Title: Watershed Programs Coordinator                          

Starting Salary: $22.93 - $23.61/hour range, depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position. 

Location: Durango, CO  

Status: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt  

Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Long-Term Disability, Retirement, Paid Time Off per Personnel Policies  

Reports to: Watershed Programs Manager 

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 supports local watershed restoration initiatives for the Southwest Conservation Corps and its partners. The position oversees and mentors 2-3 person crews in the watershed program and supports 8-person adult crews that work on restoration and invasive species projects. The WPC ensures crews are prepared to maintain safety, program integrity, and complete quality work in the field by providing pre-project support and in-the-field guidance. 

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​The WPC assists with the coordination and management of Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP) activities and other watershed restoration operations run out of the Southwest Conservation Corps Durango Office. This position’s primary DRRP responsibilities involve implementation planning for crew and volunteer projects; and assisting with the management of the rapid monitoring program. This position participates in crew leader and member orientations and trainings, and also assists with managing the SCC herbicide program.​ 

Essential Responsibilities and Functions: 

​​Recruiting, Interviewing and Selection of Corps Leaders and Members​ 

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

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

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

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• Facilitate and develop trainings.
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• Implement risk management procedures and trainings in the field and ensure they continue throughout the field season.
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• Assist with training and development of crews.
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• Assist with the training and implementation of herbicide work and field data collection.
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• Attend watershed partnership meetings and provide technical support as needed.
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• Assist with the development of watershed restoration projects. 
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• Assist in the coordination of volunteer events and related educational components for the public, including school groups.
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Organizational Advocacy 

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• Successfully engages, leads, and supports an inclusive work environment for those of underrepresented populations within the organization and the communities we serve. 
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• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals. 
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• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual. 
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• Cultivate a positive environment amongst crews, in which leaders and members feel supported in achieving their personal and professional goals and gain both technical and interpersonal skills.
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• Work in a dynamic, rapidly changing, and challenging environment that requires flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to work a varying schedule.
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• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned. 
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Other “Hats” You May Wear: Customer Service, Relationship Development, Marketing, Administrative, Supervision or Mentorship to Others, Facilitator, Trainer, Facilities, Human Resources, Supervisor 

Physical Requirements:  

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 job functions. This position requires 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle is also required for this position. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

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• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of BIPOC communities. 
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• Minimum of 2 years of experience in youth development or corps field. 
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• Experience with influencing diverse groups of employees to achieve common goals. 
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• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
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• The ability to carry out assigned work independently or with minimal supervision.
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• The ability to communicate effectively, manage complexity cultivate innovation, drive and influence results of oneself and others.
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• Ability to work well with others and to seek assistance when needed to carry out assignments.
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• Ability to evaluate inputs in a rapidly changing work environment and make decisions that affect the safety and work of employees.
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• Familiarity with ArcGIS software
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• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms. 
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• Ability to keep others, in remote locations, accountable to expectations.
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• Valid Driver’s License and Insurable Driving Record
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• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history check requirements.
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• Experience leading Conservation Legacy programs, members, or administrative systems.
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Preferred Qualifications:  

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• Relevant bachelor’s degree, with an emphasis place on restoration ecology or similar degree OR equivalent past directly related professional riparian restoration experience.
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• Previous collaborative working experience with federal/state land management agency partners.
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• Prior working experience in and/or knowledge of riparian restoration and ecology of in the American Southwest.
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• Previous experience collaborating in natural resource management partnerships/coalitions.
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• Working proficiency with ArcGIS software
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• Previous program and/or leadership experience with a conservation youth corps.
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• Prior corps program development and administration experience.
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• Experienced skill level in working with partnerships and diverse groups of stakeholders.
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• Certified Wilderness First Responder or willingness to pursue immediately.
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• Sense of humor and desire to make a positive difference in people and on the land.
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To Apply: Send Cover letter and resume to Nate Peters at npeters@conservationlegacy.org 

Subject line in this email must include “Applicant Your Name)”.  

Application Deadline: 11/24/2023 

Position starts mid-January 2024.

Cover Letter must include a response to the following question:  Provide some examples of your experience effectively working with diverse communities, including those specific to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other underrepresented populations, in personal or professional context.   

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, 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 a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.