Position Title: Trails Technician Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Cibola National Forest

2113 Osuna Rd NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: June 8, 2026 (anticipated)
• End Date: December 4, 2026 (anticipated)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours

COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, and protect clean air and water among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; introduce participants to numerous pathways within the conservation field; create meaningful learning opportunities; and provide technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

The primary purpose for this position is to support Cibola National Forest staff with providing outdoor access to the public in the form of hiking, equestrian, and biking trails. These are highly sought-out activities, and they provide intangible benefits to the surrounding community. The selected individual placement will help bolster the very limited capacity of current trails staff and add much needed on the ground support to various trail projects.

Description of Duties:

· Trail Fundamentals and construction:

o Gain understanding of basic trail building tools, their use, and methodology of applying treatments to the ground:

§ Basic Tool Functionality

§ PPE Requirements

§ Water Control Structures

§ Advanced trail structures (retaining walls, berm turns, etc.)

· Trail inspection, surveys, and project preparation:

o Understanding of basic trail project management and adherence to USFS specs:

§ Inspections and Surveys (ensuring trails are constructed/ repaired to specifications, identifying concerns, conducting surveys on trail segments)

§ Project Site Prep (flagging trail alignments, identifying hazard and no-go situations)

§ Implementation Prep (ensuring PPE/gear is collected for interns and potential partners)

§ Post work (identifying follow up needs)

· Partnerships/Volunteerism:

o Working with agency partners:

§ Assisting with the coordination of logistics for partners

§ Understanding and working with various personality types

§ Ensuring appropriate level of PPE and training is acquired before moving forward

§ Ability to speak to site specific trail standards

Conditions: exposure from use of hand tools in a field environment (slip/trip/falls, debris from tool strikes, lifting/carrying, front country/backcountry trails exposure, electric/small gas saw use); exposure from the elements in the field and organizing volunteers in a field environment (all related concerns, handling situations with partners in remote location); exposure from working remote locations (may stay overnight near projects sites or in nearby USFS bunkhouses if available, ability to be self-sufficient).

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

· Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years

· Background demonstrates the ability to be trained to perform project tasks.

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous trail experience preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements:

· To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.

· Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.

· Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

· Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.

· Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.

· Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.

· Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.

· Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, Cibola National Forest and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.

· Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:

· Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.

· Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.

· Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.

· If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

· In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to government vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the 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. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Various written, classroom, impromptu and visual learning aids
• Field Training
• Mentoring in a field environment

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• Travel and training funds of $1,500.

· Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.

· Members will have additional hours to take time off for personal, holiday, and sick leave and still complete their minimum AmeriCorps 900-hour term.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member 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:

CCNM Program Contact information:

SamJean Simmons, ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org

Cibola National Forest Contact information:

Russell Berman

Trails & Wilderness Program Manager

Assistant Recreation Program Manager

p: 505-346-3838

russell.berman@usda.gov

First review of applications will take place by 4/20/2026. Position open until filled; candidates can check Individual Placement Positions | Conservation Corps New Mexico to see if the position is still open.

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.