TITLE: Youth Crew Leader 

REPORTS TO: Youth Programs Manager 

LOCATION: Salida, CO | Los Valles Office 

STATUS: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt  

DATES: March 29th – August 13th, 2021

WAGES: $685/week

HEALTH BENEFITS: Not eligible

BENEFITS: 3 days’ discretionary time, 5 PTO days built in, Food provided while in the

field, uniforms, protective equipment, U.S. Forest Service recognized OHLEC Chainsaw

training, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Mandatory Reporter Training,

Trauma Informed Approach Training, and Restorative Justice Training

MULTIPLE POSITIONS OPENED UNTIL FILLED.

**For the health and safety of our crews, staff and communities, projects may be postponed due to COVID-19.  The information provided below is an outline of how our program has typically been operating, however is subject to change. As this situation develops, and decisions are made, we will provide updates. We encourage you to continue with the application process and we will keep consistent and direct communication with all applicants.

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. The SCC Los Valles office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, in Salida Colorado, and serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. SCC Los Valles supports youth (ages 14-17), adult (ages 18-30), and veteran (ages 21-35) fire programs 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 position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. Leaders will be mentors, educators and facilitators for high school students, working to increase youth resiliency, build confidence and to be positive role models. Los Valles youth crews are heavily composed of Chicano/Latinx youth, youth from challenging homes, and youth from rural communities. SCC’s Youth Crew Leaders 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. In June, crew leaders will mentor a CLDP and co-lead two 5-week sessions with high school students ages 14-18. Crews will complete a variety of local conservation projects. Crew Leaders can expect to work 10 days on and 4 days off during the training season, and 5 days on, 2 days off during the summer.

RESPONSIBILITIES/REQUIRED SKILLS: 

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
    • Employ a trauma-informed approach to building crew dynamics
    • 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)

• Implement skills training on work-site 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.

 PROJECT MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of six high school students to efficiently complete conservation projects within 8 hours of project work/day, while managing quality of work

• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SCC staff

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT

**Implement and enforce SCC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Policies and Procedures (provided to applicants during interview process), including mask use, handwashing, and sanitizing crew vehicles and gear.

• 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 crew’s and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers *Implement and enforce COVID policies including sanitation protocols, mask wearing, and social distancing

ADMINISTRATION

• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, behavior management forms, 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 from diverse backgrounds.

• Must hold current advanced medical certification (WFR, WEMT) with CPR/AED, or receive certification prior to March 29th, 2021.

• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment

• Technical trail construction and maintenance experience

• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions

• 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:

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps

• Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people

• Desire to work on a variety of conservation-based projects. 

• Strong conflict resolution skills

• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others

TO APPLY:

For SCC LOS VALLES, equity is a core value. To put power behind this statement, we prioritize and encourage opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans, Women of Color (QTBIPOC). Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply through our website. For inquiries, contact: 

Aubrey Tamietti | Youth Programs Manager

SCC Los Valles - Salida, CO Office

719-298-1475 | aubrey@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, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

Required Skills Required Experience

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in one of several related degrees listed below.
• Also allowed, a Master’s degree in any field, plus 18 graduate credits in one of the related degrees listed below.

RELATED DEGREES: Biology, a biology-related, or a medical or health-related discipline (i.e. Medical Doctor, Chiropractic, Physician Assistant, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Dentistry, ) or Master’s of Education with 18 graduate credits in biology-related discipline such as, Agricultural Sciences, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Biology/Science Education (maximum of 6 graduate credits can be applied to the 18 required), Biomedical Sciences, Biosciences, Biotechnology, Botany, Cancer Biology, Cardiophysiology, Cell Biology, Conservation-Wildlife/Plant/Animal, Developmental Biology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Evolutionary Biology, Embryology, Entomology, Environmental Science, Environmental Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Genetics, Immunology, Kinesiology, Limnology, Mammology, Marine Sciences, Marine Biology, Medical Sciences, Microbiology – Soil/Medical/Veterinary, Molecular Biology, Mycology, Natural Sciences, Neuroanatomy, Neurobiology, Neuroscience, Nutritional Sciences, Ornithology, Pathology, Pathophysiology, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Therapy, Physiology, Plant and/or Animal Sciences, Public Health – Epidemiology/Infectious Disease/Toxicology, Veterinary Sciences, Virology, Zoology.