Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.

Individual Placement positions work within RMYC partner agencies, and are intended to provide meaningful job experience for young professionals looking to build their careers in specific fields. This position will primarily serve with Valles Caldera National Preserve.

POSITION OVERVIEW: This position will work with Valles Caldera National Preserve on building, maintaining, and managing trails for environmental recreation and conservation purposes. This position primarily involves labor to connect the eastern portion of the preserve to the preserve’s network of trails, and increase trail access for the Los Alamos community. Much of this trail will include forests damaged by wildfire, and installing trail drainage and mitigation features will be a key duty of this position. Other duties include working as a team with host location staff and tracking data.

Professional development and work-training are a major focus of this position. The ideal candidate is someone with outdoor work experience looking for a starting point to build a career in outdoor recreation, management, and conservation.

This position is managed through RMYC and includes professional development, regular check-ins, and life skills training that RMYC offers regularly. Other training opportunities will be provided through the host program, and include chainsaw, UTV, and equipment training. Outside training tailored to the needs of the individual will also be offered, within budget. Cross-training with other programs is also encouraged. As an AmeriCorps member, this position will not serve in any supervising or staff roles.

POSITION TYPE: Seasonal, full time, AmeriCorps member

SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week, (May 4, 2026 - November 13, 2026). Overnight backcountry camping project schedules of 10 hour days for 8 days followed by 6 days off expected. Exact start and end times will be determined by program funding, program needs, and timing of applications received.

REPORTS TO: Valles Caldera National Preserve Staff daily and RMYC Upper Rio Grande IP Program Coordinator on a weekly basis.

LOCATION: 39201 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025

TERM LENGTH: 900 hour AmeriCorps term.

COMPENSATION: Biweekly Stipend of $1,440 (Equivalent of $18.00/hour over 80 hours)

EDUCATION AWARD: AmeriCorps Segal Education Award scholarship of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of term of service.

OTHER SUPPORT: Parents or caregivers are eligible and encouraged to apply. Full time, 1700 hour term applicants may qualify to receive childcare benefits through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program. More information is available by request or through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program website.

BENEFITS:

• Healthcare coverage is available to all AmeriCorps members at no cost to the member.  This is considered primary coverage and is not available as supplemental coverage.
• Non-Scheduled Days (paid days off) are available, with the exact number depending on the length of the term of service (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award). Time off in excess of assigned non-scheduled days will require make up work or a stipend reduction.
• RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off, however RMYC reserves the right to have AmeriCorps members work or earn service hours on certain holidays if necessary to meet program requirements (holiday time off hours ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award).
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Staff Housing on-site provided at no cost by Valles Caldera National Preserve.

ELIGIBILITY:

A chosen candidate must meet the following requirements:

• 18-30 years old as of the position start date. 
• All AmeriCorps members must be citizens, national, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.
• Chosen candidates must complete a pre-employment National Service Criminal History Check and fingerprint scan with the following requirements:
• You must be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history.
• You cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry.
• You cannot be convicted of murder.
• Insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license.
• Have a High School Diploma, equivalent diploma (G.E.D.), or agree to obtaining one prior to using the Segal Education Award
• If you are not capable of obtaining a High School diploma or equivalent or are enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis you may be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091)
• Able to complete the entire length of the service term, including make up hours if necessary.
• Essential physical functions include the ability to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, climb, balance, reach with hands & arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis, and lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Trail work:

• Work with host site staff on the construction, maintenance, and management of multi-use trails.
• Install trail features such as new tread, drainage features and dips, rock walls, etc. 
• Core skills include hand tool use for trail construction, such as crosscut saws, shovels, sledgehammers, McLeods, etc.
• Power tools, such as drills, chainsaws, etc. may be utilized depending on the needs of the staff/project.
• Live and work in a backcountry setting with limited access to modern amenities.
• Utilize vehicles such as excavators, skidsteers, trucks, trailers, etc. as a part of a team.
• Install wildfire and flood damage/erosion reduction trail features, such as retaining walls, waterbars, riprap drains, and other drainage features.  
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.

Data Tracking:

• Track miles of trail improved and acres of land improved, along with other notable project work, for biweekly RMYC reports.

Administrative tasks, including filing, organization, invoicing, and reporting.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing environment
• Perform various tasks within the scope of work for an AmeriCorps member.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be comfortable working outside and performing fieldwork for long periods of time in all weather conditions.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, be self-motivated, and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
• Applicants must have great attention to detail and problem solving skills.
• Strong work ethic, and the ability to take initiative and work independently with periodic check-ins.
• Participation in one service event that benefits the community is required, with options to attend additional service events.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

• Experience with fieldwork such as trail building, landscaping, agriculture, or other related outdoor fields.
• Strong project management, written and oral skills.
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (conservation management, environmental science, biology, etc.)

EVALUATION:

Members serving less than a full-time term of service (<1700 hours) will receive a mandatory end-of-term evaluation, with an optional mid-term evaluation.

CONTACT:

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps:

• Carl Smith, Individual Placement Coordinator: carl@youthcorps.org
• Quinn Mendelson, Conservation Program Director: quinn@youthcorps.org 

Valles Caldera National Preserve:

• Jonathan Allbach, Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist: Jonathan_Allbach@nps.gov

Lance Cleaver, Trails Chief, Lance_Cleaver@nps.gov