Indigenous Partnerships Programming Field Specialist

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa (CCMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee that engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in programs and initiatives that improve access to outdoor recreation, restore natural habitat, protect waterways, and respond to community needs and natural disasters. Our mission is to cultivate a community of emerging leaders in service to people and the planet. Learn more at conservationcorps.org.

Position Summary: The Indigenous Partnerships Programming (IPP) Field Specialist provides training, education, coordination, and leadership to crew members within Indigenous Partnerships programs. The Field Specialist will help fellow AmeriCorps members achieve personal and program success through the principles of teamwork and service-learning. The Field Specialist must be responsive to instructions and feedback delivered by IPP Staff and project hosts from Tribal resource management programs and land management agencies such as the DNR, USFWS, NPS, SWCDs, cities and counties. In addition to providing support and training to members and participants, the Field Specialist will help support a variety of natural resources projects. Natural resources projects vary but may include:

• Invasive species management
• Prescribed burn prep
• Trail construction & maintenance
• Tree planting
• Wildlife Monitoring
• Community Gardening
• Habitat Restoration
• Emergency response
• Fence maintenance and repair
• Basic carpentry
• Wildland Fire

Projects are physically challenging and team-oriented and may occur throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, including urban and more rural settings.

Primary responsibilities include fostering AmeriCorps member development and connection to culture and the land, through experiential learning, providing technical skills training, monitoring field safety, and conducting equipment maintenance. In addition, the Field Specialist helps coordinate logistics, tools and equipment for IPP AmeriCorps members' natural resources projects, shuttles vehicles and/or equipment as needed, and serves alongside AmeriCorps members on more technical field projects.

Role Clarification:

This is an AmeriCorps member level position, NOT a staff member. While serving in this AmeriCorps position, members need to abide by the below restrictions:

• Members may NOT sign/approve official documents such as AmeriCorps paperwork, other member‘s timecards, performance evaluations, disciplinary contracts, project contracts or any similar documents.
• Members may NOT be directly involved in project acquisition or contracting.
• Members may NOT discipline other AmeriCorps members. While they may provide guidance, facilitate crew meetings, motivate, reward and uphold safety policies on the service site, all policy violations and disciplinary action must be directed to and handled by Corps staff.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate service projects and assist with project management, including training, site safety visits, assisting crews with technical projects, filling in for short-handed crews, shuttling equipment and coaching Crew Leaders. Partner with project hosts and Crew Leaders to determine schedules, daily plans, tasks, tools and responsibilities, so projects are accomplished in an efficient, culturally grounded, safe, and consistent manner.
• Provide or coordinate training: including interpersonal and technical skills training, project-specific trainings, and crew operation trainings
• Provide and/or coordinate crew operation training such as team building, effective communication, and conflict resolution
• Conduct on-the-job training demonstrations for all crews starting new projects or using specialized tools.
• Complete natural resources service projects in cooperation with fellow members safely, effectively and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host
• Abide by Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents.
• Commitment to upholding the Corps mission
• Support member development to ensure that members achieve personal and program success through the principles of teamwork and service-learning., as well as connection to the land, culture, and community
• Commit to completing the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
• Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely manner.
• Maintain and track equipment and assure proper maintenance of Corps fleets and equipment, including maintaining logs and records.
• Engagement with Indigenous communities through attending community and recruitment events.

Hours & Schedule

Schedule is 40 hours/week and a typical day and/or week will depend on location of crew. Most weeks will be Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM but there's likely to be a few weeks of Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. Each day includes a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (4 – 5 consecutive days) is sometimes required for service projects. Some special assignments (including wildfire response and other emergency response assignments) and community events may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time or commit to an occasional Saturday or Friday.

Training & Development

The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year. Additional training may be included throughout the service term depending on project need, length of term and other factors. Examples of potential trainings include:

• AmeriCorps benefits
• Team building and conflict resolution