Crew Lead - Invasive Plant Management Team - National Capital Region Office

Title: Invasive Plant Management Field Crew Leader 

Location: Washington, D.C. 

Dates: January 13th, 2025– December 19th, 2025 (49 weeks) 

Positions Available: 2 Positions 

Pay: $800/week ($600/living stipend + $200/additional benefit) 

Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 630 am to 5pm, 10 hours/day 

Status: This is a full-time, temporary 1700-hour AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Contact: Questions? Email ACCRecruiting@conservationlegacy.org) 

Application will stay open until 11/1. Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application. 

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.  

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides 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 Details:

The National Capital Region Invasive Plant Management Team (NCR IPMT) is seeking an experienced Crew Leader to assist with leading field crews. The NCR IPMT is based in Washington, D.C., and works directly with all National Park Service units located in the National Capital Region. This team focuses on control of invasive plant species using mechanical and chemical control methods which include but are not limited to herbicide application via backpack sprayers and gas operated tank sprayers, chainsaws, brush cutters, hand saws, pruners, and loppers. The IPMT Field Crew Leader will provide direct day to day supervision of the field crew following an already set schedule of projects in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The work schedule is generally 4 days a week for 10 hours/day, from 6:30 am-5 pm. 

Successful candidates will have experience leading a small team in the field, have knowledge of invasive plants in the Mid-Atlantic region, and will have or have previously held a Pesticide Technician or Pesticide Applicator License. They will also demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to a crew experience where the needs of others are placed above oneself. The Field Crew Leader position requires mentorship, patience, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. 

While this position is primarily field-based there may be some office-based responsibilities involving the use of GIS and paper and electronic files to conduct invasive plant ranking, evaluate tools for mobile data collection, collect data and/or perform data analysis, contribute to the development of reports, and assist in the development of communication materials.  

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Assisting with control of non-native invasive plant species found in the NCR parks 

Leading small field crews of 1-5 people 

Assisting with management of day-to-day activities of the team 

Providing technical support in the field 

Communicating emerging issues with the IPMT leadership staff 

Assisting with identification of non-native invasive plant species 

Assisting with maintenance of field equipment 

Housing is NOT provided for this position. We are seeking candidates who are current residents of Washington, D.C. or surrounding metro area. 

Benefits:  

$800/week ($600/living stipend + $200/additional benefit) 

• Option to enroll in health, vision and dental insurance 

$120 reimbursement for work boots with receipt, $100 for local ID guides 

$6,895.00 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 hour service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)  

Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions. 

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  

Preferred Qualifications: 

Resident of Washington, D.C. or surrounding metro area 

Two or four year college degree in a biology-related subject area  

Familiarity with local plant identification 

Valid First Aid/CPR/AED certification 

Demonstrated experience in a field environment 

GIS experience or coursework 

Previously held Pesticide Technician or Pesticide Applicator License 

Experience managing non-native invasive plants in the Mid-Atlantic Region 

Experience leading small field crews 

General Qualifications: 

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, 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. 

Possess a valid driver’s license. 

Physically capable of strenuous field activities (hiking, monitoring, survey, testing, etc) for 10 hours in adverse conditions (high heat, high humidity, biting insects, rough terrain, inclement weather) 

Comfortable working in a field and office environment 

How to Apply: 

In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/open-positions. 

Our Promise: 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.