Job: Crew Leader

Job Description

Job Type: Seasonal, Full time, Weekly

Wage: $690-$800/wk. 

Location: Salida, CO.

Job Description

Adult Program: April 3, 2023 – October 27, 2023, weather permitting.

Youth Program: Flexible Start date starting March 27 to May 8 (latest possible start date) – end date mid-August with option to stay on for Fall with Adult Program. Wages: $690-800 / week DOE

Benefits: 1 paid week off in August between summer member season and summer fall season for Adult Program Leaders, 1 week off between sessions in July for Youth Program Leaders, plus 4 additional days of flexible paid time off. Medical benefits option available. Food provided while in the field, uniforms, USFS-recognized S-212 Chainsaw training, Cross-cut training, Restorative Justice Training, Trauma-Informed Care Training, QPR training, other development opportunities  

Multiple positions opened until filled.   

Southwest Conservation Corps: 

The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to Engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. The SCC Los Valles office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, who continue to survive and thrive on these lands today. The SCC LV office is in Salida Colorado with satellite operations in Alamosa CO. SCC LV serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. The SCC Los Valles Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Projects may include, trail construction maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species mitigation, hazardous fuels reduction, habitat restoration, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.  

Position Summary:

The Crew Leader at SCC Los Valles is responsible for overseeing a crew of 8: crews consists of 6 members, 1 Crew Leader in Development (CLDP), and the crew leader. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Adult program crews run on a standard schedule consists of 8 days on-hitch and 6 days off with some exception. Youth program crews run on a standard schedule of Monday-Friday, with 5 days on, and days (Sat/Sun) off. On-hitch, crews camps together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. 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, risk management, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice.

At SCC Los Valles, we hold that social equity and environmental justice are the responsibility of all. In your application in Question 35, please speak to how your interests and strengths lend themselves to leading – 3 of the following crews:

• San Luis Valley Youth Crew: Summer crews for teens ages 14-18 who are local residents of the San Luis Valley. Teens do conservation projects within their respective counties. Counties include Rio Grand Mineral, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, and Saguache. Youth crews are on a M-F 5-2 schedule. These crews serve predominantly Indigenous and Xicano communities. Spanish-speaking leaders and those with experience working in Indigenous and Xicanx communities preferred. Option to stay on with Adult Program for the Fall.
• Upper Arkansas River Valley Youth Crew: Summer crews for youth ages 14-18 who are local residents of the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Teens do conservation projects within their respective counties. Counties include Chaffee and Park. Youth crews are on a M-F 5-2 schedule. Option to stay on with Adult Program for the Fall.
• Leaders of Color Adult crew – An affinity crew for QTBIPOC individuals ages 18-30 with a focus on technical skills and certifications including S-212, Wilderness First Responder, and Backcountry Skills. Adult crews are on a 8-6 Tues-Tues schedule and projects take place throughout the Los Valles region.
• Women’s+ Fire Mitigation Adult crew – An affinity crew for Trans and Cis Women and non-binary individuals ages 18-30 with a focus on chainsaw skills development. Adult crews are on a 8-6 Tues-Tues schedule.
• 14ers Adult crew – This crew will be working to build a new trail on Mt. Shavano, working closely with Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Adult crews are on a 8-6 Tues-Tues schedule.
• Alamosa Adult crew – Crew for systems-involved young adults ages 18-24 in the San Luis Valley with a focus on career pathways with a variety of green jobs. This crew serves a predominately Indigenous and Xicanx communities. Spanish speaking leaders strongly preferred. Alamosa Adult crew schedule is an 8-6 schedule. Projects take place throughout the San Luis Valley and ‘rig-up’ location is in Alamosa.
• Fire Mitigation Adult crew – In partnership with Colorado Fire Camp, participants earn Fire certifications including S-130/190 and S-212 to prepare for careers in federal fire, while completing critical infrastructure fire mitigation projects throughout the Upper Arkansas River Valley.
• Short-term Adult Conservation crews – Short-term crew aimed at individuals in school, or who are apprehensive about joining a longer-term crew, to introduce individuals to land management techniques and trail work. One session in Summer and 1 session in Fall. Adult crews are on a 8-6 schedule Tues-Tues. Projects take place throughout the San Luis Valley.
• Veteran’s Fire Corps crew: A crew for post-911 Veterans ages 21-35 to develop skills in Wildland Fire, with the goal of moving alumni into Federal Fire employment. Veteran status strongly preferred. VFC crew is on a 4-3 Mon-Thurs schedule.

Required Skills

Responsibilities & Core Competencies:

Leadership Mentorship

• Embody equity, ensure inclusion, and embrace diversity (equity, inclusion, and diversity) within the corps. This includes but is not limited to:
• Lead and participate in Land Acknowledgements that recognize Indigenous communities who have historically and continue to steward the Los Valles region.
• Employ a restorative justice approach to disciplinary incidents
• Facilitate culturally relevant and respectful environmental education
• Employ a trauma-informed approach to building crew dynamics
• Be accountable to ensuring the SCC Los Valles community centers Black, Indigenous, Queer, Trans and Women of Color (QTBIPOC), and Opportunity Youth
• Foster 21st century work skills in corps members, i.e.: collaboration teamwork, creativity imagination, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility adaptability
• Model strong communication and conflict transformation skills
• Mentor Crew Leader in Development (CLDP) in their growth in leadership, facilitation, and supervisory skills.

Project Management & Implementation

• Instruct, train motivate a crew to complete high quality technical conservation projects
• Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp
• Delegate project work camp chores
• Effectively coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, SCC staff

Risk Management

• Analyze, manage, and inform on hazardous conditions and crew health
• Exhibit strong situational awareness at worksite and campsite
• Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC’s vans and large SUVs with trailers

Administrative Skills

• Meet all deadlines for documentation, i.e., timesheets, evaluations, incident reports, etc
• Record all project related outcomes and deliverables
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases, providing receipts for all purchases

Required Experience & Qualifications:

• Outdoor leadership experience with youth and/or young adults
• Physically fit and able to work 40hr work weeks
• Must hold current Wilderness First Responder +CPR or ability to acquire prior to starting
• Must be 21 with a clean driving record and a current driver’s license
• Experience supervising a team or managing a classroom, or leading a crew
• For leading crews with a chainsaw component (Leaders of Color, Women’s+, Fire Mitigation, and Veterans Fire crews): must hold a current S-212, and have the ability to test out at a B-level in chainsaw during crew leader training season.

Essential Functions:

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit, talk and listen.
• Required to use hands to operate objects and tools, 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
• Enforce all SCC policies. SCC is a substance free work environment. All must refrain from the use of tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Conservation Legacy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfers, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

To Apply: For SCC Los Valles, equity is a core value. To put power behind this statement, we prioritize and encourage opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans, Women of Color (QTBIPOC). Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply through our website. For inquiries, contact Thérèse d’Auria Ryley, SCC Los Valles Program Director at [email protected].

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “Visit” below for more detail on this specific job.