Watershed Programs Coordinator

Title: SCC Four Corners Watershed Programs Coordinator

Starting Salary Range: The starting salary for this position will be in the 22.93-23.62 range, depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position.  Please note that the indicated starting salary range describes the range for an incumbent in this position.  Most new staff generally start at the beginning of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.

Location: Durango, Colorado/Not Remote Eligible. 

Status:  Term Position, Non-Exempt

Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Short/Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Retirement, Paid Time Off per Personnel Policies, Supplemental benefits including critical care, pet insurance, supplemental life, and others.

Reports to: SCC Four Corners Watershed Program Manager

Posting Period: Please apply before January 19, 2026

Term: Start date no earlier than March 30, 2026. End date no later than November 20, 2026 dependent on funding.

Organizational Summary: 

Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit.  The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands.   These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air, and water; thriving people and resilient communities.

Program Summary:  

The 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 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). 

Position Summary:

The Watershed Programs Coordinator (WPC) position mainly supports local watershed restoration and invasive plant initiatives for the Southwest Conservation Corps and its partners. The position oversees and mentors 2 crews in the watershed program and supports other crew models across the program dependent on applicable skillsets. The WPC ensures crews are prepared to maintain safety, program integrity, and complete quality work in the field by providing pre and post-project support and in-the-field guidance. This position will assist in the development of recruitment and outreach strategy, GIS database management, and herbicide inventory and management.

The WPC assists with the coordination and management of watershed restoration operations run out of the Southwest Conservation Corps Durango Office. This includes coordination of the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP). Primary DRRP responsibilities include implementation planning, data management and reporting, and training for crew and volunteer projects. This position also assists with the management of the multi-watershed rapid monitoring program, other watershed restoration opportunities, and diverse crew projects as needed throughout the season. This position participates in crew leader and member orientations and training and assists with managing the SCC herbicide program. 

Outcomes & Functions of Position:

Recruiting, Interviewing and Selection of Corps Leaders and Members 

• Work as part of an SCC recruiting and member development team to develop and implement a recruitment strategy.
• Participate in recruiting visits to schools, community partners, career fairs, etc.
• Coordinate and complete interviewing, selection, and placement of crew leaders and members.
• Assist with hiring, including writing position descriptions, screening applicants, and offering positions.
• Work in an office setting. Facilitate and manage the submission of all participant hiring, program, and AmeriCorps paperwork.

Program Administration 

• Work closely with the administrative staff to ensure compliance of paperwork and AmeriCorps requirements for yourself, leaders, and corps members.
• Manage multiple databases for recruitment, selection, payroll, AmeriCorps information and onboarding.
• Work within an established program budget; manage credit cards, receipts, and financial reporting.
• Ensure crew leader compliance with credit card reconciliations.
• Assist Watershed Programs Manager with grant reporting.
• Collect, manage, and disperse program paperwork. Verify accuracy of all paperwork including timesheets, post hitch accomplishments, photos, etc.
• Communicate with Partners to develop project specifications and prepare all necessary documentation prior to and at the conclusion of project work.
• Assist with coordinating and organizing DRRP volunteer projects with various entities and age groups.
• Assist with DRRP outreach/communication initiatives and attend partnership meetings.
• Assist with GIS database management, crew training, and troubleshooting in ArcGIS, Field Maps, Avenza and others across programs as applicable to project work

Field Support

• Oversee and mentor crews and other staff in the field. Provide technical expertise, guidance, and emotional support to crew leaders in the field. Identify positive working solutions to crew management issues for leaders.
• Ensure project quality and quantity by providing technical assistance to and accountability of crew leaders in the field.
• Model risk management procedures in the field to create a safe working environment.
• Manage and participate in leader debriefs after each hitch.
• Enforce all SCC policies and procedures.
• Comfortability and flexibility with an ever-shifting work schedule.
• Occasionally standing in for crew leaders when sick or on PTO. May require overnight stays.
• Coordinate regular field visits with partners and crews when needed.
• Review incidents, workers comp claims and process accordingly as per Conservation Legacy protocols.
• Conducts project site visits and finalizes project specs.
• Participate in rotating On-Call system and respond to field emergencies as needed.
• Facilitate technical, policy-based, outdoor living, and soft skills training at leader orientation.
• Assist with managing field work by performing site visits, developing work plans, and coordinating logistics for crews.
• Assist with herbicide training, application, storage, and ordering when necessary.
• Assist with vegetation monitoring protocols. Includes training and supervision of the rapid monitoring team and coordination of monitoring work with various partners.
• Ensure collection of spatial data for all projects by providing set-up, training, support, and post-processing of field data collected through GIS.
• Assist with organizing, managing, and maintaining herbicide equipment.

Program Development

• Facilitate and develop trainings across programs as applicable to individual skillset.
• Implement risk management procedures and training in the field and ensure they continue throughout the field season.
• Assist with training and development of crews across programs as necessary.
• Assist with the training and implementation of herbicide work and field data collection.
• Attend watershed partnership meetings and provide technical support as needed.
• Assist with the development of watershed restoration projects.
• Assist in the coordination of volunteer events and related educational components for the public, including school groups.
• Assist with development of program recruitment strategy and materials
• Assist with GIS troubleshooting and management

Organizational Advocacy

• Successfully engages, leads, and supports a positive work environment for all within the organization and the communities we serve.
• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual.
• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned.

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.

Qualifications: 

• Relevant bachelor’s degree, with an emphasis on restoration ecology or similar degree OR equivalent past directly related professional riparian restoration experience.
• Working proficiency with ArcGIS software
• Chainsaw certification or willingness to obtain
• Experience with herbicide use preferred
• Current Colorado CO pesticide license preferred, willingness to obtain license as soon as possible and apply herbicide required.
• Prior working experience in and/or knowledge of riparian restoration and ecology of in the American Southwest.
• Previous experience collaborating in natural resource management partnerships/coalitions.
• Certified Wilderness First Responder or willingness to pursue immediately.
• Ability to operate Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.
• Ability to keep others and oneself, in remote locations, accountable to expectations.
• Valid Driver’s License and Insurable Driving Record per Personnel Policies.
• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history check requirements.
• Ability to successfully work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Other Competencies Desired for this Position’s Success: Manage Complexity, Resourceful, Effectively Communicate, Cultivate Innovation, Drive, and/or Influence Results, Plans & Aligns.