Title: Adult Crew Leader

Reports to: Program Coordinator

Locations: Durango, CO

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Start/end date: As Soon As Possible (Flexible) – November 18th, 2023

Wages: $690-800/week DOE, DOQ

Benefits: Health Benefit Eligible, Sick time and Discretionary time, Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Mental Health Consultant and Employee Assistance Program.

Training: U.S. Forest Service recognized OHLEC Chainsaw and Crosscut training, Technical Trails Training, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Mandatory Reporter Training, Trauma Informed Approach Training.

Housing: SCC-Durango is piloting a Host-Housing program based on need and will be securing a camping location for leaders and CLDPs during the spring season. Options will be reviewed in the interview process.

Multiple positions open until filled.

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 primarily 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:

The Adult Crew Leader position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands! Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air and water. SCC’s Adult Crew Leaders will spend nearly 3 months in a crew leader training period, which will include a SCC leadership skills week, chainsaw and crosscut training, technical trails training, administrative training, and prep weeks in addition to project work. In late May, Crew Leaders will mentor a CLDP and co-lead a crew of young adults for the Summer and Fall season. Crews typically consist of 6-7 members, 1 Crew Leader and 1 CLDP. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Standard schedule consists of 8 days on-hitch and 6 days off with some exception. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.

Southwest Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement and decision-making, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to young adults, the environment, and a positive crew experience. The Crew Leader position requires patience, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Leaders take a trauma informed approach to working with peers and young adults in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors.

This position will be joined by a Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP) member, an AmeriCorps leadership position focusing on the continued development of leadership skills. While this will be a collaborative relationship, the Crew Leader bears ultimate responsibility for member development, as well as high quality project accomplishments for our partners.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Integrate values pertaining to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the corps
• Implement skills training on worksite 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
• Mentor and delegate responsibilities and member development to the CLDP
• Must be willing to follow and enforce all SCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent SCC. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program

Project Management & Implementation

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems
• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, CLDP, & SCC staff

Safety & Risk Management

• Implement and enforce SCC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Policies and Procedures (provided to applicants during interview process), including mask use, handwashing, and social distancing
• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety
• Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers

Administration

• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly field reports, corps member and peer evaluations, restorative justice forms, incident response forms, and project related deliverables
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases

Minimum Qualifications:

• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (WFR or higher) with CPR/AED, or be willing to receive cert. prior to start date
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50-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
• Must be adaptive, patient, and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout
• Able to work long days in adverse conditions
• Must be able to speak, understand and write English
• High School diploma or GED certificate
• Must be 21 years old
• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps
• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel
• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Leadership experience with youth or young adults
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others

Other Considerations:

• Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation & our work base; The Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, CO

• Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the spring and summer season

To apply:

Upload resume, cover letter and complete the Crew Leader application: www.sccorps.org/join/crew-leaders/

Any questions can be addressed to:

Lane Tomassini: Adult Program Coordinator, ltomassini@conservationlegacy.org

Kristen Hencke: Adult Program Coordinator, khencke@conservtionlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Required Skills

Required Experience