Title: Bay Circuit Trail Projects Coordinator
Location: Based at AMC Boston HQ (10 City Square)
Supervision: AMC Bay Circuit Trail Volunteer Programs Supervisor
Job Dates: 4/19/20 – 9/27/20
Wages: $16.50/hour
Hiring Timeline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning in January. Final decisions sent out by the end of April.
Position Description
The Bay Circuit Trail (BCT) is a 230+ mile permanent recreation trail linking parks and open spaces in urban, suburban, and rural areas of Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Much of the BCT is co-aligned with existing trails through local trail networks. To a large degree, it is a multi-use trail allowing hiking, trail running, biking, horse-back riding, and cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The trail provides close-to-home recreation and connects a diverse range of public lands.
The BCT Projects Coordinator is a seasonal position responsible for working closely with Staff on trail projects, while also supporting and delivering trails Volunteer opportunities in eastern Massachusetts. The Projects Coordinator will conduct outreach to maintainers and landowners along the trail, with a goal of creating a database to determine who is maintaining portions of the Bay Circuit Trail. The Projects Coordinator will further help identify needs along the trail via email and in-person communication with landowners.
From April through October, the Projects Coordinator will be focused on identifying and assigning project work for summer AMC-BCT trail programs, which range from single-day events for teen and adult groups to week-long overnight and daytime teen trail crews. The position acts in a supervisory and field support capacity for two summer Crew Leaders.
This position will be largely field based, with 1-3 office days per week. Reliable personal transportation required for commuting to the program’s gear shed in Sudbury, MA and various projects sites across eastern MA, with work mileage reimbursed. The Projects Coordinator is responsible for securing and paying for their own housing and meals. While AMC may be able to assist in connecting the Projects Coordinator with contacts of local AMC/BCT members who are willing to provide a room/housing arrangement, housing is not guaranteed nor paid for by AMC
Duties and Responsibilities
- With direction from the program supervisor, begin to identify which groups are maintaining the Bay Circuit Trail. This process includes reaching out and/or meeting with regional coordinators, land trusts, local maintainers, and land managers via phone, email, and in person meetings
- Create a database of maintainers to be continually updated.
- With assistance from the Finance Department, begin to develop and draft Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for each trail maintaining organization.
- Communicate AMC’s mission, and provide information about the trail maintainer initiative.
- With direction from the Program Supervisor, identify and assign trail work projects for summer AMC staff-led volunteer programs. Projects Coordinator writes and provides field leaders with detailed project descriptions for each program.
Programs could include:
- Single-day teen or adult “custom crews”
- Weeklong overnight teen trail crews (offered for one week during the summer)
- 7 weeks of a paid youth crew, running multi-day non-residential teen trail crews from July-mid August
- Communicate with project partners, typically land managers and/or local volunteers, by phone, email and in-person site visits to discuss and finalize project details and logistics.
- Provide direction and field support for two summer staff Crew Leaders, the primary field staff for volunteer trail crews. Perform field visits and possible overnight observations of volunteer trail crews
- Assist in the planning and delivery of Crew Leader training in New Hampshire or Western MA.
- Oversee the maintenance and improvement of the AMC-BCT gear shed. Ongoing: inventory tools and camp gear; inform Program Supervisor of purchasing needs; with Crew Leaders ensure tools are clean or repaired/rehandled when damaged. As time allows: assist with improvements to shelving, work bench set-up, organization, etc.
- Maintain log of volunteer hours and accomplishments. Generate comprehensive season report on summer program totals
- Enforce established policies and guidelines to ensure the safe and responsible use of AMC vehicles, equipment, and facilities
As Needed
- Instruct Trails Volunteer Training workshops for trail adopters and local partner organizations
- Lead Leave No Trace programming through the AMC Trails Department
- Assist with the development of program policies, hiring seasonal staff, and employee scheduling
- Participate in SuccessLink Youth Employment trainings and meetings
Qualifications
- Must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license (driving record check will be performed)
- Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, customer service, and oral and written communication skills
- Willingness to work some weekends and have a flexible 40 hour/week schedule
- Experience working with or supervising volunteers
- Extensive trail work experience, including contemporary trail maintenance and construction methods and frontcountry recreation management
- Ability to critically evaluate trails for required work
- Experience with facility, equipment, and tool maintenance
- Ability to safely work, travel, and live in frontcountry camping
- Proficiency in the use of standard office equipment and computers with associated word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and database programs
- Familiarity with GIS preferred, but not required
- Physically able to travel safely on foot in all weather conditions on unimproved trails carrying up to 40 lbs. of gear.
Benefits:
- AMC Membership
- 30% Staff discount on AMC retail products
- 4 Free Nights at AMC Huts, Lodges and other facilities while employed
- Room and Board is available through canvas wall tents (approx. 12×12) and all food needs including days off at a rate of $45.00 per week (automatically deducted from pay).
- Access to various pro deals that help you purchase gear at deeply reduced rates
The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons, or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.
The AMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. The AMC encourages the involvement of all people in its mission and activities, through its membership, programs, policies, and procedures. Our goal is to be a community that is comfortable, inviting, and accessible for people of any age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Join us!
Questions and Additional Information:
Aaron North
Southern New England Regional Trails Supervisor
635 South Quarter Rd
Russell, MA 01071
1-617-523-0636 x6524