Contact Name: Morgan Brandenburg
Company/Organization/Agency: Southwest Conservation Corps
Address: 701 Camino Del Rio Suite 101, Durango, Colorado 81301 United States
Email Address: mbrandenburg@conservationlegacy.org
Contact Phone: (970) 946-2029
Job Title: Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew Member - Durango, CO
Job Description: Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew
Title: Crew Member
Location: Durango, CO
Status: Seasonal, Full-time
Start/end date: March 23rd, 2020 – end of October 2020
Wages: $550 / week
Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award. Food provided while in the field, uniforms, personal protective equipment, training in multiple rapid vegetation protocols and other development opportunities.
Southwest Conservation Corps:
The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. SCC supports youth, adult camping crews (ages 18-30), and Veteran fire crews (ages 18-35) with crew-based programming to complete challenging and impactful conservation projects throughout the Four Corners and Los Valles Regions. Projects include, trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species removal, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, habitat/vegetation surveying, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief. SCC crews work in national parks, forests, and other public lands throughout central and southwestern Colorado.
Position Summary:
This Multi-Watershed Monitoring Crew will work with watershed groups across the Southwest to perform vegetation surveying along streamside habitat in 4 watersheds in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watershed groups include the Dolores River Restoration Partnership, Escalante River Watershed Partnership, Friends of the Verde River, and Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona. Vegetation monitoring is crucial to informing river restoration efforts across these watersheds that have been severely impacted by invasive species and other stressors.
The primary responsibility of this crew is to collect vegetation monitoring and species inventory data according to each watershed’s rapid monitoring protocol. This crew consists of two individuals (1 crew leader and 1 crew member) that will tie in and work closely with field staff from each watershed group in order to collect data. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of each partnership. Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work remotely (sometimes in backcountry settings) are essential for this position. 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 4-5 days on, 2-3 days off to 8-9 days on, 5-6 days off. Although this position is based in Durango, the crew may be stationed in Arizona or Utah for extended lengths of time while working with the various watershed groups. SCC does not provide accommodations off-hitch and Crew Members will be responsible for their own accommodations during that time.
Minimum Qualifications
To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, have a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), 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 vegetation monitoring/inventory and field data collection. Experience working independently and with a team in the outdoors, including navigating to sites with a team, are also preferred. A relevant Bachleors degree as well as GPS and GIS experience are a plus.
Participant Essential Eligibilty 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.
Job Start Date: 3/23/2020
Application Deadline: 3/16/2020
Additional Information: To apply:
Upload resume, cover letter and complete the Crew Member application
Any questions can be addressed to:
Emily Kasyon, Watershed Programs Manager: ekasyon@conservationlegacy.org
(Sent via Professional TrailBuilders Association)