Position Title: Youth Crew Leader
Location: Salida, CO and Alamosa, CO | Los Valles Office
Terms of Service:

• Start Date: April 27, 2026
• End Date: August 5, 2026

Multiple positions available. Open until filled. Applicant review process will begin in January 2026.

Purpose:

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.

The SCC Los Valles (SCCLV) office serves the Upper Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. SCCLV’s office is in Salida, CO, with satellite operations in Alamosa, CO. Our region offers youth and young adult programming. The youth program engages high school youth, ages 15-18, to complete impactful conservation projects in the communities they reside in. We currently serve Park, Chaffee, Saguache, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties.

Position Summary:
This position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. Crew Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for high school students and young adults, working to increase youth resiliency, build confidence and to be positive role models.

Crew Leaders are responsible for overseeing a crew of 6-7 members in collaboration with a Crew Leader in Development (CLDP). Youth Crews are run county by county and complete a variety of local conservation and service projects. The typical schedule is five days on followed by two days off. 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. The day starts with a stretch circle and safety meeting, includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half hour break for lunch. At the end of the hitch, Crew Leaders return to SCC’s base of operations in Salida or Alamosa, dependent on the county they are assigned to leading.

This position requires a high degree of flexibility and a passion for working with people outdoors. The Crew Leader position also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork and reports are due in a timely manner to supervisors. 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. Crew Leaders are ultimately responsible for successes and shortcomings of the crew, as well as safety and well-being.

Responsibilities:
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.
• Facilitate weekly educational lessons to the crew.
• Mentor and delegate project responsibilities and member development to Crew Leader in Development (CLDP).
• Support CLDP in leadership development through goal setting.
• 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 to eight high school students to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands within 8 hours of project work per day, while managing quality of work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively and coordinate logistics with co-leader, project partners, and SCC staff.

Safety & Risk Management

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness and promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crews and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers.

Administration

• Complete professional documentation of timesheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, performance improvement contracts, incident reports, and project related deliverables.
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases.

Environmental Stewardship

• Must have a genuine enjoyment and desire for caring for the land while living and working outdoors in a variety of conditions.
• Desire to learn the technical skills needed to effectively maintain public lands.

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 start date. WFA accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• Flexibility and adaptability while effectively managing a crew during an 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.
• Ability to speak and understand Spanish.
• Ability to effectively work with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of varying communities.

Other Considerations:

• Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation and our work base(s).
• Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the spring and summer season.
• SCC Los Valles will start reviewing applications on January 15, 2026. Please do not expect an interview or communication before that time.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. 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.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Crew Leaders will receive Technical Trails Training, USFS A-Faller Chainsaw Training, Mandatory Reporter Training, and Youth Crew Leader Training.

Benefits:

• $925 - $1125/week paid biweekly DOE DOQ
• Healthcare Coverage Eligible
• 3 Days Off Built into Schedule.
• Food, Uniforms, and Personal Protective Equipment Provided while in the Field.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As a Crew Leader, performance will be evaluated on whether the participant has completed the required number of hours, the participant has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the participant has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Pamela Cisneros | Program Manager
pcisneros@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.