Conservation Begins Here.
The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire students for the programs.
Training Dates: 4/17/2023 – 5/12/2023 (paid mandatory training)
Program Dates: 4/17/2023 – 9/2/2023
Location (City and State): Anchorage, AK; Multiple Locations, depending on position placement; Interior, Southeast, Southcentral
Primary Responsibilities:
Project leaders are responsible for daily management and supervision of a Fire Corps team with members aged 18 or older. The Fire leaders will work in a two-person team to manage the team. Project Leaders coordinate with agency partners to plan and implement projects, and with SCA staff to manage crew safety, performance, and logistics in the field. Leaders are required to perform the administrative tasks to track project outcomes, approve members’ timesheets, and manage a field budget. Leaders are responsible to teach the crew outdoor living skills to meet basic needs of shelter and nutrition throughout the season. Leaders are responsible for meal planning and purchasing, gear acquisition and transportation logistics to/from the work site.
Program Description:
The Student Conservation Association’s Alaska Female Fire team is focused on providing young adults opportunities to grow competitive skills in the field of wildland fire fighting to prepare them to move into jobs with our project partners after their term of service. Preference will be given to female-identifying applicants: cis and trans females, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming, are welcome to apply for this position. Skills will include hands on conservation service experience, professional development training, and nationally recognized certifications.
SCA’s Female Fire Teams work with the National Park Service in remote settings across Alaska. Members of the fire crew will spend 3 months on service projects with the National Park Service in Alaska. Service projects will include fuels reduction work: using hand tools and chainsaws for felling and bucking dead trees, thinning overgrown tree stands, and hauling fuels off site and away from vulnerable structures. Project Leaders coordinate with agency partners to plan and implement projects, and with SCA staff to manage crew safety, performance, and logistics in the field. A Project Leader lives and works with their crew for the duration of the season at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, in varying weather conditions, and under physically demanding circumstances. The crew may be deployed on a live fire with federal fire teams and will pause their SCA/AmeriCorps positions during that time, becoming NPS employees.
The crews will begin their program with a two-week field-based training program before traveling to the NPS rookie school where they will go through wildland fire training. Guided by an experienced Project Leader, Corps Members learn and practice all the requisite hard and soft skills that are essential for a successful conservation project.
Leaders do not need to have prior firework experience. They will participate in Rookie school and the Red Card certification courses. Leaders need to have leadership experience and an interest in Fire.
Fire Work:
This is not a firefighting position! Members will not be expected to take part in fire suppression activities such as initial attack or mop up duties on an active fire as an SCA member. This is considered an entry level position in wildland fire fighting. Those who apply for this position should have interest in wildland fire fighting as a career though previous experience is not necessary.
Workdays can vary and may require long days and weekends. Prescribed fire demands a high level of fitness to work in difficult environmental conditions, including steep terrain, extreme temperatures, altitude, and smoke.
Members of this team will go through additional Fire Academy Training with the National Park Service. This will include courses S130, S190 to obtain the Red Card and S212 Chainsaw training. Members will be required to pass the Work Capacity (Pack) Test (FFT2 Red Card Certification) at the “arduous” level. The Pack Test consists of completing a 3-mile hike with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes. Additionally, physical training will be a requirement of this position to ensure that members are prepared for the rigors of this position.
Members will be able to take part in performing fuels reduction projects. Work projects may include:
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Mechanical fuels reduction (chainsaw work)
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Hand tool fuels reduction (hand saws, axes, loppers, etc.)
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Felling and bucking dead trees
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Thinning overgrown tree stands
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Removing brush around structures to create a fire break
During the season and upon successful completion of Fire Academy Training, the crew will pause their service work projects with SCA and NPS will hire them directly for 2 weeks of work under local NPS fire team guidance. During this time members and leaders will be paid as NPS employees at approximately $19.72/hour. Members should expect to work 12–16-hour days for two weeks while on fire assignments though the schedule may vary depending on the project.
Field-life is rugged, and while on hitch, members should expect to live without electricity, running water, and cell phone reception; additionally, while on hitch, this program is alcohol and substance-free.
Projects frequently change, so check back often for project updates. (Please note- placements will be determined by matching leader candidate skills with project needs)
Preference will be given to applicants that are interested in pursuing a career in wildland fire fighting and those that are local to Alaska.
Specifically, the Crew Leader will:
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Act as a Team Supervisor by facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, guiding group dynamics and community-building, and being transparent and receptive to ideas when making decisions. Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environmental stewardship
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Serve as a Teacher by mentoring personal and professional development, teaching environmental stewardship, and teaching conflict resolution skills.
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Act as a Project Manager, by communicating with agency park partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA
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Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing a budget, and communicating with SCA staff, agency partners, and their own team members.
Leader Qualifications:
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Experience working with young adults 18 and older; managing group dynamics; teaching in an outdoor environment
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Experience with conservation work skills or related skills preferred – i.e., trail maintenance, fuels reduction, trail construction, chainsaw, carpentry, habitat restoration, landscaping, and gardening
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Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 8 to 10 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and most occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more
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Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
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Female-identifying applicants: cis and trans females, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming
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Must have ability to legally work in the US.
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Valid driver’s license and MVR that meets SCA standards required to drive SCA vehicles
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Ability to meet SCA’s criminal background check standards
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Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification is required prior to member start
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Experience living or working in Alaska is preferred
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Experience working/living in a field camp for at least 60 nights
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Experience leading a group of 4 in an outdoor, overnight setting for at least 30 days, can be cumulative
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Experience with mental health first aid
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Not required to provide own housing during the dates of the program.
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Ability to implement and enforce SCA COVID policies and procedures
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Must be able to attend mandatory Leader training: April 2023
To Apply Click HERE
Conditions of Employment:
Beginning on 1/18/22, all new SCA program participants are required to provide proof of up to date vaccination against COVID-19. Per CDC guidance, up to date vaccination now includes all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when indicated. For example, if someone has completed the primary series but is not yet indicated for a booster shot, they are considered up to date. Once a person is indicated for a booster (6 months after Pfizer or Moderna primary series, 2 months after J&J primary series), full and up-to-date vaccination includes the completed booster shot. Visit the following website for more information, including medical and religious exemptions: www.thesca.org/covid.
The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an Equal-Opportunity Employer.