Veterans Corps Crew Supervisor-Program Specialist
Scope of work
The Veterans Corps is a subsidiary of the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps (Great Lakes CCC) which is a regional service and conservation corps operating throughout southeastern Wisconsin that trains individuals for careers in the building trades, land management and other high-demand occupations. The Veterans Corps includes the operation of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), the operation of the AgVets Program, and the operation of other initiatives intended to serve veterans of any military service, age, or ability who have been retired, transitioning, or who are looking to take the first step forward. The Veterans Corps Crew Supervisor-Program Specialist will be responsible to manage the operations of all Veterans Corps programs, particularly the in-person/boots-on-the-ground duties related to the field operations for immersive learning experiences and events, classroom lessons for courses and professional development, and outreach efforts for recruitment and public relations. The Veterans Corps Crew Supervisor-Program Specialist will lead the squads of veterans and serve as the role model to guide, inspire, motivate, and empathize with members of the Veterans Corps to meet them where they are at in their life journey. The position will also be tasked in a similar role to periodically lead intergenerational crews that include young adults enrolled in the general Great Lakes CCC program. The Veterans Corps Crew Supervisor-Program Specialist will draw on inherent skillsets, insight, experience, expertise, and resources to marshal Veterans Corps members.
The Veterans Corps operates an education and training campus in Racine and another similar campus in Milwaukee. This position will be primarily based at the Racine campus but will need to provide periodic support to Veterans Corps members in Milwaukee.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) Operations
Responsibilities
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Coordinate with the Work Projects Director/Assistant Director to serve as the manager for on-the-ground assessment, scheduling, start-up, and monitoring of new projects
- Lead and supervise Veterans Corps squads (crews)–as well as CERT School students and AmeriCorps members integrated onto intergenerational Veterans Corps squads–at field, classroom, and event activities
- Monitor appropriate use/donning of personal protective equipment (PPE) by Corps members in the field
- Appoint and supervise Veterans Corps members and volunteers to serve the Veterans Corps as assistant squad leaders, drivers, safety officers, interns, etc.
- Verify, approve, and authorize timesheets of volunteer and/or paid hours of Veterans Corps members
- Assist with in-person and remote/virtual classroom instruction as needed
- Coordinate logistics and transportation of Veterans Corps members to attend in-person field projects, special events and classroom activities
- Integrate existing Work Projects Department systems and build new systems that include a daily Crew Supervisor Checklist (Standard Operating Procedure), fleet management, tool inventory management, and the daily evaluation and debriefing of Corps member performance
- Plan and implement special events, field trips, employer site visits, guest speakers, community service projects for retired military volunteers, and activities with veterans housing facilities (STEP FORWARD)
- Research dates of significant upcoming military events, holidays, and anniversaries, and compile a 4-week forecast of events for the Veterans Corps to observe, attend, and/or host
- Serve as the primary point of contact (POC) to regularly schedule verbal and/or print communication with all Veterans Corps members—Active, Auxiliary, Volunteer, and Inactive groups–and coordinate participation and attendance at activities; establish Memorial Day and Veterans Day as 6-month intervals of communication for unresponsive Veterans Corps members
- Acquire and maintain task-specific credentials, e.g. commercial pesticide applicator’s license, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), van transport competencies, etc.
- Serve as the primary POC for communication, assembly, and deployment of Veterans Corps members in response to disaster events
- Coordinate with municipal Emergency Managers to monitor disaster data, contribute firsthand boots-on-the-ground intelligence, and provide alerts ahead of time to veterans in preparation for squad-based response
- Assist veterans with ICS 100 certification to become qualified to serve in disaster response events
- Draw on community resources and personal networks necessary to execute field operations and Veterans Corps member personal development (Individual Development Plans)
- Facilitate placement of veterans into AODA and mental health counseling services
- Expedite enrollment of veterans for disability benefits
- Assist the Case Manager to identify and facilitate worksite and work task accommodations in the spirit of vocational rehabilitation that permit veterans to participate in Veterans Corps work project activities
- Assist the Case Manager to expedite individual development plans of veterans
- Facilitate an aptitude test/inventory of attributes/interest assessment for veterans to help identify job type preferences (indoors, outdoors, desk work, etc.) and industry sectors that leverage the experience, skills and interests for prospective employment
- Research sources of job postings by industry sector, membership affiliation, etc., and scan openings/job postings to develop familiarity with the local and regional job market for placement opportunities of veterans
- Schedule guest speakers of job posting sources to present overviews and updates of the job market by sector and/or within membership affiliations, e.g FaB Wisconsin
- Expedite enrollment of veterans into Foodshare to access job developer and job placement services through the Foodshare Employment and Training (FSET) program
- GIS map and collect spatial data to measure and illustrate acres and other metrics of work completed
- Serve as the Veterans Corps liaison to veterans-serving organizations, veterans housing facilities, county veterans service officers (CVSOs) and community partners
- Expedite uniform distributions, inspections, and replacement for squad participation at projects, events and Roll Call
- Assist with IT needs as appropriate for whole group instruction or individual laptop operation, phone use, etc.
AgVets Program Operations
Responsibilities
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct outreach efforts to recruit AgVets participants
- Host recruitment information tables and other venues at military veteran student offices and clubs on college and university campuses
- Identify, plan and implement immersive learning experiences, field trips, volunteer opportunities for community service, employer site visits and internships related to agribusiness
- Cultivate partnerships with agribusiness employers and members of FaB Wisconsin
- Identify and recruit veterans in the agribusiness sector to serve as mentors to AgVets participants
- Research and facilitate information for homesteading, land lease, entrepreneurship, hobby farming, farmers markets, food trucks and other avenues for veterans to participate in the farm-to-table continuum
- Manage the operations for the Cooperative Companion Gardening Initiative for veterans with functional and access needs, supervising the construction, planting, maintenance, and socializing, and harvesting of raised bed gardens
- Lead ecotherapy initiatives for Veterans Corps members
- Oversee the construction and management of chicken coops for egg production in Milwaukee and Racine
- Execute operations and training to install green infrastructure (core aeration, tree planting, rain garden installation)
- Coordinate with environmental engineering companies and municipal officials to install phytoremediation to clean contaminated properties (brownfields)
- Participate in the Great Lakes CCC’s brownfield advisory group to evaluate clean-up of contaminated properties
- Assist with the research, start-up, and operation of Veterans Corps social ventures to model entrepreneurship to veterans, including operation of incubator garden plots for Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA), Veterans Corps farm stand, growing towers, GIS inventory of farm stands, packaging, and distribution of Copi (Asian Carp), etc.
- Team with GIS specialists and urban property owners to inventory under-harvested fruit and nut trees, and facilitate outreach for veterans to collect and process the produce
Veterans Corps Program (General) Operations
Responsibilities
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Implement Veterans Corps initiatives other than the scope of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and AgVets Programs
- Generate ideas and execute actions necessary to build awareness of the Veterans Corps
- Increase gender diversity, representation, and participation of female veterans in the Veterans Corps by recruiting female veterans as members, event volunteers and advisors; facilitate advisor meetings
- Coordinate with Great Lakes CCC marketing and graphic design personnel to produce and distribute marketing and public relations materials
- Assist with social media marketing efforts by providing content for posts
- Assist with maintenance, inventory control and management of Great Lakes CCC facilities
- Other duties as necessary
Direct Report
- Reports to the Work Projects Director for field operations
- Reports to the Veterans Corps/AgVets Coordinator for program operations, including classroom assistance, recruitment outreach, Individual Development Plan (IDP) task completion, event facilitation, and mentorship circles
Characteristics and Demands
- Skill and experience in veteran support, conflict intervention, counseling, advising
- Understanding of the experiences and challenges of serving in military branch operations, military training, and transitioning from the armed forces to civilian life
- Ability to evaluate learning outcomes & adapt instruction for diverse learning needs
- Skill in presentation and written communication
- Skill in using strategies to develop members’ critical thinking & problem-solving skills
- Ability to effectively use instructional media and technology to foster inquiry
- Skill in prioritizing tasks, setting goals, maintaining schedules, and completing multiple efforts simultaneously by conveying needs and engaging others
- Knowledge of implementation practices for project-based learning
- Ability to serve as a mentor to other staff members and proactively problem solve by sharing best practices that may promote development among all Great Lakes CCC personnel
- Ability to employ logical sequencing, summary of technical information, trouble shooting, problem solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to read, interpret, and write professional materials such as memos, policies, budgets, Veterans Corps member agreements, Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Ability to frequently sit, talk and actively listen with compassion for social and emotional support
- Understanding of the AODA and mental health experiences and challenges of veterans, particularly in transition
- Nature of being flexible, resourceful, creative, team-player, compassionate, patient, enthusiastic, collaborative, and passionate about the success of military veterans and young adults
- Possess a strong work ethic, attention to detail, sense of integrity, sense of humor, and high degree of initiative and organization.
Skills/Requirements
Military service and DD214 noted with honorable discharge preferred; college diploma preferred; commercial driver’s license preferred.
Valid driver’s license and commercially insurable driving record
Pay: Salaried, Exempt
Pay Range: $49,000-$54,000
Benefits: Paid holidays; Paid Time Off
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; periodically weekend days
Please send cover letter and resume to: investinyouth@wi.rr.com
