Title: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps- Acoma Roving Crew Leader
Reports to: Program Coordinator(s)/Manager
Location/s: Acoma Office 70 Pinsbaari Drive Acoma NM 87034
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program
Dates: 26-week position
Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.
Benefits: Health insurance, PTO, sick leave
Training: Potential trainings offered included: Wilderness First Aid, Chainsaw Training, Trails Training, Crew Leader Development Program Training
Housing: not available
Application closes June 1st, 2026
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) engages motivated young adults, ages 17 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the western United States. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, historic preservation, and local environmental service projects. ALCC provides opportunities for members to learn about and connect with the environment, issues surrounding conservation, and local Indigenous values.
ALCC crews work in a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and other public areas. Selected members are placed on a crew which will then collaborate to perform project work. ALCC is a non-residential program and does not offer housing. Gear and equipment rental is available upon request.
Position Summary:
The Roving Crew Leader (RCL) 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 of working locally in the Acoma area. RCL 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 Roving Crew Leader 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, RCL must exhibit the ability to effectively work on dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities.
The RCL primary role is to bridge the gap between crews in the field and staff in the office. The RCL will be heavily relied on to replace the crew leader (CL) for a few days or for multiple hitches if crew leader is not able to go into the field. The RCL will be responsible for CL's duties if CL is not present. The RCL will offer support in the field to crew leaders and support in office with logistical preparations, inventory and other tasks needed to keep the office running as smoothly as possible. They will support all ALCC crews in Acoma and should be open to supporting crews in other ALCC offices. The RCL should expect to be moved between crews from hitch to hitch as needed to fill gaps, split hitches between crews, and spend a mix of time in the field and working with office staff to achieve other objectives. The RCL should be very flexible in scheduling, travel, and type of work performed from week to week. Overnight travel will be required.
Responsibilities:
Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor crew leader(s) and Assistant Crew Leader(s): 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 crew lead and 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.
- Ability to facilitate trainings to crew leaders and members.
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, Crew Leader & Assistant Crew Leaders, & staff
- Organized and ability to manage multiple projects throughout the season.
- Achieve goals by working independently and in a group.
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.
- 2 years 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: 16 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.
- 1 year of previous experience as a conservation crew leader/supervisor or equivalent experience.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and implement task.
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 experience, using grip hoist,
- Crosscut B-Bucker/Faller certification.
- Chainsaw- B Bucker/Faller certification.
- Knowledgeable in basic tool repair and small engine diagnostics.
- Holds a current 80-hours Wilderness First Responder certification.
- Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
- Familiarity working in Indigenous communities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects at a given time.
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:
- Well-rounded knowledge in conservation work
- Being able to build relationships across all crews and offices(s)
Any questions can be addressed to:
Zada Miller Acoma Program Coordinator
Zmiller@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.
