[at-l] Florida Trail Assoc.: Trail Crews Coordinator position open

[Linda Patton]

----- Original Message -----
From: Kent Wimmer <kwimmer at fs.fed.us>
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2008 3:40 pm
Subject: [ft-l] FTA accepting Trail Crews Coordinator position
> 
> The Florida Trail Association is seeking to fill its Trail Crews 
> Coordinator position.  Please be informed that because of funding 
> limitations this position will be filled as a seasonal position for 
> the  upcoming spring.  This position offers full-time seasonal 
> (temporary) employment leading trail crews with employment 
> extending through April 10, 2009 (please see the revised position 
> description below).
>
> At the end of the Spring crew season, FTA will evaluate the 
> performance of the person hired as seasonal Trail Crews 
> Coordinator.  Depending on the availability of funding and 
> performance, consideration will be given to potential longer
>  term employment.
> 
> If you are interested in being considered in the position as 
> described,  please reply to me via email to this address 
>           Kent Wimmer <kwimmer at fs.fed.us>
> by Wednesday, December 31, 2008.  Please note that I 
> will be out of the office and will be checking e-mail as 
> circumstances allow.   Please resubmit a cover letter 
> stating interest and qualifications, resume, samples of work 
> (or website where your portfolio can be viewed) and the 
> names and contact information for three references.  Thank 
> you for your interest in the Florida Trail and the Florida Trail 
> Association.
> 
> Kent
> 
> Florida Trail Association Position Announcement
> Title:          Trail Crews Coordinator
> Location:    Florida Trail Association field office 
>                  headquarters, Tallahassee, FL
> Reports to: Trail Program Planner
> 
> Summary:  The person in this position coordinates the activities of 
> the trail crews for the Florida Trail Association.  This position 
> coordinates all aspects for multiple trail crews including, but not 
> limited to supervision, management, administration, planning, and 
> technical oversight of volunteer trail crew-related trail construction 
> and conservation projects.  The Trail Crews Coordinator utilizes both 
> office and field time to accomplish tasks with extensive travel for 
> long periods of time throughout the state of Florida.  Independent 
> backcountry travel is necessary at times.
> 
> Educational Requirements:  Bachelor's degree or comparable 
> experience in a similar position.
> 
> Qualifications:
> 1.      Minimum of one year experience in managing and supervising 
> youth corps and/or similar programs 
> 2.      Valid Wilderness First Responder Certification
> 3.      Valid driver's license
> 4.      Acceptable driving record
> 
> Responsibilities:  The Trail Crews Coordinator is a member of a 
> team of individuals linked in their shared commitment to the
>  vision of the Florida Trail Association and to the grassroots 
> volunteers who build and maintain the Florida Trail. 
> Specific areas of responsibility include:  
> 1.      Report regularly to the Trail Program Planner regarding 
> project regarding project planning, crew management and any 
> identified material, tool and equipment needs.
> 2.      Be willing and able to travel for long periods of time 
> throughout Florida.  Oversight of Trail Crews may require camping 
> in tents and living in either backcountry or front country settings, 
> and may require extensive backpacking or long distance hiking.  
Personal camping gear is required to supplement provided gear.
> 3.      Assist in the administrative aspects of the trail crew 
> program such as creating and managing annual budgets, 
> submitting weekly expense reports and work summaries, etc.
> 4.      Work closely with Florida Trail land managers and partners 
> such as the US Forest Service, Water Management Districts, 
> State Parks, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and 
> other public and private landowners on the trail in gathering project 
> site logistics and  design approval.
> 5.      Plan, facilitate and manage trail construction, maintenance, 
> and conservation projects on the trail which may last up to 10 days.
> 6.      Manage the Trail Crew Program and the trail crews in the 
> field so that they are effective and safe including being on-call during 
> the duration of their projects.
> 7.      Provide technical support and construction expertise in the 
> project design and construction process. 
> 8.      Assist in the planning and implementation of staff and 
> volunteer training, to include the safety program.
> 9.      Grow and manage the F-Troop (the FT trail crew program) so 
> that projects can be both volunteer and staff run.
> 10.     Establish and maintain active program relationships with 
> organizations including, but not limited to, the Student Conservation 
> Association, the Americorps NCCC, Breakaway Alternative Spring 
> Break Crews, other youth corps and service based organizations.
> 11.     Perform pre-construction season site visits and post- 
> construction evaluations for each project as possible.
> 12.     Be responsible for the maintenance, care and inventory of 
> the FTA cache of tools and equipment such as hand tools, 
> chainsaws, mowers, etc. 
> 13.     Perform other duties as assigned.
> 
> Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
> 
> 1.      Demonstrated skills in organizing, leading and managing 
> large groups of volunteers with varying level of experience in an 
> effective and safe manner during construction projects.
> 2.      Demonstrated experience in technical trail building 
> including reading, interpreting and contributing to technical 
> design plans
> 3.      Demonstrated ability to work with and train diverse 
> volunteers and to communicate clearly and effectively in writing 
> and orally.
> 4.      Demonstrated experience in exercising sound judgment and 
> making decisions.
> 5.      Demonstrated ability to work independently to complete 
> projects with attention to detail.
> 6.      Demonstrated experience as a hiker and backpacker, to such 
> a degree that you can not only care for yourself in the back country 
> setting but also monitor and facilitate a safe and fun backcountry 
> experience for potentially inexperienced volunteers.
> 7.      Ability to perform physical labor and/or cardiovascular 
> activity for sustained periods of time including the ability to carry a 
> backpack, supplies, hand tools and equipment for extended periods 
> of time for long distances. 
> 8.      Knowledge of 'Leave No Trace' principles.
> 
> Salary:
> 
> This position offers full-time seasonal (temporary) employment 
> leading trail crews with employment extending through April 10, 2009.  
> The FTA  will compensate the successful candidate up to $575 as 
> weekly salary depending upon their qualifications.  An important 
> consideration in the hiring of this position is  the candidate's availability 
> to begin employment as soon as possible in January 2009.  This 
> position does not offer health insurance or accrued leave, but will offer 
> workers' compensation should you be injured on the job.   The FTA will 
> issue the Coordinator a credit card for associated work-related travel 
> expenses, and we work with the person to identify suitable housing 
> when they are not leading trail crews in the field. 
> 
> At the end of the Spring crew season, FTA will evaluate the performance 
> of the person hired as seasonal Trail Crews Coordinator.  Depending on 
> the availability of funding and performance of the Coordinator, FTA 
> will consider hiring the successful candidate as a regular, full-time 
> employee with accompanying benefits. 
> 
> The Florida Trail Association is the not-for-profit organization of 
> volunteers for and supporters of the Florida Trail, a National 
> Scenic Trail stretching 1,400 miles through the state of Florida, and the 
> Florida Trail System, encompassing 1,800 miles of hiking in Florida built 
> and maintained by our volunteers. The Florida Trail Association, in 
> partnership with the USDA Forest Service, builds and maintains the 
> trail, provides public information about the trail, and encourages 
> volunteer involvement in the trail to ensure it will continue to be Florida's 
> premiere hiking resource for generations to come.
> 
> To Apply:       Please send a cover letter stating interest and 
> qualifications, resume, samples of work (or website where your 
> portfolio can be viewed) and the names and contact information for three 
> references 
> to:
> 
> Kent L. Wimmer, AICP
> Florida National Scenic Trail Liaison
> Florida Trail Association
> 325 John Knox Road, F-100
> Tallahassee, FL 32303-4160
>
> (850) 523-8576 (w)
> (850) 523-8578 (fax)
> (850) 528-5261 (cell)
>
> Electronic application preferred.  Submit to: kwimmer at fs.fed.us
> 
> Applications period:  Applications accepted through December 31, 
> 2008.