As wildfires become more common across the American west, Southwest Conservations Corps’ Winter Fuels Mitigation crew provides the opportunity to engage in the important work of fuel mitigation and wildfire prevention within Colorado. For this crew leader position, leaders are expected to hold a minimum of A-Faller chainsaw certification and have 6 months experience running a chainsaw. Projects may include felling, brushing, and/or limbing for the purposes of hazardous fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface. Members will go through S-130/190 training (Firefighter Training and Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior) to be eligible to possibly assist with pile burn operations during their season.

Crew leaders will lead other new sawyers in completing 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 always followed. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role.

Projects will mainly include hazardous fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface but may also include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, re-vegetation, weeding, fencing, facility maintenance, 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.

Schedules consist of 10-hour days that are typically 8-days on and 6-days off. There is a possibility you could serve 4 days on and 3 days off, or a variation of schedules. SCC requires that all crew leaders demonstrate flexibility in scheduling.

Our Salida crew will have housing provided at a low cost for members and leaders for the duration of the program. During project hitches, crews may camp at shelters or may return to their designated housing location in Salida. Our Durango based crew will work on the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, the crew will have access to bunk houses in Magdalena, NM for the duration of the season or may choose to return to Durango for days off.

Required Skills & Experience:

• A-faller and A-bucker chainsaw certification (B-faller and B-bucker preferred)

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

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

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs

• Has a high school diploma or GED

• Experience leading a crew in an outdoor stewardship role or manual labor field (preferred)

Responsibilities & Core Competencies:

Leadership & Mentorship

• 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 trucks 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.

Candidates interested in this position are encouraged to reach out to the respective contact below with inquiries and submit an application on our website.

• Los Valles (Salida): Alix Jensen, ajensen@conservationlegacy.org

• Four Corners (Durango): Kristen Barrett, kbarrett@conservationlegacy.org