The Backcountry Trails Camp Supervisor (BCTCS) is, above all else, a leader of young people (18-25), whose duties go far beyond the mere supervision of corps members. The BCTCS is responsible for the personal and professional development of each corpsmember as they experience everything that comes with living and working with a diversegroup of people in remote, isolated backcountry locations for six continuous months while performing rigorous work. The BCTCS must mentor, counsel, train, and direct corpsmembers through an incredibly difficult work/wilderness/cohort experience while ensuring their physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing is being looked after. Under the direct supervision of the Backcountry Trails Program Manager with additional oversight from the Program Coordinator, the incumbent works independently performing a multitude of duties in the following areas:
Managing, directing, and supervising a backcountry trail crew. Facilitating individual development of corps members and the development of a crew community. Training corps members in trail repair, maintenance, construction, wilderness living, wilderness navigation, spike camp set-up and operations. Development and implementation of season-long curriculum plan. Managing trail projects and supervising a crew performing trail work. Performing a variety of administrative duties and functions as operational, departmental, program, and public land management agency needs dictate.
Incumbent will live and work in remote, isolated backcountry settings for five continuous months far from immediate medical services. Personal communication with people outside of the program (friends, family, spouses/partners, etc.) is extremely limited and infrequent. Mail is the primary means of personal communication with those on the outside and it isr eceived and delivered on an irregular basis. Personal phone use will not be available once you’re in backcountry locations. Incumbent will be exposed to the following adverse environmental conditions: rain, snow, extreme heat(90+ degrees Fahrenheit), extreme cold(below freezing), dry weather, lightning, high amounts of dust, camp and forest fire smoke, elevations ranging from 2000-14,000ft. Work is extremely physically demanding and requires daily hiking that ranges from 3-20 miles in one day over rugged, steep, uneven terrain while carrying 40-60lbs in your backpack at a minimum pace of 3mph.
Incumbent will live and work around stock animals (horses and mules) and can be exposed to environmental hazards such as wildfires and smoke, avalanches, falling trees, etc. and wildlife hazards such as deer, poisonous insects and snakes, bears, mountain lions, etc. Incumbent will live in backcountry camps with 13-20 other people in primitive conditions. There are no modern conveniences or luxuries (e.g., warm showers, beds, laundry machines, indoor bathrooms, and plumbing, etc.). Personal electronics such as music/video players, cell phones, etc. are not permitted for crewmembers while in the program. Incumbent will sleep in a personal tent on the ground and be near their crewmembers and sponsors. Incumbent will sometimes be required to sleep in a community tent with the entire crew. Incumbent may be required to sleep in a kitchen tent to protect the camp food from animals.
Daily bathing and adhering to other personal hygiene standards are necessary. All food will be provided, but incumbent may be required to cook for their crew for long periods of time and will be required to cook for themselves on the weekend.
Incumbent will live and work under very regimented and structured conditions and required to follow federal and state regulations/policies pertaining wilderness living and travel. Incumbent will have very little personal free time and alone time throughout the season.
Incumbent will be required to work long and irregular hours and be on call to respond to emergencies involving crewmembers and/or others 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Daily and weekly work schedule scan vary between any days of the week, and incumbent will be required to perform duties/chores outside of their normal work hours. Incumbent will be required to carry out the duties of the position with little to no supervision and with minimal contact with the department chain of command.
