Youth Crew Lead Individual Placement- Shenandoah National Park Trust

Title:   Youth Crew Lead Individual Placement

Service Site: Based out of Charlottesville, VA; Shenandoah National Park Trust

Dates of Service: June 1st, 2026 – August 7 th , 2026 (10-week term)

Pay: $720/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $120 additional member benefit) 

Status:  This is a full-time, temporary AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Questions? Contact [email protected] 

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, . Applications will be accepted until March 31 st .

Appalachian Conservation Corps:

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.  

As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.  

Position Summary:

The Youth Crew Lead is integral to the success of the Trailblazers: Charlottesville to Shenandoah program. The Youth Crew Leader helps accomplish the goals of the program to complete trail building and conservation projects in Charlottesville and Shenandoah National Park. The Youth Crew Lead will lead a crew of 8-10 participants alongside an AmeriCorps co-leader. The youth participants will be 16-18 years old.

This position supports crew members’ development of personal and professional skills, works directly with program partners, and fosters conservation ethics amongst the crew. Crew locations will vary around the Charlottesville area and eventually lead to a 3 day/ 2-night camping retreat within Shenandoah National Park. Projects can include, but are not limited to, trail maintenance and new construction, vegetation management, invasives ratification, and basic carpentry. Projects are completed alongside local nonprofits, and the National Park Service. This position ultimately reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships at Shenandoah National Park Trust. Field work for this position will be managed in partnership between the Rivanna Trail Foundation (RTF) and the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC).

This position will be predominately working at field sites in and around Charlottesville, VA. The typical schedule will be Monday- Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. There will be a mandatory three day/ two night overnight camping trip to Shenandoah National Park from July 8 - July 10. Reliable transportation is required. Housing is NOT provided for this position. We are seeking candidates who reside in the surrounding area. 

The selected candidate will be able to participate in Crew Lead training with ACC in Mt. Crawford the first week of the term.

Essential roles and responsibilities include:

• Meet with the crew at the predetermined time set by the agency to discuss daily plans and assign tasks, starting service on time.

• Comply with all safety protocols during project work by ensuring crew members are using tools properly, wearing required PPE, and managing their personal health.

• Manage crew time and breaks throughout the day.

• Work with the project partners to plan work activities in advance of the workday.

• Plan daily project schedules to maximize productivity, safety, and crew efficiency, in consultation with Trailblazer partners.

• Actively participate in technical and personal skills training, strive to develop these skills in the field, and serve as a resource to Trailblazer participants.

• Coordinate and fully contribute to service projects to the best of their ability.

• Must serve safely, effectively, and efficiently to ensure that projects are completed to the satisfaction of project hosts.

• Foster a positive crew dynamic and help mediate conflict among crew members.

• Communicate effectively with crew members, program staff, and agency liaisons.

• Organize crew gear, tools, and work supplies throughout the season.

• Must complete and return all administrative forms and tasks promptly.

General Qualifications:

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 21 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. If you do not have a current First Aid/CPR certificate, you must be willing to complete certification prior to hiring. In addition, applicants must possess: 

1. A valid driver’s license.  

1. Experience leading a team or crew.

1. Strong leadership and supervisory skills to lead by example – on and off-duty.

1. Preferred experience in trail work and wilderness travel.

1. Ability to motivate and create an excellent team environment and work ethics.

1. Proven organization and time management skills.

1. Mature judgement to solve problems while supervising others with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

1. Management experience to assess tasks, develop work plans, delegate assignments, and monitor work

1. Demonstrated ability to complete administrative tasks in a timely manner.

1. Robust interpersonal communication skills.

1. Experience with safety protocols and precautions related to hand tool use and backcountry travel.

1. Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service.

Essential Service Functions :

1. Comfortable shoveling, digging, and swinging heavy tools repetitively

1. Heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds

1. Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain

1. Carrying a 40lb backpack up to 10 miles

1. Occasionally having to work in adverse weather

1. Working, eating, and camping outdoors in all weather conditions

Time Requirements:

1. This position is full-time, 40 hour/week.

1. Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday thru Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

1. Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Benefits :  

• $720/week paid biweekly ($600/week living stipend + $120/week additional member benefit)

• $1,565.08 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 300-hour minimum service term (award can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college) 

• Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff

• Member Assistance Program– 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist 

• Additional subject-specific certifications and trainings may be offered (Chainsaw training, pesticides, etc)

• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements 

• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths  

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Our Promise:

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.