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Invasive Plant Management Crew Leader

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

Title: Invasive Plant Management Crew Leader

Dates: March 24, 2025 – August 22, 2025 (potential to extend to November)  

Status: Seasonal, Full time, Camping Program

Location: Based out of Durango, CO  

Salary: $1,128/week

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:  Forest Service recognized Crosscut & Chainsaw training, Technical Trails training, as well as mental health and leadership skills trainings.

Housing: SCC-Durango will be securing a camping location for leaders and CLDPs during the spring season. Other options, including host-housing and a partnership with a local hostel, which will be reviewed in the interview process.  

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 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. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals).       

Funded through the America the Beautiful Grant, Southwest Conservation Corps is hiring a Invasive Plant Management Crew in the San Juan Mountain Region. The 3-person crew will treat noxious weeds, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, and perform general restoration activities as needed. The ideal crew leader position will have knowledge of native and invasive plants in the Southwest, some herbicide experience, mapping skills, and vegetation monitoring/field data collection, or the desire to learn in the field! Your crew will work primarily a 4-days on, 3-days off schedule, partner and learn from local agencies, make an impact in controlling the spread of noxious weeds in the Southwest.

The Invasive Plant Management Crew Leader will spend 9 weeks in a crew leader training period alongside fellow Crew Leaders, CLDPs and SCC Staff, 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.

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

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, Safety & 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 & SCC staff

Safety & Risk Management   

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

Relevant College Degree (IE, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Biology, Botany, etc.)

Wilderness First Responder by the start of the program

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

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

Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC) and a current driver’s license

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:   

Knowledge of native and invasive plants

Experience with herbicide, mapping, vegetation monitoring, and field data collection

Experience with experiential and/or environmental education

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

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

Any questions can be addressed to:

Seth Davis: Watershed Program Coordinator, sdavis@conservationlegacy.org 

Greta Binzen: Adult Program Coordinator, gbinzen@conservationlegacy.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.

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