Title: ALCC - Albuquerque Summer NCC Crew Leader

Reports to: Program Coordinator/Manager

Location/s: ABQ Office - 7851 C 2nd St SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program

Dates: 05/11/26 through 08/03/26

Wages: Training weeks $700/week prior to crew members starting.

$925-1125/week, after members start and is depending on prior experience and certifications.

Benefits: Health insurance, PTO, sick leave

Training: 1-week Youth Crew Leader Training. ALCC may provide further trainings dependent on crew needs.

Housing: not available

Application closes 4/20/26.

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 ALCC Summer NCC Crew Lead 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 ALCC Summer NCC Crew Lead 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.

The Native Conservation Corps (NCC) was created in 2010 by NPS staff to provide workforce development, natural resource protection training, and outdoor recreation opportunities for Indigenous youth that are in high school or recently graduated. The crew visits National Parks and Monuments in the southwest for 5-10 days at a time. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps- Native Conservation Corps Crew is a program designed for career shadowing within the NPS. Youth participants ages 17 - 19 work alongside NPS staff, learn about career opportunities with the Parks, complete important conservation projects, and explore and enjoy multiple NPS units in the Southwest during their time with the program. Crew members will visit a variety of different parks and go on a 10-day expedition down the Colorado River! This is a great way to network within the National Park Service and learn about job opportunities in National Parks.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor assistant crew leader (or Crew Leader in Development): 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 member development and foster a safe, healthy, cohesive, 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 alongside 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, emphasizing physical and emotional safety (intimidation free community environment).
• 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 and approval 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 be 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:

Ideal candidate will have a flexible schedule and be willing to alternate between hitch (Tuesday - Tuesday, 8 days camping - 6 days off) and day work (Monday - Friday, 7AM - 3:30PM) schedules throughout the season.

There will be an opportunity to extend season into Fall 2026 with our adult conservation crews, depending on performance as a lead during summer season.

Any questions can be addressed to:

Amber Chapo - Albuquerque Program Manager

• email: achapo@conservationlegacy.org

Isaiah Garcia - Albuquerque Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator

• email: igarcia@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.