Title: CCNM Crew Leader II – Backcountry Trails – Backfill/Immediate Start

Reports to: Program Director 

 

Location: Las Cruces, NM 

 

560 N. 17th Street  

Las Cruces, NM 88005 

 

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program   

Dates: ASAP - 12/12/25 

Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.    

Benefits: Paid training, food budget while on camping hitch, Employee Assistance Program, health benefits for eligible positions 

 

This is an immediately available backfill position. Please include a cover letter and resume to be considered. Previous outdoor leadership experience, wilderness medical training, and crosscut saw experience highly preferred.  

 

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM) engages motivated young adults, ages 18 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the western United States. CCNM crews serve in a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and other public areas. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, historic preservation, chemical and mechanical invasive plant removal, and local environmental service projects. CCNM provides opportunities for members to learn about the local environment and conservation issues throughout the duration of the program.

 

Position Summary:   

The Crew Leader position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives, while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water. 

 

The standard schedule generally consists of a two-week hitch cycle with 8 days in the field as a crew and 6 days off, with some exceptions for irregular program needs. Crew Leaders are required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff, typically the day after returning from the project (Wednesday, the Ninth Day). While out on hitch, crews camp, prepare all meals, complete project work, and do chores together as a team. Because of the nature of this work schedule, time off will not be permitted during hitches, and program participants are expected to plan accordingly.  
 

The Crew Leader position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. There is also a significant administrative component to this position, as the Leader is responsible for approving timesheets, managing crew budget and receipts, and submitting timely Post-Hitch Accomplishments, just to name a few. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on diverse teams and with people from a variety of populations and communities. 

 

Black Fire Recovery Effort Crew Leader:  

This crew will be dedicated to working in the Black Fire burn scar; rehabilitating, restabilizing, and re-opening trails. The Black Fire burned over 100,000 acres in the Gila National Forest in 2022, mainly in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Trails in the area were in poor condition and often barely navigable before the fire. These trails are very rugged. Incredibly steep in places, generally overgrown with thorny rose and locust, and often lacking reliable water sources for miles. The goal of this project is to open the trails up to safe foot traffic and pack stock use while mitigating future erosion. This could include corridor clearing, tread reconstruction and maintenance, building rock retaining walls and/or check dams, and constructing and clearing drainage features.  

Because of the lack of available water in the trail network, pack stock will be used to bring water into base camp locations. Occasionally the stock may help bring in food, tools, or equipment, but generally you should be prepared to carry all your own food, gear and tools into the worksite and at the end of the hitch – this may mean carrying a pack that weighs 60-80 pounds. The average base camp will be 7-10 miles into the backcountry. You may also be asked to help carry empty water jugs back to the trailhead. Because you will be working in proximity to pack animals, you will be provided training on proper safety and etiquette around pack animals. 

Crew leaders need to demonstrate the ability to manage crew safety, efficiency, and productivity in a remote backcountry setting. Knowledge of proper packing techniques, food storage (including bear hangs), Garmin inReach/two-way radios, backcountry cooking and hygiene will be essential to the success of this crew.  

 

Responsibilities:   

Leadership & Mentorship  

Mentor assistant crew leader: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.  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, and refraining from the use of alcohol and drugs while involved in the program. 

 

Project Management & Implementation   

Train, motivate, and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality work and crew morale.   Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.    Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader, and 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 CL Driver policy.   Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy. 

 

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 purchases.  Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month. 

 

Camp Management 

Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores (or camp tasks).  Monitor and manage crew 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 the 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 more years, without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport duties).    

 

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:   

Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.    Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel.    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.    Technical trails, crosscut or chainsaw, rock work, or other applicable experience & certifications.  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. 

  

Benefits: Health benefits eligible. Employee Assistance Program provided. Food provided while in the field. Uniforms and personal protective equipment also provided.

 

Housing:  

CCNM is an independent, non-residential program – we do not provide housing. It is advised that all participants supply their own outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. because rental supplies are limited and given out on a first-come first-served basis. A suggested gear list will be provided before starting the term of service. CCNM will provide the tools, personal protective gear, crew meal budget, and project transportation. Additionally, CCNM has Pro Deals opportunities to receive discounts on some outdoor gear brands. 

 

Any questions can be addressed to:   

Genevieve Tucker 

Crew Program Director 

Gtucker@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.