Job Title: Seeds of Success- Crew Leader
Reports to: Watershed Programs Manager and Watershed Program Coordinator
Location: Rig up in Durango, CO; Crew will serve in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico including Mesa Verde National Park, Bandelier National Monument, and Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program
Dates: Start date July 20, 2026. End November 6, 2026. Weather and seed dependent.
Wages: $1050/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.
Two SCC field shirts and sweatshirt.
Supplemental career development opportunities and funds available throughout and upon successful completion of the season.
Hiring Benefits: Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions for a federal agency. Eligible to be used for two years upon completion of term
Application closes: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Position Summary:
The crew leader will supervise two crew members and an assistant crew leader for a Department of Interior (DOI) Seeds of Success (SOS) team, operated by the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC). The crew will be based out of the SCC Durango office. The crew will collect seeds from native species in remote areas on DOI land following SOS protocols. Crews will be required to drive to different areas throughout Colorado, camp overnight, potentially hike several miles a day, and return to the office for equipment and data management. This position requires significant driving relative to other types of field work. Crew leaders must be prepared for long days of driving and scouting from a truck. This position also requires the ability to maintain focus during highly repetitive and meticulous work. Safety is a pre-requisite, particularly where industry development (energy extraction, e.g. natural gas) is occurring during hunting season. Risk management will guide how fieldwork is conducted. The crew leader will be responsible for adhering to check-out/check-in procedures and communications via inReach device to ensure crew safety.
Seed collected by DOI is saved in short- and long- term storage to support development of plant materials for land restoration purposes by DOI and other entities. The crew leader will oversee and be accountable for successful data management, including record filing, database input, and seed processing in order to preserve plant species for future generations.
Specific duties will include selecting and locating populations of plant species based on the established SOS Protocol, and locally developed target species lists. The crew leader will oversee fieldwork and work with crew members to locate populations of targeted species, monitor phenology of the population, collect botanical voucher specimens, assess seed quantity and quality prior to seed collection, collect seed, record site data, prepare documentation, and ship collected seed for cleaning and short-term storage. The ability to identify plants both in the field and in the office via dichotomous keys is an important function of the position. However, help with plant ID will be provided, and IDs will be reviewed. The crew leader will use ArcGIS tablet applications (i.e. ArcCollector) software to locate and document collections. Use of 4-wheel drive vehicles in rugged off-road situations is expected. Familiarity with this equipment is highly desirable, but training will be provided where needed.
While Seeds of Success is the primary focus, the crew may also assist with other conservation program projects during the season to promote additional education and experience.
This 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 diverse teams and those from a variety of populations and communities.
Housing: Crews are responsible for their own housing, transportation, and food between camping trips. For the most part, housing is not provided. We are glad to talk through your options with you in the interview and onward.
Training: 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 SCC policies. Following leadership training, crew leaders will attend a SOS protocol training with the Bureau of Land Management. Informal hands-on training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training. The crew leader will help train the crew members and contribute to a regional seed collection training. Depending on the project needs, crews may receive specialized training.
Schedule: Season will start with two weeks of training, 5 days on, 2 days off. Once in the field, hitch schedule will vary based on need with switching from 4 days on, 3 days off to 8 days on, 6 days off. Applicants should expect the project schedule to vary and to have nontraditional work hours including weekends and evening hours. Workdays will start with stretch and safety where crews warm up and review any safety risks for the day. Days include two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.
Gear: Participants must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. A suggested gear-list will be provided prior to starting the term of service. Additionally, SCC has pro-deals and some gear available to borrow.
Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
Work in tandem with the assistant crew lead to communicate directions, project specifications, and provide constructive feedback.
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.
Organize and control the quality of data collection.
Coordinate field logistics, scheduling, crew tasks, and management of the crew’s equipment.
Safety & Risk Management
Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional safety.
Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure.
Camp Management
Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks).
Monitor and manage crew 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.
College graduate with degree in botany, plant ecology plant biology, plant systematics, ecology (preferred); or with experience in botany and a degree in environmental science, range science, wildlife biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related field.
Experience performing plant identification and using various dichotomous keys to identify plants to species level.
Must be at least 21 years old upon hire.
Must possess a driver’s license for 3 or more years without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).
Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
Able to produce identification as stipulated by I-9 upon hire.
Must be able to speak, understand and write English.
Full commitment to the program and its mission.
Must hold current advanced medical certification (for front country crews: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
Capable of standing and walking (about 2 miles/day on rough, steep, off-trail uneven terrain using a handheld GPS for route-finding), bending and crouching for long periods while, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100-degree (F) heat while maintaining attention to detail and overall positive attitude.
Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads in remote areas for extended periods of time.
Excellent judgment in assessing physical, mental, and emotional risk while effectively working/living in and around adverse conditions, including extreme heat, sun exposure, monsoonal rains, and hazardous wildlife (i.e., rattlesnakes, scorpions, biting/stinging insects, cattle, and horses).
Experience camping in remote areas for multiple days.
Navigation software (Field Maps, Avenza, GAIA, etc.) and Microsoft Suite software.
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.
Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
Excellent communication (including in-person, email, and phone), organizational, and planning skills.
Self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period, with excellent discernment of when to ask for help and when to make decisions on your own.
Willingness to learn, teach, and adhere to best practices for field safety, comfort, and Leave No Trace principles.
Have self-awareness, desire for a positive crew culture, and excitement at the chance to have a close experience with the land.
Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:
Experience performing seed collection (preferably using SOS protocol).
Terminology, techniques, data collection, and analysis methods, as well as equipment used in field biological research.
Experience working in regions with high floristic diversity.
Knowledge of creating, downloading, and using maps, and performing basic analysis and organizing data.
Experience collecting, managing and summarizing data for plant monitoring programs.
Any questions can be addressed to:
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.
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.
