Year-Round Crew Leader

Conservation: Year-Round Crew Leader
Location: Richmond, Vermont

Dates: May 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027

Weekly compensation: $805

Age requirement: 21

Who We Are

VYCC is a mission-driven organization where we strive to take action and build

community by working and learning together with the land. VYCC’s Conservation

Program engages young people in hands-on projects that benefit Vermont’s

environment and communities. Conservation Crew Leaders are essential to the success

of any Conservation Crew and their efforts have a significant impact on habitat, water

quality, and outdoor recreation in Vermont.

With a 40-year history in the state, VYCC crews have completed thousands of

conservation projects. Corps Members work and learn together in a collaborative crew

environment where they gain skills, build community and have a positive impact on the

land. Projects range from trail building to infrastructure improvement at State Parks,

sustainable forestry to invasive plant management, and more. In every case, Corps

Members receive paid training and support from VYCC staff. The experience is

immersive and physically demanding. With that challenge also comes tremendous

personal reward. For young people passionate about the outdoors, joining VYCC is a

great opportunity to steward the environment while also developing valuable

leadership skills.

Who We’re Looking For

A successful Year-Round Crew Leader strives to support crews and faces challenges
with resilience. We look for individuals who will demonstrate their passion for
conservation and participant skill development through a commitment to VYCC’s
mission. They will bring experience or interest in teaching, mentoring, and group
facilitation.

The Crew Leader role is an opportunity to advance leadership and technical skills in a
professional environment. Year-Round Crew Leaders have the unique opportunity to
do this work full-time all year round, adding new skill-building capacity during the
winter months. Skills developed in the first year are built upon in the following

year. Ideal candidates are dedicated to professional growth and can commit to 20
months of training and field work.

What You Can Expect
The work plan for this position includes field projects from May through November.
During the winter “off season,” Year-Round Crew Leaders will engage in continued
field project work and program support tasks including logistics, recruitment, and
administration.

In the spring, Year-Round Crew Leaders work together as a Peer Crew. They receive
paid training in leadership and technical skills and complete several spring field
projects. In the summer, the Peer Crew disbands and Year-Round Crew Leaders
transition to leading crews of young adult Crew Members. These crews run through the
summer and fall seasons.

Crews operate in both day-based and camping models with the majority of projects
requiring camping from mid-April to mid-November. Staff-led training occurs
throughout the year in preparation for fieldwork.

During the field season, Crew Leaders work with their crews to complete trail, water
quality, carpentry, and/or forest health projects. Each week starts at VYCC Campus in
Richmond, VT. Leaders arrive early on Monday morning to prepare for the week ahead
with their crew. Crews meet on campus at 7:30AM and drive to their project site.
Leaders are required to camp in the field with their crew throughout the week. Crews
come back to headquarters every Friday to unpack, clean gear, and have the weekends
off. Project schedules vary, and Crew Leaders might operate on several different
schedules throughout the field season

Throughout the week, Leaders must ensure camp life runs smoothly and that projects
are completed on time and to a high standard of quality. Other responsibilities include
making sure the crew collaborates on camp chores and completing administrative tasks
(e.g. submitting weekly project reports). Leaders work and live with their crew the
whole time. This results in an average of 45-55 hours per week. Completing scheduled
tasks may take longer than 50 hours, depending on the Leaders’ level of organization
and/or the crew’s efficiency and needs. Intensive field time is followed by scheduled
break time (time not counted towards annual personal leave) to help create a
sustainable schedule.

During the winter months (January – March), Year-Round Crew Leaders have the
opportunity for skill development in logistical support, vehicle fleet management,
recruitment and hiring, and technical skills. Year-Round Crew Leaders help support

Conservation Team debrief and planning sessions after the field season concludes.
Leaders complete winter projects (e.g. forestry management) as a Peer Crew.

Year 1 Year 2

May - November - March - May - November -
January - March

October December May October December

Summer
Summer Season close-out Spring peer training – Season close-

Individualized winter tracks
leader training tasks projects help out tasks

facilitate

Complete
Lead

spring peer
Winter projects, supporting summer

Lead summer projects,
Peer recruitment/hiring, planning and fall Transition to

and fall young mentor
projects/project for trainings, and other tasks young next steps with

adult camping new
wrap-up to promote skill building and adult VYCC support

crews YRCLs and
learning opportunities camping

new
crews

leaders

Stipend
Base stipend Stipend increase

increase

VYCC crews may be called upon by the state of Vermont to respond in the event of a
natural disaster. Disaster relief work is opt-in. If you are interested in serving on a
disaster relief crew, inquire about this option during your interview.

What We’ll Expect from You

Supervision, Culture, Leadership

• Follow and uphold VYCC Principles, Practices, and Policies
• Create an inclusive crew culture that prioritizes physical and emotional safety

• Supervise Crew Members: conduct check-ins and feedback meetings that help

• Instruct and support Crew Members on topics including proper tool use and

• Engage with VYCC staff on setting personal goals and charting personal and

• Effectively work with your co-leader to balance tasks and responsibilities

• Play a lead role in risk assessment and safety management in the field

• Help provide emergency response and communication during emergencies

• Complete administrative and reporting tasks

• Manage field logistics (vehicle maintenance checks, tool maintenance, camp set-

Project Management

• Facilitate daily framing and debrief sessions with your crew

• Manage project sites efficiently with high quality while prioritizing safety and

• Effectively communicate with VYCC staff and project partner to ensure

Winter Months (December – February)

• Logistical support (gear and tool maintenance)

• Vehicle fleet management (routine vehicle and trailer maintenance)

• Recruitment and hiring support

• Professional technical skill development

• Supporting program season debriefs and planning sessions

• Winter project work (typically forest management projects) with VYCC and

Required Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age

• Prior experience in project areas (trails, carpentry, forestry, water quality),

• Ability to perform strenuous physical work safely in all weather conditions (heat,

• Ability to hike in steep or uneven terrain, lift and carry heavy tools, gear or

• Valid driver’s license with good driving record for at least 3 years

• Offsite housing, VYCC can help connect applicants with housing options

• Excellent time management, organizational, and communication skills

• Experience in risk assessment and being responsible for the health and safety of

• Experience in providing and receiving feedback, and creating a culture of

• Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certification (VYCC provides a WFA course pre-

• Willingness to undergo a criminal background check

• Ability to camp with crew for most of the field season

• Ability to work some evenings and weekends

• Desire and motivation to build a career in conservation

Compensation & Benefits

• Weekly stipend: $805 

Compensation increases are structured into this position based on
performance and achievement of specific milestones (refer to the calendar
in the “What You Can Expect” section for more details)

• Reimbursement for health insurance

• Compensated time off (personal leave) and sick time with supervisor approval 

During peak field season there are blackout dates where we cannot
accommodate time away from field responsibilities

• On-going professional development with potential certifications in Game of

• Potential to earn up to 12 free college credits

• Annual gift card to the VYCC farmstand (organic produce and eggs) – open

seasonally (usually May – October)

Equal Opportunity at VYCC
Are you concerned that you don’t meet all the requirements of this position? Please
apply anyway. VYCC is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and
accessible work environment that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited
about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with everything in this job
description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate
for this role or another one of our openings!