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Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Leader

Conservation Legacy • Full-time • Durango, US-CO • 1m ago

Job Description

Title: Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Leader

Dates of Employment: March 17, 2025 – October 24, 2025

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Location: Based out of Durango, CO. Working in SW Colorado, Arizona, and Utah

Salary: $1128 / week

Benefits:

Health Benefit Eligible

Uniforms, Personal Protective Equipment and Food while in field

Training in multiple rapid vegetation monitoring protocols

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 Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew will work with watershed groups across the Southwest to perform vegetation surveying along streamside habitat in 3 watersheds in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watershed groups include the Dolores River Restoration Partnership, Escalante River Watershed Partnership and Friends of the Verde River. Vegetation monitoring is crucial to informing river restoration efforts across these watersheds that have been severely impacted by invasive species and other stressors. The crew will also engage in a couple weeks of restoration work in the Summer or Fall.

The primary responsibility of this crew is to collect vegetation monitoring and species inventory data according to each watershed’s rapid monitoring protocol. This crew consists of two individuals (1 crew leader and 1 crew member) that will tie in and work closely with field staff from each watershed group in order to collect data. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of each partnership. Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work and manage a crew remotely are essential for this Crew Leader position. 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

Consistently exercise discretion and judgment

Analyze and interpret monitoring data as needed by each watershed group

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

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

ArcGIS certification or experience, including use of ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, Arc Collector, and Survey123

Experience performing vegetation surveys or monitoring

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

Minimum Qualifications: 

Leadership experience

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-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 with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles

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.

Botanical identification training/experience

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 Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Leader application: https://sccorps.org/small-teams

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

Apply

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