Field Leader - 2025 Spring Snow Mountain Fire Recovery -7 month team

Crew Leader: Snow Mountain Fire Recovery Team

Mendocino National Forest

Conservation Begins Here.

Are you ready to lead in one of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes in the Western U.S.? Do you want to make a tangible difference in our natural spaces and communities? Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a Field Leader for our Snow Mountain Fire Recovery Team and embark on a journey that blends purpose with adventure.

Schedule

January 20, 2025 - August 23, 2025

• Leader Training: January 20, 2025 – January 31, 2025
• Season: February 1, 2025 – August 23, 2025
• Crew Dates: February 17, 2025 – August 16, 2025

Why Join Us?

This isn’t your average 9-to-5 job. As a Field Leader, you’ll guide a team of five passionate members through trail recovery projects in Mendocino National Forest, a land still healing from the Ranch Fire. You’ll work with hand tools and chainsaws to rebuild damaged trails, clear debris, and restore trail structures — while building the future of conservation with a like-minded crew.

Now is the perfect opportunity to manage a project that helps the planet and people.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

As a Field Leader:

• Act as a Crew Supervisor, by facilitating teamwork, managing basecamp and equipment tasks, overseeing member wellbeing and guiding crew dynamics;
• Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environmental stewardship;
• Act as a Project Manager, by ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, communicating with agency partners, and upholding a positive representation of SCA;
• Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing crew budgets, and communicating with SCA staff;

Your Impact

Rebuilding trails - You’ll play a key role in ensuring that recreation users can safely enjoy our national forests, helping them connect to the outdoors.

Inspire your team – Serve as a mentor to young adults wanting to make a difference.

What We’re Looking For

If you're passionate about making a real difference and leading with purpose, this role is for you. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in outdoor living (camping and backpacking) and experience working with a chainsaw. In addition to these technical skills, strong leader candidates also excel in fostering team dynamics, navigating interpersonal relationships, and creating a strong sense of community.

Effective crew leadership revolves around building trust, problem-solving, and cultivating resilience within the team. We're seeking leaders who prioritize emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to guide others through challenges, all while creating a positive, inclusive environment.

Success for our teams hinges on understanding and addressing both individual and group needs. Leaders must be fully invested in supporting their crew, through everything from community meetings to one-on-one check-ins, even outside of project hours.

Conservation work is unpredictable, and the best leaders are those who can adapt, communicate, and bring out the best in their team under any circumstances.

Navigating inclement weather and related challenges, from waking up to frozen water tanks in single digit temperatures to all-day sun exposure, are conditions crews may face. Thunderstorms, wind and smoke can be experienced within the same workday.

Required:

• 21+ years old;
• Must have the ability to legally work in the US;
• Valid driver’s license (3+ years) and Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA standards;
• Must be able to attend Crew Leader training: 1/20/2025 – 1/31/2025;
• Leadership experience in the outdoors (outdoor education, conservation work, or leading peer groups);
• Chainsaw experience;
• Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;
• Camping, hiking, and backcountry experience;
• Commitment to teamwork, learning, and problem-solving;
• Ability to obtain a Wilderness First Responder Certification during training;

Preferred but Not Required:

• Current Wilderness First Responder Certification;
• Experience with trail work, habitat restoration, or conservation projects;
• Chainsaw or Crosscut Certification (Bonus points for B-Faller and B-Bucking certifications!);
• Trailer Driving Experience is a plus;

Why You’ll Love This Job:

• Meaningful work: You’ll be directly restoring fire-affected areas and protecting public lands.
• Skills for life: Learn wilderness medicine skills, risk management, conservation practices, and how to build a cohesive, high-functioning team.
• Real connections: Create lifelong friendships with people who share your passion for the planet.
• Adventure lifestyle: Expect to live off the grid for most of the season. You’ll camp under the stars, cook over a camp stove, and work without the distractions of modern life. (Yes, limited cell service—but trust us, you won’t miss it.)

Benefits

• Pay: $800/week
• Travel stipend: $1,000 (split into two payments: half with your first pay check, half with your last pay check)
• Phone stipend: $45/month
• Health insurance
• Meals: Provided during fieldwork
• Gear: Group camping gear provided (tents, stoves, cooking supplies)

You’ll also receive:

• Wilderness First Responder Training (completion of this certification is required for the position)
• Chainsaw certification (completion of this certification is required for the position)
• Defensive driver training
• Trailer driving training

Living Arrangements

Participants should be prepared to camp in frontcountry and/or backcountry conditions throughout the program. Community chores like preparing meals and washing dishes will be shared by members and leader. SCA will provide group gear such as tents, kitchen supplies (like pots, pans, and stoves), and uniform items. Leaders and members will be expected to bring their personal items such as a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothing, and mess kit. To support the crew’s efforts, Leaders are issued an SCA vehicle and trailer for transportation and storage, and a field budget to purchase groceries, supplies, and fuel.

Expect to be camping for the duration of the crew, during work and off-time. This means limited access to electricity, running water and showers.

What Might the Season Look Like?

Service begins at Project Leader Training, where participants will develop leadership and conservation skills needed for a corps team. Training is field-based and will include a review of sustainable trail practices, tools for building an inclusive crew and proper basecamp setup. Staff will also share administrative and risk management expectations. A Wilderness First Responder course is offered during training. The Snow Mountain Leader will also attend chainsaw training. Leaders will depart training to prepare for their crew, collaborating with local staff to prep gear, outline project logistics, contact members, and other tasks to ensure a successful start to the season.

Crew Member Training begins February 17, 2025. Leaders will help assist with training and set key foundations for members. Upon completion of Crew Member Training, the crew will travel to Mendocino National Forest. The crew will work on projects aimed at making trails safe and enjoyable for recreation users. Priorities include Bathhouse and Deafy Glade Trails. The crew will end in Ridgecrest, CA where they will derig, and leaders will review their season with staff.

Work Schedule

In general, leaders should expect to work on their project for 80 hours within a two-week span. This is subject to change based upon programmatic and field-based needs. Different projects will require different schedules. Some crews work 8 10-hour workdays with 6 days off, others may work 4 10-hour days with 3 days off. Check-ins with members or managing incidents may happen at any time during the season.

General Physical Requirements

• Able to understand, adhere to, and communicate with others regarding hazards, procedures, and safety policies.
• Able to stay alert and engaged for extended periods of program time.
• Able to independently manage known medical conditions with the resources available throughout the position or program.
• Able to wear all required personal protective equipment, including internal or external, safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, N95 or other approved face mask or shield, chaps, and appropriate footwear.
• Able to refrain from behaviors and actions that disrupt the work and safety of others.
• Able to cooperate with others to complete daily group tasks, responsibilities, and project work under potentially difficult conditions, variable daily routines, and with limited personal time.
• Able to self-regulate or co-regulate emotions and actions when distressed or uncomfortable, with or without the support of others.
• Able to self-manage outdoor and environmental exposure (e.g., temperature, wind, sun, etc.) in a variety of weather conditions.
• If using prescription medications, able to self-medicate by following the prescribed dosage, usage, and timing without supervisor assistance (except possibly at the direction of higher medical authority in emergency situations).
• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing approximately 45% of body weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions
• Able to lift a backpack weighing 45% of body weight with minimal assistance from others.
• Able to grip a third point of contact for balance purposes when crossing rivers or streams, and ascending and/or descending slopes.
• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of body weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions.
• Able to lift a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of body weight, with minimal assistance from others.
• Able to move on cross-country skis or snowshoes over a variety of snow, ice, and trail conditions.
• Able to move equipment and supplies by sled and/or backpack over a variety of snow, ice, and trail conditions while using cross-country skis, snowshoes, or winter boots.

Working Conditions

Work schedules and projects may change on short notice or be ambiguous.;Work settings require the ability to positively interact with people of varying cultures and perspectives.;Natural environments and culturally significant locations that require respect to the land and indigenous peoples.;Inclement and severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flash flooding, gusty and strong winds, foggy or decreased visibility, and lightning events.;Decreased or inclement air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke or smog.;Warm temperatures and adverse heat conditions which could include temperatures in some regions up to 110°F or hotter.;Exposure to natural and environmental hazards such as, poison ivy, oak, or sumac, tick and mosquito -borne illness, snakes, and potential for other wildlife encounters.;Exposure and potential contact to bear habitat and wildlife.

Join Us. Apply Today!

Ready to lead, learn, and make a difference? Apply through the SCA website.

For questions, reach out to leaders@thesca.org.

Let’s build a better future—together.

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.

The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. Click here to learn more about Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the SCA.

Consumption of alcohol is never permitted when on duty. This begins at the start of pre-hitch and ends once all post-hitch activities are completed. Marijuana and illegal substances are not permitted.