CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a crisis response organization that brings immediate aid and recovery to underserved communities across the globe. Our mission is simple: save lives and strengthen communities impacted by or vulnerable to crisis. Wherever the crisis is and whenever people are in need, we are there. CORE’s ability to impact communities is directly emboldened by each member of our staff and leadership.
We are seeking candidates to hire during the start of emergency operations to provide chainsaw and hazardous tree removal leadership. We are looking for a dedicated Chainsaw Lead for limited term stints to join our Emergency Response Deployment team. This role involves conducting community assessments, operating a chainsaw for the removal of hazardous trees while adhering to all safety guidelines, and leading teams of volunteers and staff to support. The position demands flexibility and adaptability to meet the diverse needs of response operations.
Roster work is available on an as-needed basis (it is not full-time or continuous).
Emergency Roster work is available on an as-needed basis and is not full-time or continuous. Roster members may be called upon to deploy based on the specific needs arising from emergency situations, with the understanding that deployment opportunities and lengths may vary. Candidates should be prepared for rapid deployment, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to serve in various locations across the country as required.
Responsibilities
- Field Work
- Lead teams of staff and volunteers in urban felling and chainsaw operations.
- Offer skilled troubleshooting and technical advice on worksites.
- Teach unskilled volunteers disaster chainsaw operations such as cutting in an urban environment, routine chainsaw maintenance, rope work, site typing and assessing chainsaw sites.
- Ensure compliance with work scope and quality standards.
- With the deployment team, conduct community assessments to identify chainsaw needs and develop appropriate scope strategies.
- Deploy to disaster sites as part of the Emergency Response team.
- With the Response team, coordinate and oversee chainsaw operations, ensuring effective on-ground operations.
- Connect with impacted individuals to provide services and collaborate with community groups to identify and address unmet needs.
- Maintain records of work completed including tracking material usage, volunteer hours, and work performed.
- Maintain regular contact with site leads and administrative personnel regarding humanitarian operations.
- Communicate tasks and expectations clearly to team members to ensure compliance with project safety and quality standards.
- Document, record, and report any incidents or near misses.
- Conduct training sessions for volunteers and staff to ensure they are well-prepared to support chainsaw operations, with an emphasis on the importance of PPE, as needed
Community Assessments and Project Implementation:
Deployment and Coordination:
Administrative and Communication Support:
Training and Development:
Scope and Travel
- Travel to U.S based emergencies as needed
- Called upon in with short notice for deployments of 2-10 weeks as needed.
Qualifications
- Minimum of one year experience in chainsaw operations (forestry or urban).
- S-212 certification, red-card, or proof of being a Type 2 or B
- Sawyer or an equivalent qualification demonstrating safe chainsaw operation (e.g., completion of comparable training, field experience under supervision, or verified mentorship).
- Advanced first aid training is a plus.
Experience
- Experience in leading teams of volunteers in emergency operation environments.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage diverse teams in high-pressure environments.
- Excellent communication and coordination abilities, with experience working across multiple departments and teams.
- Flexibility to deploy to various locations in response to disasters and humanitarian crises.
- A commitment to CORE's mission and values, with a passion for making a difference in the lives of those affected by disasters.
Skills & Competencies
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Applications
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong project management, leadership and organizational skills
- Flexible and adaptive to a frequently changing environment
- Ability to conduct community assessments and implement response projects.
- Competence in administrative tasks, report writing, and communications.
- Valid Driver’s License and clean driving history
- Available at least for 2 weeks at a time
- Fluent in Spanish or other secondary language preferred
- Understanding and appreciating diverse cultural backgrounds and sensitivities, ensuring that all interventions are respectful and appropriate to the communities served.
Clear pre-employment background check requirements, including local, state, and national criminal records checks, sex offender registries, employment, education verifications and child abuse registry check (if required by state regulations) are required post job offer and prior to employment.
Safeguarding
CORE is committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe and has a Zero Tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse. Every CORE employee, consultant and volunteer is bound by CORE’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy. By applying for this position, an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s safeguarding, sexual misconduct, (child) sexual exploitation and abuse, or human trafficking policy.