Job Description

Title: Dolores River Restoration Partnership Strike Team Crew Leader

Dates of Employment: March 24, 2025 – November 14, 2025

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Location: Based out of Durango, CO.

Salary: $1128 / week

Benefits:

Health Benefit Eligible

Uniforms, Personal Protective Equipment and Food while in field

U.S. Forest Service recognized Chainsaw training (Certificate awarded upon completion of program)

Colorado pesticide applicator examination and licensure

Deadline: February 3, 2025

Program Summary:

The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals).

Position Summary:

This Strike Team will work with the Montrose County invasive weed management program and as part of the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP). The DRRP is a public-private collaborative of conservation corps, non-profits, BLM managers, private landowners, and other community members surrounding the Dolores River watershed. The DRRP is in year 14 of an ambitious effort to treat invasive plant species along 175 miles of the Dolores River corridor. The primary responsibilities of this crew are to treat noxious weeds, maintain and participate in revegetation activities such as seeding and planting, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, and perform general restoration activities as needed. This crew may also participate in the construction of low-tech process-based restoration structures for rivers with the San Juan National Forest in the Fall. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of Montrose County and the DRRP. Flexibility and adaptability are essential for this Strike Team leader position.

This crew leader will be responsible for leading a 2 to 3-person crew (1 leader, 1-2 members). While working (i.e. on-hitch), the crew will camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Hitch schedules may vary between 4 days on/ 3 days off, 5 days on/ 2 days off, or 8 days on/ 6 days off. SCC does not provide accommodations off-hitch and Crew Leaders will be responsible for their own accommodations during that time.

Crew Leaders will lead crews in completing technical conservation projects while instilling interpersonal skills and leadership skills. Crew leaders will also be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e. Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies:

Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Mentorship

• Manage, supervise, and lead the day-to-day details of project work

• Implement skills training on work-site and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics

• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community

• Must be willing to follow and enforce all SCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent Southwest Conservation Corps. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while on hitch

• Project Management, Safety & Implementation

• Train and motivate a crew to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands

• Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work

• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.

• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, crew member, & SCC staff.

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site

• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.

• Administration

• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, etc. in a timely manner

• Responsible for all project related outcomes and deliverables

• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases

Essential Functions:

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen

• Required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus

• Required to drive an SCC vehicle - and therefore have a very clean driving record

• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English

• Consistently exercise discretion and judgment

• Analyze and interpret monitoring data as needed by each watershed group

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience crew leading with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps

• Teaching, facilitation, and team-building experience with diverse groups of people

• Strong conflict resolution skills

• Botanical identification training/experience

• Chainsaw experience

• Experience with application and handling of pesticides/herbicides. Current pesticide licensure in the state of Colorado is a plus

• ArcGIS certification or experience, including use of ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, and Arc Collector

• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel

• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others

Minimum Qualifications:

• Leadership experience

• Experience with LNT (Leave No Trace) principles

• Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others

• Ability to manage all aspects of crew life and production effectively and efficiently within a 40-45-hour work week

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment

• Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders

• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission

• Physically capable of standing and hiking (6-10 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 50 pounds, in upwards of 100+ degree (F) heat

• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads. Willingness to constantly teach and demonstrate best driving practices.

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree in a relevant degree (botany, range science, wildlife or conservation biology, natural resource management, ecology, watershed science, environmental science, or other related field)

• Current 80 hour + medical certification (WFR, WEMT, or OEC) with CPR/AED or willingness to obtain certification before the start of the season

• Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), a current driver’s license, and have had a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years

• Ability to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history checks

To apply:

Complete the DRRP Strike Team Crew Leader application: https://sccorps.org/small-teams

Any questions can be addressed to Seth Davis, Watershed Programs Coordinator: Sdavis@conservationlegacy.org

Required Skills

Required Experience