CCNM Crew Leader II

Title: Crew Leader II 

Reports to: CCNM Program Coordinator 

Location/s: Las Cruces, NM 

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program   

Dates: 03/17/2025 – 08/09/2025 

Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.    

Benefits: Paid training, food budget while on camping 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 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, Crew Culture and Diversity, and goal setting.  Informal hands-on training will continue throughout the term with on- the- ground skills training.  

Depending on the project needs, crews may receive specialized training. During the season members will have the opportunity to participate in a Wilderness First Aid certification course.    

Housing: Housing on days off is not provided.  

Multiple positions available. Open until filled.

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. Crews work with a variety of land management agencies, spending up to 8 days in the field camping. Projects can be front country or backcountry, with limited to no access to showers and running-water toilets. Backcountry projects involve carrying out all personal supplies (tent, sleeping bag, clothing) as well as group camp supplies (food, water, gear) to the campsite and worksite. 

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 diverse teams and with those from a variety of populations and communities.  

Responsibilities:   

Leadership & Mentorship  

• Lead and participate in Land Acknowledgements that recognize Indigenous communities who have historically and continue to steward the Las Cruces region.
• Employ a restorative justice approach to disciplinary incidents.
• Facilitate and engage in environment education that includes the fraught history of public lands in the United States.
• Model strong communication and conflict transformation skills.
• 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.
• Utilize co-leader pair evaluation as a guide to have an open conversation around performance during the season.
• Rely on program staff during weekly check-ins to provide feedback and support for mentorship.
• Understand and integrate Conservation Legacy’s DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within crew community context.
• 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 CCNM 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.
• Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp.
• Delegate project work and camp chores.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & CCNM staff.

Safety & Risk Management   

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety on and off the work site.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crew and equipment safely in CCNM trucks or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with Conservation Legacy 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.
• Record all project related outcomes and deliverables.
• Meet all deadlines for documentation and data collection.
• Manage food budget and credit card 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.

Environmental Stewardship 

• Must have a genuine enjoyment and desire for caring for the land while living and working outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions.
• Desire for learning or building on technical skills needed to effectively maintain public lands.
• Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques at all times.

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, chainsaw, or herbicide application experience.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

Other Considerations:   

• Having a vehicle is recommended for this position to transport yourself between your living arrangement and our work base.
• 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:   

Richard Clayton 

(575) 294-4537 

rclayton@conservationlegacy.org 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, 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 accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.