www.appalachiantrail.org
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Seeking Two Coordinators for Conservation Leadership
Corps 2017: Employment Guide and Application
Our Mission:
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian
Trail—ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and
enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. ATC was founded in 1925 and is a private
nonprofit organization with more than 43,000 members. It is responsible to the federal
government for ensuring proper management of the 2,189-mile-long Appalachian National
Scenic Trail (known as the A.T.), most of which is located on public lands administered by the
National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or agencies of the 14 states through which it
passes. ATC assigns sections of the A.T. to 31 Trail-maintaining clubs and provides numerous
services to their volunteers, who work to build and maintain the Trail and its facilities. ATC’s
crew programs supplement the work done by those volunteers. More information about ATC
can be found at www.appalachiantrail.org.
ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
ATC encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and volunteers to
enable participation and contributions to their fullest potential. We are committed to being a
diverse and inclusive organization, and recognize that diversity contributes to an effective and
successful organizational culture and mission. The ATC prohibits discrimination in employment
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and/or
expression), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age,
membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, political
affiliation, union membership, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the
locations where we operate.
ATC’s Conservation Leadership Corps
The Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) is quite different than the rest of ATC’s seasonal
Trail crews, and other Conservation Corps across the U.S. CLC provides training for young
people (ages 18-25) interested in careers in conservation and looking to build the skills
necessary to begin working in the field. As such, to expose corps members to a variety of
professional opportunities in conservation, the work of the CLC includes a variety of projects
outside of the scope of traditional Trail crews. While the corps will spend 2-3 weeks doing trail
rehabilitation and maintenance, CLC members will also perform natural resource management
work, learn the basics of field ecology through citizen-science projects, become Leave No Trace
Master Educators, shadow ATC Ridgerunners, and more. CLC members are recruited through
a partnership with Groundwork USA. Read more about the CLC here.
The CLC is based primarily out of Gatlinburg, TN, and projects will be located in Tennessee,
North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and D.C. The CLC begins with training in mid-May and
operates through early August. We will hire one Lead Coordinator and one Field Coordinator for
CLC in 2017. The Lead Coordinator will work from mid-March to mid-August (20 weeks), while
the Field Coordinator will work from early May to early August (12 weeks).
To Apply: Submit a completed application form, a detailed resume, and a list of three
references to [email protected]. The application form begins on page 5 of this
document.
Deadline for applications for Lead Coordinator is December 15, 2016.
Deadline for applications for Field Coordinator is January 31, 2017.
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POSITION DESCRIPTION – CLC LEAD COORDINATOR
The CLC Lead Coordinator (LC) is the primary in-field coordinator and liaison while the CLC is
in season, and will also work for several weeks before and after the mid-May to late-July dates
required of the corps members. This means that the LC will have a wide variety of
responsibilities during their term of service. Beginning in mid-March, the LC will assist in
recruiting, interviewing, and hiring the corps members, as well as confirming program logistics.
Once corps members are hired, the LC will be the main liaison between corps members and the
ATC, helping them prepare for their term of service. The LC will be responsible for coordinating
meals and travel logistics (including driving the six-person crew to and from work sites) as well
as supervising the crew during their days off. The LC will be the main liaison connecting with
staff, partners, and instructors for each component of programming. The LC will foster positive
group dynamics to ensure a high level of corps functioning, and will coordinate regular
professional development opportunities for corps members. The LC will work with program
instructors to collect all data and work projects, and evaluate each program component. Finally,
after the crew season, the LC will work for several weeks compiling program evaluations and
writing a full report of the corps’ achievements and recommendations for the program.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Pre-season:
 Serve as the main point of contact for CLC applicants and assist Director of Education
and Outreach in candidate selection, interviewing, and hiring
 Work with Program Leads, including ATC staff as well as agency and non-profit
partners, to coordinate corps work schedule and travel logistics
 Communicate with CLC members and Groundwork staff after hiring to ensure
preparedness for the term of service
In-season:
 Plan menus for CLC meals on days off at base camp and in the field, and supervise and
conduct meal preparation while participants are at base camp
 Purchase food and supplies for CLC as cost effectively as possible
 Support Project Leads by assisting in arrangements for repairs and adjustments to
vehicles and tools and providing other assistance as requested
 Assist with program orientation for corps members and support positive group dynamics
throughout season
 Ensure that ATC policies and procedures are followed by all corps members
 Coordinate regular professional development opportunities, such as networking, skills
workshops, and team building
 Assist with program duties, record-keeping, and financial management, including
managing CLC credit card and staying within budget
 Work closely with the Soak Ash basecamp coordinator to ensure safe, clean, and
environmentally sound conditions at base camp and positive living and working
relationships with S.W.E.A.T. crew volunteers
 Assist participants in planning recreational activities on their days off
 Coordinate travel and drive corps members to and from base camp and work sites
Post-season:
 Communicate with Project Leads to evaluate program components and determine corps
successes and opportunities for growth
 Communicate with corps members and Groundwork staff to ensure positive transition
home
 Write season report and present program successes and lessons learned to Director of
Education and Outreach
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Required Skills
 A high-school diploma and an excellent driving record
 Excellent organizational, administrative, and education skills
 Proven ability to work without direct supervision, individually and as part of a team, with
a varying schedule
 Experience working as part of a close-knit group and managing group dynamics
 Excellent leadership and risk management skills
 Food preparation and menu-planning experience (or willingness to learn)
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience and proficiency in working
with diverse groups of people (especially youth ages 18-25), and a strong desire to
motivate and empower corps members
 Positive attitude and a desire to work hard and model a strong work ethic
 Ability to participate in outdoor activities and to travel on foot over rough terrain
Desired Skills
 Knowledge of the Appalachian Trail, ATC, and/or Groundwork USA
 Knowledge of and experience with trail maintenance
 Hospitality experience
 Current CPR and first-aid or Wilderness First Aid certification
 Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain and for long distances while carrying
equipment
 Experience with facility, equipment, and tool maintenance
 Experience working or recreating in the outdoors, particularly in the backcountry
Compensation: $800-$900 biweekly DOE, plus housing for the duration of employment. Meals
provided while crew is in session.
POSITION DESCRIPTION – CLC FIELD COORDINATOR
The CLC Field Coordinator will be responsible for leading the CLC while they are working in the
field, meaning that his or her days off will mirror those of the crew (when the Lead Coordinator
takes over supervisory responsibilities). The Field Coordinator will take part in all corps work
projects and model a positive work ethic and willingness to learn new skills. As the leader for the
corps members while at work sites, the Field Coordinator will monitor group dynamics to ensure
a high level of corps functioning and ensure that ATC policies and procedures are followed by
all corps members. Additionally, when the CLC joins with other crews for work projects, the
Field Coordinator will work closely with the Project Lead, which could be ATC staff as well as
agency and non-profit partners, to create safe, clean, and environmentally sound living and
work environments for CLC members and volunteers alike.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 Supervise CLC at work sites and support positive group dynamics throughout season
 Assist with program orientation for corps members and create and maintain a safe,
welcoming work environment
 Ensure that ATC policies and procedures are followed by all corps members
 Communicate with Project Lead at each work site to identify goals and desired work
outcomes and ensure that expectations are met by CLC members
 Work closely with Project Lead at each work site to ensure safe, clean, and
environmentally sound living and working conditions
 Assist CLC members with Leave No Trace camp craft skills (cooking, cleaning, etc.)
while at backcountry work sites and empower them to take on these responsibilities as
season progresses
 Model positive work ethic and willingness to learn and try new things for corps members
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Required Skills
 A high-school diploma
 Proven ability to work without direct supervision, individually and as part of a team, with
a varying schedule
 Excellent leadership and risk management skills
 Backcountry camping skills and a familiarity with Leave No Trace (preferred: experience
in teaching these skills to others)
 Experience working as part of a close-knit group and managing group dynamics
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience and proficiency in working
with diverse groups of people (especially youth ages 18-25), and a strong desire to
motivate and empower corps members
 Ability to participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities and to travel on foot over rough
terrain and for long distances while carrying equipment
 Positive attitude and a desire to work hard and model a strong work ethic
Desired Skills
 Knowledge of the Appalachian Trail, ATC, and/or Groundwork USA
 Experience with facility, equipment, and tool maintenance
 Knowledge of and experience with trail maintenance
 Current CPR and first-aid or Wilderness First Aid certification
 Leave No Trace Trainer or Master Educator
 Knowledge of and experience with CLC
Compensation: $650-$725 biweekly DOE, plus housing for the duration of employment. Meals
provided while crew is in session.
Application on Next Page!
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ATC Conservation Leadership Corps 2017
Application for Lead Coordinator and Field Coordinator
Applications for Lead Coordinator must be submitted by December 15, 2016
Applications for Field Coordinator must be submitted by January 31, 2017.
Please submit this completed application, along with a detailed resume and list of three
references, to [email protected].
Contact Information:
Name:
Mailing Address:
Email address:
Phone number:
These positions may require use of ATC vehicles. Do you have a valid driver’s
license?
Are you willing to submit to a Department of Motor Vehicles driving record
check? If no, please explain.
Do you have any relevant certifications (CPR, Wilderness First Aid, etc.)? If so,
please list certifying organization and expiration month and year.
How did you learn about employment with ATC’s Conservation Leadership
Corps?
Demographic Information – This section is optional.
Gender:
Race/Ethnicity:
Do you have a disability?
Are you a veteran?
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General Questionnaire – Please answer the following prompts. Use more space if
necessary.
1) Why do you want to work as part of ATC’s Conservation Leadership Corps?
2) Describe your experience working and/or living in a group setting, including any
leadership roles you’ve taken in such groups.
3) Describe your experience leading and engaging young adults (ages 18-25) and
people of diverse backgrounds.
4) Describe your experience working or recreating outdoors, including your experience
with minimum impact camping and travel in the backcountry.
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Additional Questions for Applicants for Lead Coordinator
5) The Lead Coordinator will spend significant time working with no supervision at a
basecamp in a small town. How will you handle this work environment?
6) Describe your experience with grocery shopping and cooking for a group.
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