2023 Four Corners Youth Crew Leader

Title: Youth Crew Leader  

Reports to: Youth Programs Coordinator 

Location: Durango, CO | Four Corners Office  

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Non-exempt   

Dates: March 27th** – August 11th, 2023, OR November 17th, 2023; start date flexible on case-by-case basis 

Leaders who stay on for the fall season will lead youth crews in the summer and young adult crews in the fall   
**Start date flexible on a case-by-case basis. Leaders must start by May 8th at the latest.  

Wages: $690-800/week DOE, DOQ 

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

Training:  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 Training. 

Housing: SCC-Durango is piloting a Host-Housing program based on need and will be securing a camping location for leaders and CLDPs during the spring season. Options will be reviewed in the interview process. 

Multiple positions opened until filled. 

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily 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.  

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. 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 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 

Southwest Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate resourcefulness, effective communication skills, excellent judgement and decision-making, maturity, initiative, professionalism, and the desire to devote themselves to youth, the environment and a crew experience. The Crew Leader position requires patience, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors. Leaders take a trauma informed approach to working with peers and youth in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew, as well as safety and well-being.   

Crew leaders will be paired with another Crew Leader OR with an AmeriCorps Crew Leader in Development (CLDP). This will be determined based on experience and preference. They will be responsible for mentoring the CLDP through development plans and goal setting. The intention of this pairing is to give the CLDP the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to take on full Crew Leader responsibilities the following season.

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 

* Implement and enforce SCC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Policies and Procedures if relevant 
* 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, disciplinary action 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 or experience with experiential and/or environmental education 

* Must hold current advanced medical certification (WFR, WEMT) with CPR/AED, or receive certification prior to March 27th, 2023. 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. Not having a vehicle is possible but will require coordination on your end.  

* Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the spring and summer season  

If you would like to learn more about the position, need assistance with the application or have any questions about the position, please reach out to: 

Jacob Mandell | Youth Programs Coordinator                             

SCC Four Corners - Durango, CO Office 

970-238-6454 | jmandell@conservationlegacy.org