Field Leader - Alabama Conservation Habitat Restoration Corps

Position Summary 

Service Position Title: Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) GulfCorps
Days and Hours of Service: Monday through Friday (8:00 AM – 4:30), Monday through Thursday (7:00-5:30),
Some nights and weekends may be required.
Start Date: August 17, 2026
End Date: February 20,2027

ALCC Contact: Sara Boccardo, Program Manager, 251-459-2328, sboccardo@thesca.org

Primary Service Site: Various parks, wildlife refuges, nature preserves, and other public spaces in Mobile and Baldwin County

Program Overview

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks an experienced, quality oriented, outdoor leader to supervise, educate and inspire up to 8 members of the Alabama Conservation Corps’ (ALCC) seasonal GulfCorps program.
Two Crew Leaders will guide and inspire a team of 8 young adults based out of Mobile, AL while serving to improve habitats along the Gulf Coast. The crew will start and begin each day at our office in Mobile and then travel to the project site for the day in SCA vehicles. Crew Leaders will oversee and lead projects such as invasive species management, habitat restoration, trail maintenance, fire break preparation, and boardwalk repair. Projects will take place outdoor spaces such as parks, nature preserves, wildlife refuges and other public lands. Monitoring and data collection will be ongoing while in the field, using ESRI Field Maps. Strong conservation work skills (power tool operation, chainsaw, and carpentry) and experience in leading teams and mentoring individuals are preferred for this position.
In addition to providing training in conservation wok skills, GulfCorps provides support to both crew members and crew leaders in the development of soft skills such as resume building, interviewing skills, and the development of actionable career goals. Professional development activities ranging from workshops, presentations, and independent assignments will be scheduled out each month with the goal of supporting placement post program. Participation in professional development is a requirement of the program for both Crew Leaders and Members. 
The ALCC’s Gulf Corps program was originally funded by the RESTORE Council in 2017 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and has been able continue into this season thanks to NOAA’s Transformational Communities Grant. SCA manages the AL crew in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, who manages the NOAA grant, and The Corps Network, which oversees the professional development component of the program. Projects will be carried out in partnership with federal, state, county, municipal and local nonprofit agencies along coastal Alabama.
Crew Leaders may also have the option to opt into Disaster Response Deployments. Deployments would last 4-5 weeks and include intensive work schedules (50-60 hrs/week) in unpredictable environments, under the guidance and supervision of SCA staff working with the disaster response agency assigned Incident Commander. Work can include but not be limited to evacuation shelter assistance, donation center management, volunteer management, clean-up efforts, "mucking and gutting" in private residences, debris removal, Saw and/or rigging work, public information outreach, plantings and other natural area restorations.

Trainings
Leader Training: August 17, 2026 – September 5, 2026;
Crew member Orientation (Sept 1 – 4, 2026);
GulfCorps Orientation overnight at Camp Beckwith (Sept 7-11, 2026);
Wilderness First Aid and CPR (Sept 14-16, 2026);
Wildland Firefighter and Chainsaw Certification overnight at Camp Beckwith (TBD);
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, herbicide and herbicide application equipment, power tools, carpentry tools, and chainsaws.

Hosting Organization

The Nature Conservancy - Gulf

Location 

Mobile, AL

Schedule 

August 17, 2026 - February 27, 2027

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Act as a Crew Leader and work closely with a co-leader to manage field based tasks, guide crew dynamics, and facilitate teamwork for a crew of young adults (18 )
• Function as a Technical Advisor and train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, and teach environmental stewardship
• 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
• Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by working to organize logistics, complete documentation, manage a budget, and communicate with SCA staff
• Respond to and manage incidents and crew conflicts in the field
• Establish group norms and a culture of safety – emotional and physical – throughout the season
• Oversee equipment cache and ensure proper handling, maintenance, and inventory

Marginal Duties 

• Help facilitate professional development opportunities for the team, such as resume building/reviewing;

Required Qualifications 

• Experience managing teams of young adults [18 ] in an outdoor setting
• Experience working independently and in a team setting to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Strong conservation work skills, specifically related to invasive plant management, chainsaw operation, trail maintenance, boardwalk construction, and carpentry
• Perform manual, physical labor for up to 8 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds or more
• Minimum of 21 years of age
• US Work Authorization

Preferred Qualifications 

• Strong project monitoring and data collection skills, specifically using GIS/GPS (Field Maps, and Survey123)
• Experience with youth mentorship and/or education programs

Leader Responsibilities

• Create an appropriate learning environment for members to learn new skills and develop healthy relationships.
• Facilitate group processes including group decision-making, hazard analyses, conflict management.
• Assess members' skill level, reliability, and judgment in order to adjust supervision level according to the progress of the crew.
• Respond appropriately and in line with SCA incident management protocols in times of high stress, such as when encountering large and/or potentially hazardous animals, severe weather, medical emergency, or other incident.
• Complete various administrative tasks including managing a budget, arranging accommodations, retaining receipts and reconciling purchases, communicating with agency contact, etc., as applicable to the position.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Living accommodations are not provided as part of this program.

Compensation  

• $950/week salary
• $1,000 Travel stipend

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Additional Benefits 

Certifications:

• Wilderness First Aid
• Wildland Chainsaw S212
• Wildland Fire S130 & S190

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.