Construction Crew Leader - 2022-23
For one year, you can get paid to build sustainable solutions in a community, gain valuable hands on experience and prepare for your future. This full-time AmeriCorps service position offers a great opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of others while building your own knowledge and skillset.
AmeriCorps National members serve the community in direct service and capacity building activities.
What will you do?
The construction crew leader plays an integral part in building and repairing homes. Lead groups of skills and unskilled volunteers and homeowner families in construction activities while maintaining a safe, efficient work environment, thus, developing and enhancing your volunteer management and construction skills.
*Typically serve Tuesday – Saturday on the build site.
*Assist with all aspects of hands-on construction tasks including, but not limited to, demolition, site prep, framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, finish carpentry and landscaping.
*Projects may include new construction, rehabilitation, critical home repair and weatherization projects.
*Lead small groups of volunteers and facilitate safe and positive experiences for everyone working on site.
*Maintain site safety by adhering to Habitat construction safety policies, modeling best practices and guidelines, volunteer education and site monitoring.
This position will focus on home construction aspects of Habitat affiliate operations.
Where will you serve?
La Crosse is a waterside city set on the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin. Natural beauty and outdoor recreation are the biggest draws for living here. The local forested areas offer hiking, biking, and skiing trails to explore. In warmer months, enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing. In the winter, ice skating, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are popular hobbies. There are plenty of cultural and historical institutions to explore from the Riverside Museum, which documents the city’s history, to the Dahl Auto Museum, which boasts beautiful classic cars.
Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area is looking for an AmeriCorps member to join our home-building effort. This isn’t your typical construction project. With Habitat for Humanity, you’ll be serving with teams of volunteers, often with little to no construction experience, to complete 4-6 homes per year. This position requires communication skills, a dedication to safety above all else, and a good deal of patience. In return, you’ll enjoy connecting with an incredible group of people, the satisfaction of helping low-income families buy their first home, and a great deal of independence.
Our AmeriCorps members learn the fundamentals of building design, site development, building layout operations, concrete applications, cabinet construction, and practical residential construction practices. They serve alongside volunteers and site management. AmeriCorps members are instructed on the safety and proper use of hand tools, portable power tools, and stationary power equipment. In addition, members will apply framing, interior finishing, and exterior finishing techniques at actual job sites. Related blueprint reading, building science principles, and OSHA practices are part of our training.
Gain skills and knowledge to prepare you for a variety of careers in the nonprofit and residential construction fields. Learn more about Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area at www.habitatlacrosse.org.
Benefits of AmeriCorps service
*Living allowance $17,000 for approximately 10 ½ months of service.
*Segal Education Award of $6,495, upon successful completion of service.
*Health care benefits and enrollment in Employee Assistance Plan.
*Personal and medical leave — approximately 10 days total.
*Possible forbearance or deferment of qualified student loans.
*Child care benefits, if you qualify.
*Worker’s compensation insurance.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident at least 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GED.
Preferred Qualifications
*Knowledge of, and willingness to promote, the mission and activities of Habitat for Humanity International and AmeriCorps.
*Ability to work with a diverse group of people.
*Strong verbal communication skills.
*Experience working with volunteers, teaching or group facilitation.
*Experience working as a member of a team.
*Basic experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.
Habitat for Humanity International is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified personnel for all our positions in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.