Location: Based out of Durango, CO

Status: Seasonal, Full-time

Start/end date: April 19, 2021 – October 29, 2021

Wages: $435 / week

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award. U.S. Forest Service recognized Chainsaw training (Certificate awarded upon completion of program). Colorado pesticide applicator examination and licensure. Food provided while in the field, uniforms, and personal protective equipment.

Deadline: Open until filled – 2 positions available

Position Summary:

This Strike Team will work with the Montrose County invasive weed management program and as part of the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP). The DRRP is a public-private collaborative of conservation corps, non-profits, BLM managers, private landowners, and other community members surrounding the Dolores River watershed. The DRRP is in year 11 of an ambitious effort to treat invasive plant species along 175 miles of the Dolores River corridor. The primary responsibilities of this crew are to treat noxious weeds, maintain and participate in revegetation activities such as seeding and planting, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, and perform general restoration activities as needed. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of Montrose county and the DRRP. Flexibility and adaptability are essential for this Strike Team leader position.

This position is an AmeriCorps crew member on a 3-person crew (1 leader, 2 members). While working (i.e. on-hitch), the crew will camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Hitch schedules may vary between 4 days on, 3 days off or 5 days on, 2 days off. There may be instances where this crew will work longer hitches, either 8 days on, 6 days off or 10 days on, 4 days off. SCC does not provide accommodations off-hitch and crew members will be responsible for their own accommodations during that time.

 For the health and safety of our crews, staff and communities, projects may be postponed due to COVID-19.  The information provided is an outline of how our program has typically been operating, however is subject to change. As this situation develops, and decisions are made, we will provide updates. We encourage you to continue with the application process and we will keep consistent and direct communication with all applicants. 

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position:

Participant 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.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program, including conservation projects, education, training and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harrassment of others for any reason.
• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all time.

Safety and Judgement

• 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. You 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, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills

• Learn and practice Leave No Trace ethics and techniques.
• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free

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

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), have had a driver’s license for at least 3 years, a current driver’s license, and be a US citizen that has received (or on track to receive) a high school diploma or GED. First Aid/CPR required. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check.

Must be physically capable of standing and walking (at a minimum 6 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100+ degree (F) heat.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidates for this position have knowledge of native and invasive plants in the southwest, and some experience with herbicide use, treatment of invasive plants, and vegetation monitoring/field data collection. Experience working independently and with a team in the outdoors, including navigating to sites with a team, is also preferred.  A relevant Bachelors degree as well as GPS and GIS experience are a plus.

Emily Kasyon, Watershed Programs Manager: ekasyon@conservationlegacy.org