Park Ranger Lead

Position Title: Park Ranger Lead (2 Openings) 

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico 

Site Location: Bureau of Land Management – Las Cruces District Office 

1800 Marquess St, Las Cruces, NM 88005 

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, and this position may close at any time. 

RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION 

Dates of Employment:

Start Date: June 8, 2026

End Date: December 4, 2026 

Purpose: 

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with internships, service, and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Public Lands Interpretative Association (PLIA), CCNM will host 2 Park Ranger Leads to lead 5 corpsmembers in various projects. 

These positions will be part of an exciting public land stewardship initiative funded by the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The purpose of YCC is to provide New Mexico youth with opportunities to participate in public projects that conserve natural resources and provide meaningful benefits to communities. These are unique positions with a major focus on leadership experience, training, and career development.  

  

The Park Ranger Lead is an hourly internship position that will support the BLM Las Cruces District Office (LCDO) and PLIA with leading 5 corpsmembers in completing a two-phased public land stewardship initiative. The first phase will focus on BLM LCDO projects such as environmental education, community outreach, habitat restoration, and trail/recreation site maintenance with the goal of helping to protect sensitive desert and riparian ecosystems while improving public access to public lands. For the second phase, Park Ranger Leads will be responsible for managing logistics for PLIA’s Whiptail Trails Program, which engages local 7th and 8th grade students by providing classroom lessons and field trips focused on hiking and learning on public lands. As a culmination of the Whiptail Trails Program, Park Ranger Leads will oversee a weeklong Girls Camp for 10-15 seventh and eighth grade girls to include an overnight camping trip, offering introductory immersive experiences on public lands.  

The Park Ranger Leads will participate in a structured workforce development schedule. At the beginning of their term, Park Ranger Leads will receive valuable training including leadership skills, First Aid, Leave No Trace, Certified Interpretive Guide, Mental Health First Aid, and Defensive Driving.  Park Ranger Leads will conduct BLM projects under the guidance of experienced land management specialists, providing them with meaningful exposure to public land stewardship and career pathways in natural and cultural resource management. While supporting PLIA with the Whiptail Trails Program, Park Ranger Leads will hone leadership and educator skills as well as gain experience mentoring corpsmembers. Park Ranger Leads will also assist PLIA staff with leadership training in preparation for the weeklong Girls Camp. After the Girls Camp, Park Ranger Leads will participate in a two-day CCNM workshop to include resume, cover letter, and interview preparation, how to apply for jobs/networking, and provide an end of term presentation to peers and project staff on a topic of their choice related to their term. During the last month of their term, Park Ranger Leads will work with the BLM and PLIA to share outcomes and feedback regarding the public land stewardship initiative.  

Description of Duties: 

• Work and be mentored by BLM staff on public land recreation and outreach projects.
• Model a public lands stewardship mentality for corpsmembers during BLM projects such as monitoring wilderness, maintaining recreation sites, and other conservation related projects.
• Support BLM departments with leading corpsmembers in outreach, public land education, recreation, visitor services, monitoring and maintaining public land sites.
• Lead corpsmembers with data collection, field surveying, and Wilderness Study Area (WSA) monitoring as needed.
• Support conservation education and stewardship programming (Whiptail Program and Girls Camp).
• Lead and delegate events for YCC members to facilitate such as classroom visits and assist PLIA with field trip implementation by preparing materials, presenting lesson plans, supporting youth engagement, and reinforcing Leave No Trace / responsible public lands use.
• Support PLIA staff with conservation-focused Girls Camp activities by serving as a direct mentor and leader for corpsmembers and youth participants, including lesson support, facilitation, and group leadership (as camp counselor) that builds environmental literacy and stewardship behaviors.
• Serve as a community-rooted representative by sharing personal experiences of growth to encourage participation, building a sense of belonging outdoors, and inspiring interest in conservation pathways for future stewards.
• Assist PLIA with logistics and partner coordination for field-based conservation learning.
• Coordinate with PLIA supervisor to support scheduling and readiness for camps/field trips (materials staging, equipment checks, site communications, teacher/parent coordination) to ensure safe and efficient delivery.
• Support on-site setup/breakdown and activity flow (sign-in/rosters, supply management, small-group rotations).
• Maintain data collection and basic records (supply inventories, trip checklists, participation counts) and communicate needs to staff to strengthen program operations and continuity across sessions.
• Participate in public land partner, teacher, and parent planning meetings (working with parents for girl’s camp only) to support PLIA staff in crafting program implementation plans, address any questions or concerns, and act as a point of contact for specific partners or parents.

Working Conditions: General hazards associated with driving and being outside; driving on uneven terrain; hiking off trail; exposure to rattlesnakes, insects, extreme heat, and rain; possible camping in inclement weather; lifting up to 50lbs at one time; managing youth in active outdoor settings; mitigated through PPE, hydration plans, staff supervision, and established safety procedures. 

Qualifications: 

• Per grant requirements, these positions are for young adults between the ages of 18-25.
• Must be a New Mexico Resident at time of application submission.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a background check.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License – Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Leadership experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, natural resources, sociology or similar fields.
• Conversational Spanish speaking and writing skills a plus.
• Experience working with youth in an educational or caregiving capacity.
• Enthusiasm for working in a team and engaging the public in service to the community.

Physical Requirements: 

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 25 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participation and Expedition Behavior: 

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM, and PLIA to the public and partners at all times.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

  

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

  

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. 

Background Check: 

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date. 

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety. 

  

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.     

  

Time requirements:

This position is expected to work five, eight hour days which will include regular weekend work , but exact schedules may vary. 

  

Orientation and Training: 

• Park Ranger Leads will receive a CCNM orientation that includes an overview of CCNM policies, leadership guidance, and conflict resolution.
• Leadership skills, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Certified Interpretive Guide, Leave No Trace, Defensive Driving.
• PLIA mission/program:
  • Whiptail program orientation; lesson-plan review; youth engagement & group management; culturally responsive and belonging facilitation; environmental interpretation basics; outdoor safety and risk management protocols, incident escalation and reporting
  • Program logistics and planning; equipment handling and safe lifting; communication protocols with schools/partners/parents; documentation practices

Additional Position and Community Information 

• This position will be situated in the city of Las Cruces with access to various amenities such as grocery stores and medical facilities.
• It will be important for the participant to have a personal vehicle during off time.

  

Benefits 

• Hourly Wage: $25.34.
• Gear fund of $500.
• Full-time seasonal position (40 hours per week).
• Lump sum of 48 hours for paid time off.
• Sick leave accrual of 1 hour for every 21 hours worked.
• Healthcare Coverage is available after a 60-day waiting period.

How to Apply Apply on-line. In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. 

  

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, and this position may close at any time. 

  

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Program Contact information: SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@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.