Title: Crew Leader II - Backcountry Trails
Reports to: CCNM Program Coordinator
Location/s: Las Cruces, NM
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program
Dates: 05/18/2026 - 10/30/2026
Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.
Benefits: Paid training, food budget while on hitch, Employee Assistance Program, health benefits for eligible positions.
Training: Generally, the term begins with leadership training which focuses on developing outdoor leadership skills, goal setting, technical and field skills training and developing an understanding of CCNM policies and procedures. Following leadership training, most seasons will begin with an orientation with Crew Leaders and Crew Members that includes Leave No Trace, Outdoor Living & Nutrition, and Wilderness First Aid. Informal hands-on training will continue throughout the term with on- the- ground skills training.
This crew will be given GPS/inReach communications training, backcountry mapping/orienteering, pack animal safety, and crosscut training.
Housing: Housing on days off is not provided.
One position available.
Application closes April 26, 2026
Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)
Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. CCNM crews are typically based in Las Cruces, NM and all project work will take place on public lands in New Mexico and surrounding states. CCNM's Field Crew program engages motivated young adults, ages 18-30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout southern New Mexico and surrounding states.
Position Summary:
The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water.
Standard schedule generally consists of 8 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 6 days off with some exceptions. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.
The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities.
Black Fire Recovery Effort Crew Leader:
This crew will be dedicated to working in the Black Fire burn scar; rehabilitating, restabilizing, and re-opening trails. The Black Fire burned over 100,000 acres in the Gila National Forest in 2022, mainly in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Trails in the area were in poor condition and often barely navigable before the fire. These trails are very rugged. Incredibly steep in places, generally overgrown with thorny rose and locust, and often lacking reliable water sources for miles. The goal of this project is to open the trails up to safe foot traffic and pack stock use while mitigating future erosion. This could include corridor clearing, tread reconstruction and maintenance, building rock retaining walls and/or check dams, and constructing and clearing drainage features.
Due to the remote, isolated location of this project, the crew will stay in the field for 6 weeks at a time. During that time, members should expect to have limited communication with people outside of the program - cell service is unavailable at most backcountry sites. Leaders will have access to Garmin inReach devices and will be expected to communicate with CCNM staff on a daily basis. During the time at the backcountry site, members will not have access to developed amenities (e.g. showers, laundry machines, flush toilets, beds, etc.). Personal hygiene will be maintained through the use of solar showers and hand-crank laundry devices. Shared camp gear (stoves, pots/pans, water jugs) and food will be provided while in the backcountry.
Because of the lack of available water in the trail network, pack stock will be used to bring water into base camp locations. Occasionally the stock may help bring in food, tools, or equipment, but generally you should be prepared to carry all your own food, gear and tools into the worksite and at the end of the hitch – this may mean carrying a pack that weighs 60-80 pounds. The average base camp will be 7-10 miles into the backcountry. You may also be asked to help carry empty water jugs back to the trailhead. Because you will be working in proximity to pack animals, you will be provided training on proper safety and etiquette around pack animals.
Crew leaders need to demonstrate the ability to manage crew safety, efficiency, and productivity in a remote backcountry setting for an extended period of time. Knowledge of proper packing techniques, food storage (including bear hangs), Garmin inReach/two-way radios, backcountry cooking and hygiene will be essential to the success of this crew.
Responsibilities:
Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor assistant crew leader (or Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP): provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
- 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 safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
- Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. 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 young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale.
- Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.
- Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader (or Crew Leader in Development), & staff
Safety & Risk Management
- Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety.
- Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
- Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with CL Driver policy.
- Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.
Administration
- Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure
- Manage food budget and credit card for purchases.
- Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.
Camp Management
- Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks).
- Monitor and manage crew community needs in camp.
- Instruct crew in how to create a safe, hygienic, and tidy camp environment while mitigating crew caused impacts to campsites, practicing minimum impact camping techniques.
- Maintain all program policies and procedures in camp environment.
- Leading a camping crew is an intensive commitment requiring a continuous physical presence. Leaders must remain physically present, and cognitively and emotionally available to support community and individual crew member needs.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Full commitment to the program and its mission.
- Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies.
- Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
- Must hold current advanced medical certification (for backcountry crews: 80 hours Wilderness First Responder with CPR/AED or higher; for front country crews: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
- Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50+-hour work week including managing projects, camping, and programmatic policies and integrity throughout.
- Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
- Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders.
- Able to work long days in adverse conditions.
- Must be able to speak, understand and write English.
- High School diploma or GED certificate.
- Must over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).
Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:
- Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
- Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel.
- Facilitation and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
- Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
- Strong conflict resolution skills.
- Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience.
- Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
- Familiarity working in Indigenous communities
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.
Other Considerations:
- Having a personal vehicle is recommended for this position to transport yourself between your living arrangement and our office.
- The ability to live, work and camp in rural New Mexico is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year (ranging from below freezing in winter to 105+ F in the summer).
Any questions can be addressed to:
Genevieve Tucker Crew Program Director
gtucker@conservationlegacy.org
(575) 640-8540
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.
