LOST TRAILS FOUND CREW MEMBER 2024

Compensation: $20.00/hour, full-time, non-exempt
Priority Application Deadline: Open until filled
Program Dates: May 6, 2024 – October 26, 2024

Position Description

Position summary
Washington Trails Association is seeking Lost Trails Found Crew Members who love working with people and share our commitment to trail stewardship and building inclusive crew dynamics. The Crew Member works outdoors helping the Lost Trails Found Crew Leader, Assistant Crew Leader and other Crew Members in building and maintaining trails on public lands.

The Lost Trails Found (LTF) crew will work in backcountry locations on National Forests throughout Washington State. This crew focuses on a broad variety of backcountry projects restoring lost trails while primarily working a seven day hitch schedule. The LTF Crew will be predominantly self supported, and each member is required to carry their tools, food and camp supplies into remote settings.

The ideal candidates will love working outdoors with others in all weather, have prior experience camping and doing trail work, and share our belief that everyone should feel safe and included in the outdoors community. The Crew Members will complete work specified by local land agencies and defined by the Lost Trails Found Crew Leader while in the field. Crew Members will positively contribute to a backcountry crew community and are an integral part of completing these trail projects.

Over the course of the season, the six person Lost Trails Found Crew, (two leaders, and 4 Crew Members) will complete backcountry trail maintenance projects in remote settings. The ideal candidates will be self motivated and have experience in multi-day backcountry projects in the field. The Crew Member is a temporary, field-based position that reports to the Lost Trails Found Crew Leader.

Primary Responsibilities
Supporting trail work projects

• Contribute to a positive and affirming work environment for other crew members while in backcountry settings
• Complete projects as defined by the LTF Crew Leader that may include annual maintenance, new trail construction, logout, installing drainage structures, and construction of steps, turnpike, puncheon and retaining walls
• Help LTF Crew Leader and Assistant Leader effectively manage emergency situations following WTA’s emergency response protocols
• Positively represent WTA mission, programs, and membership in all interactions with volunteers, trail users, and others
• Follow safety protocols as defined by LTF Leaders during remote work hitches
• Report all incidents affecting the safety, health, and well-being of crew to LTF Crew Leader

Supporting camp and crew members

• Help foster and support a culture of feedback and provide regular and effective feedback to peers
• Create and contribute to an inclusive and safe space for all crew members while on trail and at camp
• Practice Leave No Trace principles and WTA camp risk management procedures

Experience, Skills, Knowledge, and Values
Competitive candidates will highlight the following in their application, or express willingness to learn:

• Two or more seasons of experience with trail crews or conservation corps
• One or more seasons with experience building or maintaining hiking trails, building rock retaining walls, and other projects related to annual trail maintenance
• Demonstrated ability to create a group/community space where every member (people of diverse races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and economic backgrounds) feels included and valued
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions and follow minimum impact guidelines; some projects may include hiking up to 10 miles daily in a variety of terrain including river crossings and climbing over downed trees
• Demonstrated commitment to WTA’s mission and values on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Experience camping in backcountry settings and spending extended periods in the backcountry
• Demonstrated ability to accept and integrate feedback graciously, and give effective feedback to peers
• Ability to learn WTA’s emergency response protocols and effectively manage emergency situations
• Ability to work 10-hour days in remote settings
• Chainsaw or Crosscut saw experience (crosscut bucking preferred)
• Valid driver’s license required
• Availability through October 2024

Schedule
The Lost Trails Found Crew Member is a temporary position starting May 6, 2024. The expected schedule is four days on/three days off, at the beginning of the season, with a transition to seven days on and seven days off hitch schedule in mid June. Schedule will include predominantly remote backcountry locations with the crew hiking into their designated project site for the duration of the hitch. Projected schedule is 10-hour days throughout the duration of the season. A typical work week is 40 hours with a weeklong, unpaid summer break in early August.

Compensation
Compensation for this position is $20.00/hour. A supplementary per diem rate of $50/day is provided for
multi-day backcountry trips. WTA provides a hard hat, work gloves and safety glasses. WTA does not provide boots, clothing or other personal outdoor and backpacking gear required for fieldwork, but does provide a $200 reimbursement annually to offset wear and tear on personal gear. Position is eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, health stipend and an employer match retirement plan. A WTA vehicle will be provided for transportation to work parties. Reimbursement for up to 250 miles per round trip will be provided for staff members who use a personal vehicle to fulfill program needs, unless commuting to/from base of operations. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
WTA is committed to advancing equity and continually working to become a more inclusive organization. We believe WTA, and Washington’s hiking community, is made better by people with varied backgrounds, identities, abilities and lived experience. People of color and others with identities that are underrepresented in the outdoor industry (including but not limited to: gender identity, class, socioeconomic status, conviction history, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background) are strongly encouraged to apply.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at WTA will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. WTA does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, caste, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

To apply:

Click on or copy the following URL link to our application form to apply for this position:
https://forms.gle/BkQtzHnf3R8TqtWTA and email your resume to seasonaljobs@wta.org. The position is open until filled.

If you have any questions, please contact seasonaljobs@wta.org. View other available jobs at
www.wta.org/careers. We look forward to hearing from you!

TRAIL CREW LEADER – ADULT VOLUNTEER VACATIONS 2024

Compensation: $22.00-$23.00/hour, full-time, non-exempt
Priority Application Date: January 5, 2024
Season Dates: April 2024 – September 2024

Position Description

Position summary
Washington Trails Association is seeking a Trail Crew Leader who loves working with adults and shares our belief that everyone should feel included in the hiking community. The Trail Crew Leader works outdoors leading adult volunteers on 7-day Adult Volunteer Vacations, where crews will build and maintain trails on public lands while camping in various frontcountry and backcountry locations across Washington. This is a temporary, full-time, field-based position based in North Bend, WA and reports to the Multi-Day Trips Program Coordinator.

Primary Responsibilities
Leading volunteer work parties (80%)

• Establish a safe, fun and inclusive working environment for a crew of adult volunteers of diverse
  backgrounds
• Ensure physical and emotional safety for a volunteer crew of diverse ages and backgrounds
• Support, motivate, and train volunteers to complete a variety of trail projects. Projects may include annual maintenance, removing logs, tread construction, drainage structures, and constructions of steps, turnpike, puncheon and retaining walls
• Manage camp, including: set-up, breakdown, food preparation and food allergy management
• Effectively manage emergency situations following WTA’s emergency response protocols
• Positively represent WTA mission, programs and membership in all interactions with volunteers, trail users and others

Preparing for work parties (10%)

• Participate in pre-trip briefing and debrief meeting before/after each trip
• Communicate directly with adult volunteers via email and phone prior to trips
• Coordinate work party projects and plans with senior WTA staff and land manager
• Arrive at each work party with tools, camp supplies and work plan

Documenting work parties (10%)

• Ensure morning safety review is delivered to volunteers and documented
• Maintain and submit Sign-in and Liability Release for volunteers in a timely manner
• Prepare and submit summary report and thank you email to volunteers for each work party in a timely manner
• Report all incidents affecting the safety, health, and well-being of volunteers
• Using a WTA cell-phone, provide digital photo documentation of project progress and volunteer
  engagement

Experience, Skills, Knowledge, and Values
Competitive candidates will highlight the following in their application, or express willingness to learn:

• Demonstrated commitment to WTA’s mission and values on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Demonstrated ability to create a crew community where every member feels included and valued
• Demonstrated skills in trail maintenance and building
• Ability to effectively manage emergency situations
• Ability to accept and integrate feedback graciously, and give effective feedback to team members
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment, including hiking and backpacking up to 6-8 miles daily in a variety of terrain, and follow minimum impact guidelines
• A deep understanding of the experiences and community issues affecting those marginalized in mainstream outdoor opportunities, such as Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BIPOC) and/or LGBTQ+ communities
• WFA and CPR certification minimum requirement valid through the duration of employment; WFR
  certification preferred
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a truck on highways and dirt roads
• Ability to work weekends and 13-hour days in remote settings
• Reliable internet access (library and other public access is fine) for work party planning and documentation
• Demonstrated experience leading a team in an outdoor setting

Schedule
The Trail Crew Leader is a temporary position starting April 8, 2024 and continuing through September 2024. The expected schedule for leading each Adult Volunteer Vacation trip is 7 days of trip leading, followed by 6 days off between trips, during which time the crew leader is expected to complete approximately 8 hours of trip preparation activities. A typical work week will not exceed 40 hours. Mandatory paid training will be in April 2024 in or near Seattle, WA, with additional paid training dates to be determined based on schedule and availability. There is an weeklong, unpaid summer break August 5-12.

Compensation
The hourly rate for this position is $22.00 – $23.00 per hour depending on experience, for training, day trip crew leading, administrative and scouting assignments. WTA provides a cell phone, hard hat, work gloves and safety glasses. WTA does not provide boots, clothing or other personal outdoor and backpacking gear required for fieldwork, but does provide a $200 reimbursement to offset wear and tear on personal gear. Position is eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, health stipend and an employer match retirement plan. For more information on benefits, please visit our website at www.wta.org/jobs.

A WTA vehicle will be provided for transportation to work parties. Reimbursement for up to 250 miles per trip will be provided for staff members who use a personal vehicle to fulfill program needs, unless commuting to/from base of operations in North Bend, WA.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
WTA is committed to advancing equity and continually working to become a more inclusive organization. We believe WTA, and Washington’s hiking community, is made better by people with varied backgrounds, identities, abilities and lived experience. People of color and others with identities that are underrepresented in the outdoor industry (including but not limited to: gender identity, class, socioeconomic status, conviction history, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background) are strongly encouraged to apply.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at WTA will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. WTA does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, caste, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability.

How to Apply

Click on or copy the following URL link to our application form to apply for this position:
https://forms.gle/WsAY89EnFKLkPY138 and email your resume to seasonaljobs@wta.org. The position is open until filled, with priority given to applications received by January 5th. Interviews will take place mid January.

If you have any questions, please contact seasonaljobs@wta.org. View other available jobs at www.wta.org/careers. We look forward to hearing from you!