Title: Dolores River Restoration Partnership Strike Team Crew Leader
Dates of Employment: March 24, 2025 – November 14, 2025
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt
Location: Based out of Durango, CO.
Uniforms, Personal Protective Equipment and Food while in field
U.S. Forest Service recognized Chainsaw training (Certificate awarded upon completion of program)
Colorado pesticide applicator examination and licensure
Deadline: February 3, 2025
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).
This Strike Team will work with the Montrose County invasive weed management program and as part of the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP). The DRRP is a public-private collaborative of conservation corps, non-profits, BLM managers, private landowners, and other community members surrounding the Dolores River watershed. The DRRP is in year 14 of an ambitious effort to treat invasive plant species along 175 miles of the Dolores River corridor. The primary responsibilities of this crew are to treat noxious weeds, maintain and participate in revegetation activities such as seeding and planting, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, and perform general restoration activities as needed. This crew may also participate in the construction of low-tech process-based restoration structures for rivers with the San Juan National Forest in the Fall. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of Montrose County and the DRRP. Flexibility and adaptability are essential for this Strike Team leader position.
This crew leader will be responsible for leading a 2 to 3-person crew (1 leader, 1-2 members). 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:
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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
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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
Preferred Qualifications:
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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
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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)
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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
Complete the DRRP Strike Team Crew Leader application: https://sccorps.org/small-teams
Any questions can be addressed to Seth Davis, Watershed Programs Coordinator: Sdavis@conservationlegacy.org
