Title: Crew Leader – Veterans Fire Corps 2024 (in partnership with the USFS – Cibola National Forest)
Date of Employment: January 8, 2024 – March 22, 2024
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Non-exempt
Location: Based out of Durango, CO
Salary: $720 - $800, Depending on Experience and Qualifications
Leaders will earn (or recertify) the following trainings and certificates:
- S130: Firefighter Training
- S190: Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior
- S212: Wildland Fire Chainsaws
- L-180: Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service
- I-100: Intro to Incident Command System
- IS-700: National Incident Management System
- First Aid/CPR certificates
- Arduous Work Capacity (PACK) Test
- Opportunity for advanced falling and test for B Faller
Southwest Conservation Corps: The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. SCC supports youth crews, adult camping crews (ages 18-30), and Veteran fire crews (ages 18-35) with crew-based programming to complete challenging and impactful conservation projects throughout the Los Valles and Four Corners Regions. Projects include: trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species removal, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief. SCC crews work in national parks, forests, and other public lands throughout central and southwestern Colorado.
The Veterans Fire Corps program provides training and on-the-job experience for post 9-11 era veterans interested in entering careers and gaining experience in natural resource management. The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a team of recent era veterans works together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuels management and fuels reduction. Project work and schedules will vary depending on region and season. Projects require members to camp and live on project locations for up to 8 days at a time, followed by 6 days off, or possibly a 4/3 schedule.
Additionally, the program aims to provide background knowledge and introductory training in Wildland firefighting. The program assists veterans in their transition to civilian careers by providing contact with potential future employers and training in applying for federal land management jobs.
Responsibilities & Core Competencies:
- Leadership & Mentorship
- Integrate values pertaining to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the corps
- Foster 21st century work skills in corps members, i.e.: collaboration & teamwork,
- creativity & imagination, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility & adaptability
- Model strong communication and conflict resolution skills
Project Management & Implementation
- Train & motivate a crew to complete high quality technical fire mitigation projects
- Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp
- Delegate project work & camp chores
- Effectively coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SCC staff
Risk Management
- Analyze, manage, and inform on hazardous conditions and crew health
- Exhibit strong situational awareness at worksite and campsite
- Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers
Administrative Skills
- Meet all deadlines for documentation, i.e., timesheets, evaluations, incident reports, etc
- Record all project related outcomes and deliverables
- Manage food budget and credit card for purchases, providing receipts for all purchase
Minimum Qualifications:
- Outdoor leadership experience
- Physically fit and able to work 40-50 hr work weeks
- High School diploma or GED certificate
- Must be 21, or have had a driver’s license for 3 consecutive years with a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), and a current driver’s license
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with SCC or other conservation corps
- Experience working with veterans
- Wildland firefighting experience
- Military experience preferred
Essential Functions:
- Frequently required to walk, hike, sit, talk and listen.
- Required to use hands to operate objects and tools, 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
- Enforce all SCC policies. SCC is a substance-free work environment. All must refrain from the use of tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
To Apply:
Click "Apply" Below!
- Upload resume, cover letter and complete the Crew Leader application by November 30, 2023
Any questions can be addressed to:
Lane Tomassini, ltomassini@conservationlegacy.org
Greta Binzen, 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.
