Position Summary
This crew, consisting of 2 adult co-leaders and 4 high school youth members, will work on 15 select Saturdays throughout the schoolyear to support nature-based climate resilience efforts in vulnerable neighborhoods throughout Charles County, Maryland. The crew will carry out a variety of community forestry projects, programs, and activities, including maintaining more than 700 trees in pocket forests and at school sites through planting, watering, staking, mulching, and weeding. The crew will support the year-round maintenance of these sites while participating in a variety of environmental education, workforce development, and green career exploration activities.
Hosting Organization
The Resilience Authority of Charles County, Inc.
Location
Waldorf, MD
Schedule
September 7, 2026 - June 4, 2027
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Act as a Crew Supervisor, by co-leading a team of crew members, facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, 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 communicating with agency partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA
- Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing a budget, and communicating with SCA staff
- Leader must be able to safely transport crew from morning pick-up, worksites, and afternoon drop off the SCA rental truck
Marginal Duties
- Crew leaders should expect to complete 4-6 hours/workday to complete crew leader administration tasks.
- These tasks may include coding expense receipts, uploading photos from the field, writing incident reports, attending weekly staff check-in meetings, or reviewing member time logs, among other things.
Required Qualifications
- Willingness to perform manual, physical labor for up to 8 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more
- Minimum of 21 years of age
- US Work Authorization
- Valid driver's license for 3+ years and pass SCA Motor Vehicle Report standards
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with youth or young adults, teaching or environmental education
- Experience working in a team
- Urban forestry, arboriculture, or tree care experience
General Leader Requirements
- Understand, adhere to, and communicate with others regarding hazards, procedures, and safety policies.
- Manage outdoor and environmental exposure (e.g., temperature, wind, sun, etc.) in a variety of weather conditions.
- Create an appropriate learning environment for members to learn new skills and develop healthy relationships.
- Facilitate group processes including group decision-making, hazard analyses, conflict management.
- Communicate with program supervisor regarding crew, equipment, and programmatic needs.
- Assess members' skill level, reliability, and judgment in order to adjust supervision level according to the progress of the crew.
- Comprehend and uphold all SCA Policies and Procedures throughout the position after successfully completing all SCA Leader online and in-person trainings.
- Respond appropriately and in line with SCA incident management protocols in times of high stress, such as when encountering large and/or potentially hazardous animals, severe weather, medical emergency, or other incident.
- Complete various administrative tasks including managing a budget, arranging accommodations, retaining receipts and reconciling purchases, communicating with agency contact, etc., as applicable to the position.
Working Conditions
- Work settings require the ability to positively interact with people of varying perspectives.;Work settings may be located in natural environments and regionally significant locations that require respect for the land and local peoples.
- Work environment may be in inclement and severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flash flooding, gusty and strong winds, foggy or decreased visibility, lightning events, and/or decreased or inclement air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke or smog.
- Work may take place in warm temperatures and adverse heat conditions which could include temperatures in some regions up to 110°F or hotter.;Work may take place in cold temperatures and adverse winter weather which could include temperatures in some regions -20°F or colder with wind, snow, and sleet.
- Work settings may involve exposure to natural and environmental hazards, such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac; harmful, poisonous, or disease-carrying ticks, mosquitos, insects, snakes, bears, and other wildlife.
Hours
Part-time, intermittent position. Leaders will work approximately 15 Saturdays throughout the year (8-hour workdays), with an additional 4–6 hours of preparation and closeout for each workday. The position also includes approximately 40 hours of required training and 20 hours of end-of-season closeout work.
Living Accommodations
No housing provided: candidates within a commutable distance of Charles County, Maryland are encouraged to apply.
Compensation
$22/hour
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Additional Benefits
- Defensive Drive Training
- First Aid/CPR
- Wilderness First Aid Training
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.
