documentation, inventories, and budget reconciliation. These tasks require approximately five hours per week outside the crew workday. The leader transports members from a centralized meeting location to work sites in an SCA vehicle and works with the team through a variety of weather conditions.

The position is scheduled from November 2026 through December 11, 2026. Housing is not provided. The role includes mandatory SCA training, potentially out of town, and opportunities for additional training and events in northeast Ohio and online.

Requirements

• Documented experience working with young adults ages 18–25 in an educational, mentorship, or conservation capacity.
• Experience with hands-on outdoor conservation work, such as landscaping, trailbuilding, or tree care.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have a valid driver’s license and at least three years of driving experience, and meet SCA’s motor vehicle record standards.
• Meet SCA’s criminal background check standards.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Be able to attend mandatory SCA training sessions, including possible out-of-town leadership training.
• Hold CPR certification and Wilderness First Aid certification, or an approved equivalent 16-hour First Aid course.

Responsibilities

• Supervise crew members during daily tasks and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment.
• Lead and oversee conservation work projects, including watering and habitat restoration, and ensure their timely completion.
• Facilitate teamwork, manage field tasks, and guide crew dynamics.
• Train and mentor members in conservation skills, tool use, leadership, environmental stewardship, and personal and professional development.
• Coordinate food planning, transportation, tools, equipment, scheduling, and logistics with SCA Program staff.
• Manage tool maintenance and equipment logistics.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with agency partners and community organizations, and represent SCA professionally.
• Assess and manage risks to support a safe work environment.
• Plan and conduct environmental education sessions aligned with SCA’s Conservation Curriculum.
• Complete program documentation, including logs, incident reports, paperwork, equipment inventories, and budget reconciliation.
• Track and manage the crew schedule and budget, check in with SCA Program staff, and approve member timecards.
• Manage the SCA team vehicle and transport members to work sites.
• Perform other duties as needed to support crew needs and project objectives.

Benefits

• $850 per week living allowance (pre-tax; allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes).
• SCA warm-weather uniform package.
• Four days of paid time off during the field season.
• Access to a national network of professional resources and an alumni peer group.
• SCA Field Leader Training, Wilderness First Aid, ongoing professional development training and mentorship, urban forestry training, and the option to seek relevant certifications, with a stated value of $2,000 or more.

What This Job Offers

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