Job: SCCLV Crew Leader
Job Description
Job Type: Seasonal, Full time, Weekly
Wage: $295-$1125/wk.
Location: Salida, CO.
Job Description
Dates: 04/28/2026-10/29/2026 (dates may vary depending on weather & project availability)
Wages: $925 – $1125 week, DOE/DOQ, paid biweekly ($750/week during a 5-week training period)
Benefits: Schedules days off in August between seasons, plus additional days of flexible paid time off.
Health benefits eligible.
Uniforms and personal protective equipment are also provided.
Training: Forest Service recognized Chainsaw training, Technical Trails training, as well as mental health and leadership skills trainings, and potential for USFS recognized Crosscut training
Housing: A camping location will be provided while on hitch. Crew leaders and members are responsible for their own housing or caomping while off hitch. SCCLV may be able to help connect hired leaders and members with a low-cost housing option in Salida upon request.
Multiple positions available. Open until filled. Applicant review process will being in January 2026.
Purpose:
Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily 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.
The SCC Los Valler (SCCLV) office serves the Upper Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. SCCLV's office is in Salida, CO with sattalite operations in Alamosa, CO. Our region offers youth and adult programming. The SCC Adult Program engages 18-30 year olds to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Projects may include trail construction and maintenance, wilderness conservation, habitat improvement, invasive species management, hazardours fuels reduction, and local service projects.
Position Summary:
The Adult Program Crew Leader position at SCCLV 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 your adults performing conservation work. Crew Leaders are responsible for overseeing a crew of 6-7 members in collaboration with a Crew Leader in Development (CLDP). Crews may work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. The standard schedule consists of 8-days on-hitch and 6-days off, with some exceptions. During the 8-days on-hitch, crews will camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all project work and chores. During the 6-days off leaders and crews are responsible for their own camping and food accommodations.
This position requires a high degree of flexibility and a passion for working with others outdoors. The Crew Leader position also involves an administration role, where paperwork and reports are due in a timely manner to supervisors. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement and decision-making, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to the environment and the crew experience. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew, as well as group safety and well-being.
SCCLV will be running the following Adult crews during the 2026 season, please be ready to speak to your preferences and how you will support them during your interview:
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Chainsaw crews – Serve primarily in front country settings, focusing on sustainable forestry and fuels reduction.
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Conservation/Trail crews – Serve in both backcountry and front country settings, focusing on trails and a variety of conservation projects, including invasive species removal with the potential to use herbicide.
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Wilderness Trail crews – Serve primarily in the backcountry settings focusing on clearing downed trees using crosscut saws, performing trail maintenance, and restoring landscapes in remote Wilderness areas.
Responsibilities & Core Competencies:
Leadership & Mentorship
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Mentor Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
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Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
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Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
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Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. 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
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Instruct, train & motivate a crew to complete high quality technical conservation projects.
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Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp.
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Delegate project work & camp chores.
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Effectively communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SCC staff.
Safety & Risk Management
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Monitor, manage, and promote crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
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Exhibit strong situational awareness at worksite and campsite.
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Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC’s vans and large SUVs with trailers.
Administrative Skills
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Meet all deadlines for documentation, i.e., timesheets, evaluations, incident reports, etc.
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Record all project related outcomes and deliverables.
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Manage food budget and credit card for purchases, providing receipts for all purchases.
Environmental Stewardship
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Must have a genuine enjoyment and desire for caring for the land while living and working outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions.
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Desire for learning or building on technical skills needed to effectively maintain public lands.
Eligibility Requirements:
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Outdoor leadership experience with youth and/or young adults
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Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions on a variety of conservation projects
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Ability and willingness to work 40-50 hours per week
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High School diploma or GED certificate
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Must hold current/relevant medical certification (WFR, WEMT, or OEC) with CPR/AED or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
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Must be between the ages of 21-30.
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Must have had a driver’s license for 3 consecutive years with a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), and a current driver’s license.
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For leading crews with a chainsaw component: ability to test out at an A-level in chainsaw during crew leader training season.
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Must abide by and enforce all SCC policies. SCC is a substance-free work environment. All must refrain alcohol, and drugs while on hitch.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience with conservation corps or similar organization.
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Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
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Experience with camping, backpacking, and wilderness living.
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Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
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Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
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Strong conflict resolution skills.
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Technical trails, crosscut and/or chainsaw experience.
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A sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
Other Considerations:
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Having a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living arrangement and our work base.
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The ability to live, work, and camp in rural Colorado is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year.
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SCC-Los Valles will start reviewing applications on January 15, 2026. Please do not expect an interview or communication before that time.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates please apply through our website. For questions contact Alix Jensen; SCC Los Valles Program Director at ajensen@conservationlegacy.org.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
**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.