Position Summary
Service Position Title: Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) GulfCorps
Days and Hours of Service: Monday through Friday (8:00 AM – 4:30), or Monday through Thursday (7:00-5:30), Some nights and weekends may be required.
Start Date: September 1, 2026 End Date: February 20,2027
ALCC Contact: Sara Boccardo, Program Manager, 251-459-2328, [email protected]
Primary Service Site: Various parks, wildlife refuges, nature preserves, and other public spaces in Mobile and Baldwin County
Program Overview
As part of the Student Conservation Association (SCA) Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) team, you'll serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer alongside 8 young adults to carry out restoration projects in coastal Alabama as part of the GulfCorps Program.
GulfCorps aims to provide individuals with training and experience in conservation work skills while supporting coastal AL restoration projects in partnership with municipal, state, federal, and nonprofit partners. Projects will include invasive management, trail work, litter abatement, fire break maintenance, and boardwalk construction/repairs. The crew will start and begin each day at the Mobile office and then travel to the project site for the day in SCA vehicles. Service projects will take place outdoors in the elements and will at times require heavy lifting (~50 lb.), hiking, and operating equipment such as chainsaws and brush cutters.
The program also includes a workforce development program, which provides industry recognized certifications and training in professional development topics such as resume building and interview skills. Professional development activities ranging from workshops, presentations, and independent assignments will be scheduled out each month with the goal of supporting placement post program. Participants will have the opportunities to grow competitive skills in the field of natural resource management and to prepare for entry into the workforce after their term of service. Participation in professional development is a requirement of the program.
Disaster Response Deployments may also be an option for those interested. Deployments would last 4-5 weeks and include intensive work schedules (50-60 hrs/week) in unpredictable environments, under the guidance and supervision of SCA staff working with the disaster response agency assigned Incident Commander. Work can include but not be limited to evacuation shelter assistance, donation center management, volunteer management, clean-up efforts, "mucking and gutting" in private residences, debris removal, Saw and/or rigging work, public information outreach, plantings and other natural area restorations.
Trainings
Crew Orientation (Sept 1-4)
GulfCorps Orientation overnight at Camp Beckwith (Sept 7-11, 2024)
Wilderness First Aid and CPR (Sept 14-16)
Wildland Firefighter and Chainsaw Certification overnight at Camp Beckwith (TBD)
Service Conditions
Service is performed primarily outdoors. Some classroom time will be required when weather conditions are not ideal for outdoor service or when required professional development activities are due. Equipment Used Hand tools, herbicide and herbicide application equipment, power tools, carpentry tools, and chainsaws.
Location
Mobile, AL
Schedule
Program runs from September 1, 2026 throughFebruary 20, 2027
40 hours per week, Monday through Friday (8:00 AM – 4:30), or Monday through Thursday (7:00-5:30), some nights and weekends may be required.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Commitment to serving as part of a productive team in an outdoor setting for the full term of service
- Vegetation management, including trail maintenance, fire break maintenance, and plantings.
- Repairs and construction of structures such as boardwalks, wildlife enclosures, and decking
- Identification and removal of invasive species in field, using mechanical and chemical methods
- Operation of hand tools and power tools to accomplish service activities
- Tool maintenance and rehabilitation
- Collection and compilation of project data
- Ability to take initiative to complete the task at hand as directed and without prompting
- Interpersonal and professional conduct with crew, staff, and project partners
- Active participation in training sessions and interest in self-development
Marginal Duties
- Litter abatement and debris removal
- Educational outreach
- Support in the planning and implemenation of community clean ups
Required Qualifications
- Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer. This includes:
- Being a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States
- Being at least 18 years or older
- Having a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Being wiling to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks;
- No previous experience is required for this position.
- Physical Requirements:
- Willingness to communicate the perceived presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means;
- Willingness to lift 50 lbs., and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, for 5 miles;
- Willingness to serve in environmental conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation;
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in hands-on, outdoor service activities
- Interest in pursuing a career in conservation or a related field
- Ability to work as part of team to complete hands on outdoor projects
Hours
40 per week
Living Accommodations
No housing provided.
Compensation
Compensation: $600/week living allowance.
AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of program.
Member Assistance Program
Trainings provided: Wilderness First Aid, Wildland Chainsaw (S212), Wildland Firefighter (Red card), and SCA Leadership Development Training.
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Personal vehicle not required
Additional Benefits
Wilderness First Aid Training
AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required
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.
