Conservation Technician jobs in Tennessee

SECC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew members set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance through self-evaluation and a review with their crew leader in the middle and at the end of the season. Evaluations will cover professionalism, responsibility and leadership, communication, engagement, productivity, safety, and equipment use. Crew members will also be asked to evaluate their crew leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term.

Orientation Week June 3rd – 7th: Crew members can expect to learn general trail maintenance practices, best practices for tools, and general conservation techniques. During orientation, your housing and food will be provided.

First Hitch: June 10th

Goals of this Crew: The summer conservation crew's goals support our overarching mission to embrace young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through land stewardship. This summer's projects will center around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Bartram Trail Conservancy. Goals will be centered around general trail maintenance and preservation along the Ramsey Cascades Trail and Bartram Trail.

Expectations: SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew members are responsible for their housing, food, and transportation when not in the field unless otherwise specified. Some equipment is available to borrow throughout the season, but Crew Members are asked to supply as much of their gear as possible. A gear list is provided upon acceptance into the program; in addition to providing food while in the field, SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between Chattanooga and project sites.

Crew Members are asked to work hard, stay positive, and be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. This is a seasonal position; Crew Members are asked to commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline fully.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be between ages 18 and 30 and up to 35 if a military veteran.

• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this.

• Must be cleared through an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, as well as state and federal Criminal History Checks

• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during the term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award).

Preferred Qualifications:

• A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting.

• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during the term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)

General Qualifications:

• AmeriCorps members must be able to pass a criminal background check.

• Professionalism: Members must be willing to follow and enforce all SECC policies, maintain professional boundaries, communicate effectively with partners, crew leaders, members, peers, and SECC staff, and appropriately represent Southeast Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps. (This includes creating a substance-free work environment and refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while on "hitch")

• Adaptability: Projects are uncertain and will include variable living conditions and last-minute changes. Members must be adaptive, patient, and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout changes.

• Community Building: Strong desire to help others grow as individuals while building cohesiveness in a group setting. Members must be willing to work hard, listen and respect others' viewpoints, embrace diversity, be committed to equity, and be inclusive of differing backgrounds.

• Environmental Stewardship: Members must have a genuine enjoyment and desire to care for the land while living and working outdoors in various conditions.

• Fitness: SECC projects are physically demanding! 8 to 10-hour long workdays consist of hiking, backpacking, heavy lifting, and repetitive motions using tools. Projects often occur in variable weather conditions: hot, cold, rain, snow, etc.

• Conservation: Experience or a desire to learn the technical skills needed to maintain public lands effectively and meaningfully.

• Citizenship: Members must provide primary documentation of status as a U.S. citizen or National OR primary documentation of status as a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Essential Functions:

• Enforce all SECC policies. SECC is a substance-free work environment. Participants must refrain from using tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements :

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. Suppose you are unable to meet specific requirements. In that case, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and may not apply directly to your particular position.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a team member despite potentially stressful and challenging conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level, as well as a willingness to accept differences

• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others will be tolerated for any reason.

• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program, including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.

• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.

• Have the ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to carry out the service work requirements effectively

• Appropriately always represent SECC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Safety and Judgment :

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise, such as darkness or high winds.

• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow directions from others so that you can successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or must be given during exposure to the hazard.

• Stay alert and focused for several hours while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.

• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those previously identified by others.

• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.

• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics and Outdoor Skills:

• Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques.

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills appropriate to the project.

• Stay hydrated, fed, and appropriately dressed to remain healthy and safe and avoid environmental injuries.

• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe weather. Some remote locations may require a minimum of one hour, but perhaps more than 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug-free workplace, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Onboarding:

Once Crew Members are selected and before their start date, they must complete an online enrollment process that includes completing e-forms, uploading IDs, enrolling with AmeriCorps, and beginning their background check process. For those with limited access to online platforms, accommodations may be available and can be discussed during the interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity: