Seasonal Assistant Trail Crew Lead
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is hiring two trail crews for the 2019 field season. The Greenway Trust will be working closely with government agency partners to complete a series of trail and recreational enhancement projects across the Greenway landscape, with an emphasis on improving recreational access to the Greenway’s network of more than 1,000 miles of wildland trails. Project work will focus on construction of new trails and priority trail maintenance and reconstruction projects. Many of these projects are part of a larger effort by the Greenway Trust and our many partners to enhance recreation opportunities within the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley.
To complete these projects, the Greenway Trust will hire experienced trail crews from April through September of 2019. Trail crews will work in variable weather, in remote locations, on back- and front country trails, on difficult terrain, and under physically demanding conditions.
As a member of the Greenway Trust Stewardship Program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a highly successful team in an energetic, productive and fast-paced environment. Through extensive hands-on involvement in projects and agency partnerships, you will learn about recreational access and public natural land management and build skills and gain experience in new trail construction.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Assistant Trail Crew Lead is a full-time, seasonal position with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. The Trail Crew Lead is responsible for supporting the Trail Crew Lead in the oversight of a seasonal trail crew consisting of 1 Crew Lead, 1 Assistant Crew Lead and 2 Trail Crew Members. The primary task for the crew will be the construction of new trails and maintenance of existing trails within the Greenway landscape. The duties will include direct field supervision of a crew, mandatory safety check-ins, tracking and reporting of field results and trail crew timesheets, operation of trail equipment, and building new trail or maintaining existing trails.
The right candidate will be an experienced trail hand who is skilled in technical trail construction techniques, able to work both independently and in a leadership role with a trail crew, has a minimum of two seasons leading trail crews (trail maintenance and new construction), and is a strong communicator, detail-oriented, quality-driven, and have general interest in the Greenway Trust’s mission and goals.
Trail crews will work closely with the Greenway Trust, multiple public land management agencies, contractors, other nonprofit staff, and volunteers to accomplish project work. The Trail Crew Lead will work with Greenway Trust staff to ensure compliance with project requirements, and will be responsible for monitoring safety, and reporting accomplishments and completing field reports. The Trail Crew Lead will also be responsible for managing interactions between Trail Crews and members of the public and will represent the Greenway Trust in a professional manner.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Valid Wilderness First Responder certified, or ability to obtain certification by time of employment.
- Two or more years of leading or assisting backcountry trail crews.
- Valid driver’s license with insurable driving record, and ability to pass a criminal history background check.
- Two or more years of experience constructing rock retaining walls in a backcountry setting.
- Proven ability to work and live outside in inclement weather for extended periods of time.
- Proven ability to teach and ensure proper maintenance and construction techniques and tool safety to a new crew.
- Experience with new trail construction of a highly technical nature.
- Working knowledge of proper and safe use of trail tools and equipment (chainsaws, grip hoists, toters, pulaskis, etc.).
- Ability to work independently and with a team and to plan and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Positive attitude.
- Demonstrated ability to use soft skills in leadership, such as
- Strong Work Ethic
- Positive Attitude
- Good Communication Skills
- Time Management Abilities
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Acting as a Team Player
- Self-Confidence
- Ability to Accept and Learn from Criticism
- Ability to conduct quality assurance and quality control checks, and correct Crew Members as necessary in standards and expectations of work qualities.
- Attention to detail and ability to accurately track and report on project metrics, activities, and accomplishments.
- Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate in serving as the liaison between the Recreation Projects Manager, the Middle Fork Valley Community Coordinator and the Crew in communicating priorities and goals.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Chainsaw felling and bucking certification.
- Crosscut bucking certification.
- Bachelor’s degree or experience in a conservation-related field.
- Leave-No-Trace certification.
- Experience working around helicopter long lines.
- Experience driving four-wheel drive vehicles on unpaved roads.
REPORTS TO
The trail crews report to the Recreation Project Manager.
COMPENSATION
Salary is $19.00 per hour.
This seasonal position is not eligible for paid time off including holiday pay. There may be a possibility of unpaid days off due to inclement weather. Benefits include all legally required items, including paid sick time that accrues at the rate of one hour per 40 hours worked, and the option of participation in the Greenway Trust retirement plan. Chainsaw and crosscut bucking certification will be provided.
LOCATION AND SCHEDULE
The trail crew will be based out of the Greenway Trust’s satellite base, located outside of North Bend, WA. Transportation from the satellite base to worksites throughout the Greenway will be provided. The trail crews will work a 10-hour workday, on a Tuesday-Friday schedule, with occasional Saturday volunteer events. Certain projects will require crews to be spike camped for 4-day and 8-day periods. The position is currently scheduled to run from April into September 2019 with a possible extension thereafter.
This position is contingent upon funding secured by the Greenway Trust.
TO APPLY
Please reference which position you are applying to in your cover letter. The cover letter should have 2-3 examples of why you want to work for the Greenway Trust, your leadership style, including successes or failures that shaped your leadership, and how you balance technical requirements with the soft skills necessary for good leadership. Those applying for the Assistant Lead position may be considered for the Crew Member positions with no need to apply separately. This position is open until filled. Email cover letter, resume, references, and any materials you wish to share that are related to your trail maintenance and construction experience to: apply@mtsgreenway.org
ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
The Greenway Trust Stewardship Program provides long-term stewardship of public and private land in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, which includes nearly 900,000 acres of public lands from Puget Sound to Central Washington. The Greenway Trust works closely with federal, state, county and city agencies, nonprofit partners, AmeriCorps conservation corps programs, and volunteers to complete ecological restoration (tree plantings, invasive plant survey and removal, riparian restoration, reforestation), forest road removal and road-to-trail conversion, trail maintenance and construction, and technical design, fundraising, implementation, and post-project maintenance.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY TRUST
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. Since 1991, collaboration and hard work have tested and strengthened the vision of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. We have proven to this region and the rest of the nation that collaborative conservation, convening a broad-based and inclusive coalition of partners, can effect positive change.
Enhancing people’s connections to nature drives the Greenway mission. Our coalition of community members, businesses, government agencies, and donors is joined together by the ethos that when we have meaningful connections with our natural surroundings, we are healthier and happier, our communities are stronger and more equitable; our lives are better.
The Greenway Trust values diverse perspectives and life experience and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, and veterans. The Greenway Trust is an equal opportunity provider.