The AmeriCorps Field Specialist provides training, education and leadership to corpsmembers, ensuring projects are done in an efficient, safe and consistent manner. The Specialist maintains equipment, conducts repairs, and assists with habitat restoration projects such as trail building, carpentry, wild land firefighting and prescribed burning.
Service Activities
The Specialist's main responsibilities are to promote teamwork and service-learning, ensuring corpsmembers achieve personal and program goals. Specialists provide educational, technical and safety training for district corpsmembers. Training may include chainsaw/brush saw safety and use, hand tool safety and use, equipment maintenance, defensive driving, trailer operation, ATV, and tree/plant identification. Safety is a priority. Specialists ensure corpsmembers are familiar with safety practices and precautions and develop emergency response plans for each project and conduct safety site inspections and shop safety audits.
Specialists help coordinate field crews and assist on technical projects as needed, ensuring projects are accomplished in an efficient, safe, and consistent manner. Projects may include trail building, carpentry, wildland firefighting and prescribed burning. Specialists also coordinate between project hosts and crews, making sure crews are aware of project goals and are prepared to complete each project. During time not spent with crews, specialists will maintain equipment, conduct repairs and perform inventory.
Community Need Addressed
The Conservation Corps addresses environmental challenges in our communities through the dedicated service of its members. Field Specialists train and supervise members in natural resource projects and give back to their communities while gaining a foundation of technical, professional and leadership skills for natural resource careers.
Position Outcomes
Specialists receive hands-on training leading, working on, and training others in habitat restoration projects. Specialists gain experience training in power and hand tool safety and use, First Aid and CPR, defensive driving, trailer safety and operation, leadership and communication, wild land fire fighting and prescribed burning, and other skills pertinent to region location and projects, such as GPS or ATV training. After a term with the Corps, members are well-equipped to be competitive candidates for a career in the natural resources.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
Skills you will gain
Leadership, professionalism, safety skills, environmental skills, decision-making skills, coordination skills, working with diverse members, problem-solving skills, conflict management.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment