Reports to: Adult Program Manager

Locations: Salida, CO

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Dates: April 1st, 2024 – Late October or early November 2024 (depending on weather & project availability)

Wages: $685/week paid biweekly + AmeriCorps education award (award amount dependent upon length of service term)

Benefits: 1 paid week off in May between leader season and summer member season and 1 paid week off in August between summer member season and summer fall season. Food provided while in the field. Uniforms are also provided.

Trainings: Wilderness Medicine training: CLDP members are provided, or reimbursed for, Wilderness First Responder/CPR/AED training; and are provided with FS-recognized S-212 Chainsaw training, Cross-cut training, Restorative Justice Training, Trauma-Informed Care Training, QPR training, & other development opportunities.

Housing: While on hitch, SCC-Los Valles will be securing a camping location for crew leaders and members while on hitch. Crew leaders and members will be required to secure their own housing while off hitch.

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to Engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. The SCC Los Valles (LV) office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, who continue to survive and thrive on these lands today. The SCC LV office is in Salida, Colorado with satellite operations in Alamosa, CO. SCC LV serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. The SCC Los Valles Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Projects may include, trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species mitigation, hazardous fuels reduction, habitat restoration, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.

Position Summary:

This is an entry level position focused on development , we welcome applications from candidates who may not have all the skills listed below. This position provides extensive training during the spring season, meant to prepare CLDPs for leading summer crews. This position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. CLDPs will be mentors, educators and facilitators for high school students, working to increase youth resiliency, build confidence and to be positive role models for their members.

The AmeriCorps (AC) Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP) is a two-phase program. The first phase focuses on orientation, training and development, the second phase focuses on implementation and continued leadership development. The AmeriCorps CLDP will spend 8 weeks in a crew leader training period, which will include a Leadership skills week, Chainsaw training, technical trails training, a youth crew leader training, and prep weeks in addition to project work. Each CLDP will be paired with an experienced crew leader who will provide mentorship and support to them through a goal setting process and CLDP development plan. CLDPs are responsible for assisting Crew Leaders in ensuring the physical safety and emotional well-being of their crew. The intention of the CLDP/Crew Leader pairing is to aid in the leadership development of the CLDP. Based on their own skills and experience, CLDP’s may take lead or assist with project management, creating and implementing development and educational opportunities, and completing required hitch paperwork. Crews will complete a variety of local conservation and community projects.

The Adult Program crews typically consist of 8 people: 6 members, 1 Crew Leader in Development (CLDP), and the crew leader. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Standard schedule consists of 8 days on-hitch and 6 days off with some exception. On-hitch, crews camps together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. 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, risk management, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice.

At SCC Los Valles, we hold that social equity and environmental justice are the responsibility of all. We will be running the following crews during the 2024 season, please be ready to speak to your preferences and how you will support them during your interview:

• Leaders of Color crew – An affinity crew for QTBIPOC individuals with a focus on technical skills and certifications
• Women’s+ Saw crew – An affinity crew for Trans, Non-binary, and Cis women individuals with a focus on chainsaw skills development.
• Veteran Fire crew – A post 9/11 veteran crew which focuses on fuel reduction and fire mitigation on public land
• Chainsaw crews – A crew for young adults that works primarily in front country settings, focusing on sustainable forestry, fuels reduction, or invasive species removal (with the potential to use herbicide)
• Conservation/Trail crews – A crew for young adults that works in both backcountry and front country settings, focusing on trails and a variety of conservation work

Required Skills

Responsibilities & Core Competencies:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Embody equity, ensure inclusion, and embrace diversity (equity, inclusion, and diversity) within the corps. This includes but is not limited to:
• Lead and participate in Land Acknowledgements that recognize Indigenous communities who have historically and continue to steward the Los Valles region
• Employ a restorative justice approach to disciplinary incidents
• Facilitate and engage in environmental education that includes the fraught history of public lands in the United States
• Employ a trauma-informed approach to building crew dynamics and addressing interpersonal conflict
• Be accountable to ensuring the SCC Los Valles community centers the experiences of members of historically marginalized populations, including Black, Indigenous, Queer, Trans and Women of Color (QTBIPOC), and young adults with systems-involvement
• 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 transformation skills

Project Management & Implementation

• Instruct, train & motivate a crew to complete high quality technical conservation 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 and large SUVs with trailers

Required Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Outdoor leadership experience with youth and/or young adults
• Physically fit and able to work 40-50 hr work weeks
• High School diploma or GED certificate
• Must hold current/relevant medical certification (WFR, WEMT, or OEC) with CPR/AED
• 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
• For leading crews with a chainsaw component (LOC and W+): ability to test out at a B-level in chainsaw during crew leader training season.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps
• Experience supervising a team or managing a classroom
• Experience working with trauma-impacted communities

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

Responsibilities & Core Competencies:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Embody equity, ensure inclusion, and embrace diversity (equity, inclusion, and diversity) within the corps. This includes but is not limited to:
• Lead and participate in Land Acknowledgements that recognize Indigenous communities who have historically and continue to steward the Los Valles region
• Employ a restorative justice approach to disciplinary incidents
• Facilitate and engage in environmental education that includes the fraught history of public lands in the United States
• Employ a trauma-informed approach to building crew dynamics and addressing interpersonal conflict
• Be accountable to ensuring the SCC Los Valles community centers the experiences of members of historically marginalized populations, including Black, Indigenous, Queer, Trans and Women of Color (QTBIPOC), and young adults with systems-involvement
• 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 transformation skills

Project Management & Implementation

• Instruct, train & motivate a crew to complete high quality technical conservation 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 and large SUVs with trailers