For full job description and to apply: CLICK HERE

Start Date: March 25th, 2024. Flexible start date on a case-by-case basis, leaders must start by May 6th, 2024, at the latest.

End Date: August 9th, 2024. With potential to extend into the Fall 2024 season.

Salary: $720-$800 per week, depending on experience and qualifications. 

Benefits: Health Benefit Eligible, PTO days built into schedule and 2 additional days of PTO, Sick time and Discretionary time, Food provided while in the field and access to Mental Health Consultant and Employee Assistance Program. 

Certifications/Trainings:  U.S. Forest Service recognized OHLEC Chainsaw training, Technical Trails Training, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Mandatory Reporter Training, Trauma Informed Approach Training. Potential for Crosscut & Backcountry Training. 

Position Summary: This position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. This position requires a high degree of flexibility and a passion for working with youth outdoors. Leaders will be mentors, educators and facilitators for high school students, working to increase youth resiliency, build confidence and to be positive role models. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew, as well as safety and well-being.  SCC’s Youth Crew Leaders will spend 8 weeks in a crew leader training period, which will include a SCC orientation week, chainsaw training, technical trails training, a youth crew leader training, and prep weeks in addition to project work. In June, crew leaders will be paired with and mentor a CLDP and co-lead two 4-week sessions with high school students ages 14-18 or middle schoolers ages 11-13. Crews will complete a variety of local conservation projects. The typical schedule is either: Nine days on followed by five days off (During training season), or five days on followed by two days off (During Youth Crew Season).  Depending on proximity to the work site, crews either return to town each day, or camp at the project site (we refer to this as a “hitch”) for its duration. 

Youth Crews Offered:

• Indigenous Youth Affinity Crew
• Backcountry Youth Crew
• Middle School Crew
• Day Crew
• Camping Crews

Responsibilities/Required Skills:  

Leadership & Mentorship

• 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.
• Mentor and delegate project responsibilities and member development to Crew Leader in Development.
• 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 involved in the program.
• Facilitate weekly educational lessons to the crew.
• Crew Leaders paired with a Crew Leader in Development will be responsible for mentoring and supporting them through a Goal setting process and a development plan.  

Project Management & Implementation

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of six to eight high school students to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands within 8 hours of project work/day, while managing quality of work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with your Crew leader or CLDP Pair, project partners, & SCC staff.

Safety & Risk Management

• 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.
• Transport crews and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers. 

Administration

• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, performance improvement contracts, incident reports, and project related 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.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read and write English.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Leadership experience with youth or experience with experiential and/or environmental education
• Must hold current advanced medical certification (WFR, WEMT) with CPR/AED, or be certified prior to March 25th, 2024. WFA accepted on case-by-case basis.
• Flexibility and adaptability while effectively managing a crew during a 8-12 hour workday.
• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions on a variety of conservation projects.
• High School diploma or GED certificate.
• Must be able to pass a criminal history background check.
• Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC) and a current driver’s license.  

Preferred Qualifications or strong desire to grow in the following: 

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps.
• Facilitation, team building and conflict resolution experience.
• Desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
• 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. 

Other Considerations: 

• Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation & our work base; The Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, CO.
• Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the spring and summer season