Position: Winter Fire Crew Leader - Los Valles

Start/ End dates: January 6th – March 28th, 2025

Status: Seasonal, Full-time

Location: Salida, CO

Age: Must be 21 or older or have held a driver’s license for 3 years to be on Conservation Legacy’s Driver Policy

Stipend: $844/week

Benefits: Optional low-cost housing, food is provided while in the field, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, USFS recognized chainsaw certification, S-130/190 training course, eligible for Conservation Legacy health insurance

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. SCC supports youth crews, adult trail and chainsaw crews (ages 18-30), and Veteran fire crews (ages 18-35) with crew-based programming to complete challenging and impactful conservation projects throughout the Los Valles and Four Corners Regions. Projects include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species removal, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief. SCC crews work in national parks, forests, and other public lands throughout central and southwestern Colorado.

Optional low-cost housing will be available for members for the duration of the program. Please contact program staff to find out more information.

About the Position

As a crew leader of AmeriCorps program participants with the Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews serve for 4 days at a time in frontcountry (access to your crew vehicle and trailer) locations, in all types of weather conditions. Housing will be provided for members and leaders for the duration of the program. Crew leaders will lead sawyers in completing technical wildland firefighting certification courses and fuel reduction projects while instilling interpersonal and leadership skills. Crew leaders will also be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e. Leave No Trace, and risk management. Risk management is of utmost importance, and all procedures must be followed at all times. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role

Required Skills & Experience :

• B-faller chainsaw certification

• Minimum of 6 months of professional experience felling and limbing using a chainsaw

• Must hold current/relevant certification (WFR, WEMT, OEC) with CPR/AED

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs

• Has a high school diploma or GED

• Experience leading an SCC, or other conservation corps, chainsaw crew.

• Wildland firefighting experience preferred

• Experience working with systems impacted young adults and those of other historically marginalized identities

Responsibilities & Core Competencies:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Integrate values pertaining to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the corps

• Foster collaboration & teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility & adaptability

• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of any kind

• Model effective communication and conflict-resolution skills

Participant and Expedition Behavior

• Serve effectively as a leader of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions

• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program

• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times

Risk Management and Judgement

• Analyze, manage, and inform on hazardous conditions and crew health

• Exhibit strong situational awareness at the worksite 

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

Administrative Skills 

• Meet all deadlines for documentation, i.e., timesheets, evaluations, incident reports, etc.

• Record all project-related outcomes and deliverables

• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases, providing receipts for all purchases

Substance Free

• In accordance with a drug-free program, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in SCC activities and while on organization property.

SCC Los Valles equity is a core value. To put power behind this statement, we prioritize and encourage opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Queer, Trans, and Women of Color (QTBIPOC). Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Brittany LeTendre, Adult Program Manager, bletendre@conservationlegacy.org for inquiries and submit an application on our website.

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, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Required SkillsRequired Experience