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In partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, MobilizeGreen seeks an Urban Conservation Crew Leader for our summer youth program. The Crew Leader is responsible for co-leading a team of diverse high-school youth to work on conservation-related projects and participate in environmental education and leadership development activities at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (JHNWR) in Philadelphia, PA over a 6-week period.

MobilizeGreen is a nonprofit organization focused on jumpstarting green careers for diverse students, through internships, mentoring, and youth engagement.  At MobilizeGreen, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Consistent with this mission, we believe people are inherently capable but often lack opportunity. We are working hard to increase the diversity in conservation spaces and strongly encourage qualified BIPOC and LGBTQ+ candidates to apply.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System and the first Urban Refuge. The refuge is a treasured green space nestled within the city of Philadelphia, teeming with a rich diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants native to the Delaware Estuary. The refuge supports a diversity of habitats, including freshwater tidal marsh, open waters, mudflats, and woodlands that the hundreds of species call home.

The goal of the program is to create environmental stewards and future leaders through community engagement, physical labor, and teamwork. Crew Leaders work in collaboration with a co-leader to facilitate student and group safety, personal development, environmental education, and work project management. Crew Leaders also represent MobilizeGreen on-site and coordinate with partners on designated projects. All Crew Leaders must attend a pre-program training (virtual/in-person hybrid).

Term: 8 total weeks.  3-5  leader training days,  6 weeks leading crew M-F, plus up to 5 days of pre/post program admin work.

Program Dates: July 6-August 13

Training Dates: TBD (mid-late June)

Benefits:

  • $680/week
  • Commuting stipend available
  • Hands-on training and learning experience

Duties and Responsibilities:

Crew Manager

  • Supervise Crew Members during all program activities and projects
  • Provide an emotionally and physically safe environment in accordance with MobilizeGreen’s Field Operations Standards and Covid Policies
  • Work with co-leader to manage group dynamics of the crew
  • Assist with Environmental Education and teambuilding lessons during crew days

Service Project Advisor

  • Train and supervise Crew Members in safe and proper use of tools and all aspects of the service project (may include trail construction, maintenance, wildlife habitat work, site restoration, etc.)
  • Facilitate worksite and project, tool and equipment logistics; tool maintenance; and work schedule in partnership with Project Leader and JHNWR Staff.
  • Care for and maintain all program equipment and tools used in project.

Program Administrator

  • Manage administrative aspects of the crew including but not limited to required pre- and post-program paperwork, daily work logs, incident reports, equipment inventories, evaluations and final report.
  • Communicate with full-time MobilizeGreen and JHNWR staff as required and as needed to report incidents & near misses, and program evaluations.

Other duties as assigned

Requirements During Term of Service:

  • Uphold and act in accordance with MobilizeGreen’s Field Operations Standards
  • Communicate effectively with MobilizeGreen staff, parents, agency partners, and co- leader during program
  • Participate fully in Crew Leader Orientation and any safety trainings.
  • Maintain positive relationship with agency partners.
  • Provide emotionally and physically safe environment for members.
  • Maintain a positive, professional relationship with co-leader.
  • Complete all necessary weekly and post-program paperwork, including an end of program debrief with MobilizeGreen Staff.

Qualifications:

  • Current First Aid/CPR Certification or ability to get prior to June 30th.
  • Youth/Young Adult Programming- Documented experience working with youth or young adults (ages 14-18) as a teacher, mentor, leader, counselor or coach.
  • Teaching / Leadership- Experience working in an informal or formal educational environment or equivalent. Demonstrated ability to organize and effectively teach lessons, motivate teenage and/or young adult students, provide and accept constructive feedback and communicate effectively.
  • Outdoor Education / Skills- Experience / familiarity with outdoor skills, including: hiking, safety awareness, Leave No Trace, etc.
  • Conservation Project Skills- Experience in service project management, service learning, conservation, or trail/conservation projects and hand tool use. May also include experience with carpentry, landscaping, gardening, etc.
  • a valid driver’s license with no major violations w/in past 3 years (preferred)
  • Must pass a criminal background check.
  • US Citizen or Legally able to work in US

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This is physically demanding work. The work conditions are challenging and require the ability to handle strenuous work conditions, such as steep terrain, as well as environmental conditions, including rain and extreme heat. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Crew Leaders will be expected to stand, walk, and carry gear for up to 8 hours per day while keeping morale up among members.

MobilizeGreen is an equal opportunity employer with a mission focused on diversity. Women, people of color, indigenous people, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, military veterans, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups are encouraged to apply.