Invasive Plant Crew Leader

Title: Invasive Plant Management, Crew Leader

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps, Four Corners

Reports to: Watershed Program Manager

Location/s: Durango, CO

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program  

Dates: April 6, 2026 – August 7, 2026 (with potential to extend through November)

Wages: $925-1125/week depending on prior experience and certifications; $750/week during 7-week training period
* SCC will hire 3 Senior Crew Leaders that will receive in-season rate during training season 

Benefits: Health Benefit Eligible, PTO, Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Mental Health Consultant and Employee Assistance Program.  

Training: Forest Service recognized Chainsaw training, Technical Trails training, as well as mental health and leadership skills training

Housing: SCC-Durango will be securing a camping location for leaders and CLDPs during the spring season. Other options, including a partnership with a local hostel, will be reviewed in the interview process.  

Application closes February 2, 2026.

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals). 

Funded through the America the Beautiful Grant, Southwest Conservation Corps is hiring a Invasive Plant Management Crew in the San Juan Mountain Region. The 3-person crew will treat noxious weeds, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, and perform general restoration activities as needed. The ideal crew leader will have knowledge of native and invasive plants in the Southwest, some herbicide experience, mapping skills, and vegetation monitoring/field data collection, or the desire to learn in the field! Your crew will work a 4-days on, 3-days off schedule, partner and learn from local agencies, make an impact in controlling the spread of noxious weeds in the Southwest. 

The Invasive Plant Management Crew Leader will spend 7 weeks in a crew leader training period alongside fellow Crew Leaders, CLDPs and SCC Staff.

The CL will be provided with study materials, and study time and time to take the exam for the Colorado Certified Pesticide Applicator license (CO license). The license fee will be covered by Conservation Legacy. Licensure gives the crew leader the ability to continue crew training in the field throughout the season and maintain a high level of safety on the project site.

Responsibilities:    

Leadership & Mentorship:    

• 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, Safety & Implementation:     

• Train, motivate and supervise a 3-person crew of young adults to efficiently complete 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 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 Conservation Legacy Driver policy.
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.
• Safe ha

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.
• Accurately log herbicide use and application locations

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:    

• Knowledge of native and invasive plants
• Experience with herbicide, mapping, vegetation monitoring, and field data collection
• Experience with Survey 123 and ArcGIS
• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education
• 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
• Leadership experience
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others

Our Commitment 

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Other Considerations:  

• Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation & our work base; The Old Fort at Hesperus in Hesperus, CO
• Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year

Any questions can be addressed to:  

Lisa Slupianek, Program Director lslupianek@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.