Job Description
Title: Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Leader
Dates of Employment: March 17, 2025 – October 24, 2025
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt
Location: Based out of Durango, CO. Working in SW Colorado, Arizona, and Utah
Salary: $1128 / week
Benefits:
Health Benefit Eligible
Uniforms, Personal Protective Equipment and Food while in field
Training in multiple rapid vegetation monitoring protocols
Deadline: February 3, 2025
Program Summary:
The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals).
Position Summary:
This Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew will work with watershed groups across the Southwest to perform vegetation surveying along streamside habitat in 3 watersheds in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watershed groups include the Dolores River Restoration Partnership, Escalante River Watershed Partnership and Friends of the Verde River. Vegetation monitoring is crucial to informing river restoration efforts across these watersheds that have been severely impacted by invasive species and other stressors. The crew will also engage in a couple weeks of restoration work in the Summer or Fall.
The primary responsibility of this crew is to collect vegetation monitoring and species inventory data according to each watershed’s rapid monitoring protocol. This crew consists of two individuals (1 crew leader and 1 crew member) that will tie in and work closely with field staff from each watershed group in order to collect data. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of each partnership. Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work and manage a crew remotely are essential for this Crew Leader position. While working (i.e. on-hitch), the crew will camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Hitch schedules may vary between 4 days on/ 3 days off, 5 days on/ 2 days off, or 8 days on/ 6 days off. 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, i.e. Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies:
Responsibilities:
Leadership & Mentorship
Manage, supervise, and lead the day-to-day details of project work
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
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 on hitch
Project Management, Safety & Implementation
Train and motivate a crew to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands
Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work
Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, crew member, & SCC staff.
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.
Administration
Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, disciplinary action forms, incident reports, etc. in a timely manner
Responsible for all project related outcomes and 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 - and therefore have a very clean driving record
Consistently exercise discretion and judgment
Analyze and interpret monitoring data as needed by each watershed group
Must be able to speak, understand, read and write English
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience crew leading with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps
Teaching, facilitation, and team-building experience with diverse groups of people
Strong conflict resolution skills
ArcGIS certification or experience, including use of ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, Arc Collector, and Survey123
Experience performing vegetation surveys or monitoring
Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others
Minimum Qualifications:
Leadership experience
Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others
Ability to manage all aspects of crew life and production effectively and efficiently within a 40-hour work week
Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment
Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders
Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission
Physically capable of standing and hiking (6-10 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 50 pounds, in upwards of 100+ degree (F) heat
Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles
Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads. Willingness to constantly teach and demonstrate best driving practices.
Botanical identification training/experience
Relevant Bachelor’s degree in a relevant degree (botany, range science, wildlife or conservation biology, natural resource management, ecology, watershed science, environmental science, or other related field)
Current 80 hour + medical certification (WFR, WEMT, or OEC) with CPR/AED or willingness to obtain certification before the start of the season
Must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), a current driver’s license, and have had a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years
Ability to pass Conservation Legacy’s criminal history checks
To apply:
Complete the Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Leader application: https://sccorps.org/small-teams
Any questions can be addressed to Seth Davis, Watershed Programs Coordinator: Sdavis@conservationlegacy.org