American Conservation Experience

Contact Name: Patrick Parsel

Company/Organization/Agency: American Conservation Experience

Address: 328 Ingalls St., Suite B, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 United States

Email Address: pparsel@usaconservation.org

Contact Phone: (530) 220-2808

Job Title: Trails Trainer and Coordinator - ACE California

Job Description: Opportunity: Trails Trainer and Coordinator
Location(s): San Diego, Santa Cruz & South Lake Tahoe, California
Position: Full Time
Position Overview:
American Conservation Experience (ACE) is seeking a Trails Trainer and Coordinator (TTC) to work in the Pacific (California specifically) region. Qualified applicants will have an extensive background working on technical trail projects with conservation corps in the field. Qualified candidates must have the ability to handle concurrent field operations and manage multiple ongoing projects in a fast paced environment, the determination to encourage and enforce compliance with all elements of ACE’s safety policies, and the skills to train and develop ACE’s crew leaders and corps members.
ACE is a rapidly growing, dynamic, national non-profit organization with the reputation for providing professionally supervised crews and career-minded AmeriCorps members to undertake critical natural resource management projects for federal, state, and local agencies. ACE’s national headquarters is located in Flagstaff, AZ and operates crew branches in California, Utah, and North Carolina.
The Trails Trainer and Coordinator (TTC) will travel throughout the Pacific Region training multiple crews of 3-12 young adults in the execution of technical and often logistically complex trail projects as well as managing these projects. The TTC will teach ACE Crew Supervisors, AmeriCorps Members, Professional Development Interns and volunteers how to construct and maintain multi use trails in many of the most spectacular and challenging public lands in the United States. The TTC will also assist in logistical coordination, project management, quality control, safety compliance, trail equipment maintenance and performs related work as assigned. This is majority field based position that will involve extensive travel with extended stays in the backcountry or in very remote locations for 2-4 weeks at a time.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Advanced knowledge of methods, materials, tools, and techniques used in trail construction and maintenance projects especially:
o Dry stone retaining wall construction
o Rock step construction
o Full bench tread construction
o Griphoist and rigging applications related to trail maintenance and construction
o Wilderness trail maintenance and the ability to adapt approach and standards to wilderness situations calling for a more refined, subtle approach
• Skill in the use and repair of hand and power tools, including chainsaws, pionjars, rigging equipment etc
• Considerable knowledge of safety procedures applied to field operations.
• Knowledge of principles of young adult development, team-building and motivational techniques.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, and often under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with ACE staff, corps members, partner agency staff, and the general public.
• Ability to adapt to surrounding work environment and conditions that can change frequently.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes including supervisor key responsibilities
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex safety issues
• Must have the ability to travel frequently and often.
• Commitment to ACE’s mission and to public service through youth development and volunteerism.

Job Start Date: 5/1/2017

Application Deadline: 4/14/2017

Additional Information: Typical Duties:
• Directly teach, instruct and guide ACE field staff and corps members in the art and techniques of trail planning, layout, construction and maintenance.
• Be the field point of contact for trail construction and maintenance projects.
• Perform field visits for project quality control and hold ACE field staff and corps members to the highest standards at all times.
• Provide project management and technical assistance to ACE trail crews.
• Maintains professional communications and relations with agency project partners.
• Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of all trail tools including pionjars, rock saws, rock drills, rigging equipment and stone masonry tools
• Oversee the trail operations workshop and ensure that it is well stocked, organized and tidy.
• Maintaining and repairing hand and power tools and other equipment as necessary.
• Hiking, backpacking, camping and cooking outdoors while at front country and wilderness spike camps and following Leave No Trace practices.
• As project /time permits, assists ACE Directors in the following responsibilities:
o Assists field operations manager in planning, scheduling, developing and coordinating trail construction and maintenance projects.
o Implements field safety programs and inspections under the supervision of ACE Directors.
o Solicit and negotiate contracts for work projects with agency project partners.
o Assists operations manager in recruiting and interviewing young adult corps members and field supervisors.
o Makes recommendations to ACE Directors concerning disciplinary measures and promotion of corps members and supervisors.
o Makes recommendations for purchase of field supplies, tools, etc. following the operation manager’s budget.
o Oversees maintenance and of tools, vehicles, field-related equipment, including organization of ACE equipment and supplies.






Other Requirements:
• Must maintain a positive, constructive work environment conducive to team dynamics.
• Must be flexible and possess a high work ethic
• Must maintain timely, effective communication with crew, project partners and supervisors,
• Must enforce the use of appropriate safety procedures in all tasks.
• Must maintain optimal physical health, including a drug-free lifestyle.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must secure first aid/CPR certification within 14 days of employment and maintain certification.
• Must submit to a criminal background check prior to hire. Persons convicted of a felony are not eligible for appointment to this classification.
Start Date: May 2017, but will be open until filled.
Compensation: $23 - $25/hr depending on experience. Health and dental insurance, paid holiday, vacation and sick leave accrual start after 6 months.
To Apply: Please send your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Patrick Parsel (pparsel@usaconservation.org).
Deadline: April 14, but ACE may schedule interviews and make a selections prior to that date, so please submit application materials as you prepare them.

ONLINE APPLICATION LINK:
http://www.usaconservation.org/job/trails-trainer-and-coordinator/

(Sent via Professional TrailBuilders Association)