Careers
Crew Lead – Invasive Plant Management Team – National Capital Region Office
Description of Duties
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 [email protected])
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.
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