Prescribed Fire Team – Splinter Hill Bog Preserve (PO-00735728)

Service Position Title: Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) Prescribed Fire AmeriCorps Member  
 
Days and Hours of Service: Monday through Thursday (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) and Friday (8:00 AM – 2:30 PM)
Some nights and weekends may be required.
 
Start Date: January 8, 2024 End Date: April 28, 2024
 
Host Site Address: The Student Conservation Association, 853 Dauphin St., Suite C, Mobile, AL 36602
 
Host Site – Staff Contact Amber Rooney, AL Program Coordinator, 251-301-8115, [email protected]
 
Primary Service Site Address: The Nature Conservancy, 2100 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
 
 
Primary Service Site Supervisor/Coordinator Contact: Geoff Sorrell, Restoration Ecologist, 334.329.0361, [email protected]
Rob Wood, Coastal 
Fire Coordinator, 580.678.3425, [email protected]
 
 
Program Overview: As part of The Student Conservation Association (SCA) Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC),  the Prescribed Fire AmeriCorps members will work as a module under ead by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff.and assist with prescribed fire activities in Alabama and Florida. Members will travel extensively throughout Alabama to conduct burns on TNC preserves, state parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. Members will participate in wildland fire operations including ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and weather monitoring, as well as preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, and post-burn monitoring. Members will perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire. Red cards are not required to apply for this position.

Members will be based at The Nature Conservancy's Splinter Hill Bog Preserve (Perdido, AL). Housing is provided and each team member must live on site with other team members to maximize the team's effectiveness 

Service will mostly be outdoors, with frequent long days and require the ability to perform physically demanding work. It is expected that members will pass the arduous Work Capacity Test. All team members are expected to be respectful, punctual, and hardworking.

 

 
Essential Function(s):
  • Interest and investment in leadership development and teamwork is required. 
  • Commitment to serving as a productive team member; interpersonal and professional skills are pluses. 
  • Commitment to service in environmental conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation.
  • Must be willing to learn how to use hand tools and power tools to accomplish service activities.
  • Ability to communicate the presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means.
  • Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member. 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 willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender and FBI checks.
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs, and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, for 1 mile.
  • Ability to pass SCA’s background check. 
 
Marginal Function(s): N/A
 
Academic Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent.
 
Experience:
  • No previous experience is required for this position.
  • Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member. 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 willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender and FBI checks.
  • Conditions of Service
    • All members are required to be fully vaccinated. Full vaccination is defined as having received a booster shot six months after the Pfizer and Moderna primary series and two months after the Johnson & Johnson primary series.
    • All members to train for and pass the arduous Work Capacity Test, which is a requirement of the program. This includes walking 3 miles with a 45-pound weighted vest in under 45 minutes. Members that do not pass the pack test will be dismissed from the program.
 
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
  • Interest in hands-on, outdoor service activities is preferred.
  • Interest in pursuing a career in conservation or a related field is preferred.
 
Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands: Emotional and Intellectual Requirements:

  • Develop and maintain professional relationships with staff, crew leaders, and members;
  • Function as part of a team;
  • Understand verbal and/or written communication;
  • Must be dependable, flexible, and cooperative;
  • Ability to take initiative to complete the task at hand without prompting;
  • Accepting of leadership and supervisory authority; and
  • Completes tasks appropriately and in a timely manner.

Physical Requirements:            

  • Hike up to 5 miles, often while carrying a backpack, tools, and equipment
  • Lift heavy objects up to 50 pounds
  • Ability to perform duties in all weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, rain
  • Ability to communicate the presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means.
 
Member Benefits:
  • Compensation: $480/week living allowance.  
  • AmeriCorps Education Award (450 hours = $1,718.25) upon successful completion of program.  
 
Member Trainings:
  • SCA AmeriCorps training (TBD)
  • National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses include:
  • S130, Wildland Firefighter
    S190, Introduction Wildland Fire Behavior
    S212, Wildland Fire Chainsaws
    Online prerequisite courses include: 
    S130
    S190
    L180
    I100
    Is700
  • Wilderness First Aid

  

 
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, prescribed fire tools, power tools.  
 
Commitment Required: The SCA ALCC Program’s term of service is a 4-month (450 hours) commitment that will last (January 9 – April 28, 2023).

*For SCA's COVID-19 guidance, please refer to www.thesca.org/covid  

Position ID: PO-00735728

Expected Dates: January 8, 2024 - April 28, 2024

Location:
54450-D County Road 47 S. Ext.
Perdido, AL 36562
US

Training Provided: SCA AmeriCorps training National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses: S130, Wildland Firefighter S190, Introduction Wildland Fire Behavior S212, Wildland FireChainsaws Online prerequisites: S130 S190 L180 I100 Is700 Wilderness Aid

Educational/Recreational Opportunities: Members will gain experience will all aspects of fire management through mentorship by TNC staff. A variety of outdoor recreational opportunities are available on US Forest Service and TNC lands, as well lands managed by various state agencies in AL.

Handicap Accessible?: No

Main Area of Focus: Natural Resources Mgmt

Further Details

AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible

Driving Logistics: Recommended

Duty location is remote and rural, so a personal vehicle is the easiest method to grocery shop and explore during non-work hours.

Housing or Stipend Provided?
A. Partner will provide suitable housing for the member

Primary housing is a three bedroom, two bathroom house with full kitchen (including cookware/dishware), bunk-style bedding and all modern amenities located at Splinter Hill Bog Preserve near Perdido, Alabama. Linens are provided. Each team member is required to provide their own personal toiletries. Travel for work will require camping at TNC preserves, State Parks, National Forests, etc. periodically. Team members are strongly encouraged to bring camping equipment, however TNC can supply equipment if needed.

Indoor/Outdoor: Outside

US Citizenship: Yes

Student Conservation Association