Title: Ecological Monitoring Program Coordinator Date: 2/5/2024

Reports to: Ecological Monitoring Program Manager

Starting Salary: $22.93 - $23.62/hour range, depending on experience, education, and skills

relevant to the position.

Location: Durango, CO

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

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

Personnel Policies

Posting Period: Please apply by April 29th, 2024

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 Ecological Monitoring Program Coordinator’s (“Coordinator” or “they“) primary responsibilities

are to: recruit and select corps members and crew leaders for all small crews performing the

Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) data collection methodology; Participate in the

planning and execution of crew leader and member trainings; Coordinate communication between

the field and the office; Support and mentor all field staff; Ensure crews are both supported and

prepared to maintain safety, program integrity, and quality projects in the field. Both office and field

operations are required by this position and a flexible schedule is a must. The position is

approximately 80% office-based and 20% field-based, with field visits that may include overnight

stays. They must be available for emergency trips to the field. The Ecological Monitoring Program

Coordinator reports to the SCC Ecological Monitoring Program Manager based out of the Durango,

CO office.

SCC was awarded a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant from the Colorado (CO) and New

Mexico (NM) BLM State Offices to support small corps teams, each typically consisting of a Crew

Lead and one to three Crew Members. Under this grant, SCC and sub-recipient Rocky Mountain

Youth Corps (RMYC) work collaboratively with BLM personnel to complete vegetative, soil, and/or

stream resource surveys according to the Assessment, Inventory, & Monitoring methodology

across CO and NM with many BLM Field and District Offices. At SCC, this cohort of crews and

staff is known as the Ecological Monitoring Program. The continuation of this initiative and this

position is funding-dependent.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

Ecological Monitoring Crew Leader and Member Hiring

• Assist in developing positions for the Ecological Monitoring program with many different project

partners.  

• Develop, oversee, and evaluate an effective strategy to recruit and advertise 38-50 crew

personnel positions, collaborating with other staff as necessary.

• Monitor and review incoming applications for volume and quality.

• Interview, select, and onboard crew leads and members in a timely manner, collaborating

externally and internally as necessary.

• Collect, compile, and process all required intake and enrollment materials for Crew Leaders

and Members.

• Co-manage with the Individual Placements (IP) program any IPs that are funded by AIM¤related agreements and whose roles directly contribute to the partner’s larger efforts of

Ecological Monitoring program.

Training, Field Support, and Development

• Assist in creating and delivering internal orientations and trainings, intentionally aligning with

Conservation Legacy’s strategic initiatives.

• Proactively visit, assist, and support crews in the field as needed.

• Facilitate and encourage opportunities for crew lead and member development.

• Continue with technical program-specific education, training, and industry exposure.

Partner Support and Position Development

• Work with BLM State and Field Office staff contacts and other corps to support CO and NM

BLM AIM programs.

• Facilitate crews’ attendance to technical trainings (provided each year by the BLM), as well as

other trainings requested by the BLM.

• Facilitate consistent field operations and share best practices/learning lessons.

Program Support and Administration 

• Supervise and mentor a cohort of Ecological Monitoring crews and related IPs. 

• Ensure that timesheets are completed promptly and correctly.

• Enforce and monitor appropriate risk management and all SCC Policies and Procedures across

the program

• Review and follow up on incident reports, vehicle accident reports, and worker’s compensation

claims.

• Assist with vehicle leasing, remote fleet management, remote gear cache management, and

other program logistics

• Develop and implement effective and efficient administrative systems for recruitment,

enrollment, management, evaluation, exits, reporting, and marketing.

• Maintain regular remote communications with crews.

• Collaborate with crews and staff to maintain and improve program operations and quality.

• Work to maintain high retention and satisfy partners through regular communication with

crews.

• Coordinate, review, and follow up on completion and quality of crew evaluations.

General Administration

• Participate in staff meetings, and support other staff as appropriate.

• Abide by Conservation Legacy’s credit cardholder and spending policies, including

providing proper associated documentation.

Regional and Organizational Support

• Participate in SCC’s internal, rotating emergency on-call system.

• Maintain productive relationships and interface significantly with other staff regarding

administrative details

• Attend off-season SCC/Conservation Legacy retreats and operations development events.

• Assist with activities of other programs of SCC.

• Provide technical knowledge to and build capacity of monitoring programs and projects in

other areas of Conservation Legacy as opportunities arise, engage, lead, and support an

inclusive work environment for those of underrepresented populations within the organization

and the communities we serve.

• Lead and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the

work of the Strategic Plan’s goals.

• Reports any potential harassment or grievances within the organization as identified in the

Personnel Policy Manual.

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. Some positions may require 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 may also be required for some positions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• College graduate (Bachelor’s, at minimum) with coursework in ecology, botany, range science,

soil science, wildlife biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related

field OR some college-level coursework in the above subject area(s) and one full sampling

season performing AIM methodology, or highly similar, in a leadership capacity

• Understanding of scientific, data, and statistical principles

• Basic vascular plant identification and taxonomy

• 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

• Experience with influencing diverse groups of employees to achieve common goals

• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment

• The ability to carry out assigned work independently or with minimal supervision

• The ability to communicate effectively, manage complexity, cultivate innovation, drive and

influence results of oneself and others

• The ability to work well with others and to seek assistance when needed to carry out

assignments

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms

• Proficient in phone and email communications

• Ability to keep others in remote locations accountable to expectations

• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record.

• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history background check requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of 6 months or one term/season/capstone in ecological/environmental

fieldwork or a laboratory-based research project with leadership responsibilities

• Proficient vascular plant identification and taxonomy

• Demonstrated experience with any of the following:

• Recruitment, hiring, training, and/or management

• Managing administrative systems or databases

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume/CV to Michaela Grubb at mgrubb@conservationlegacy.org by

April 29th, 2024

Subject line in this email must include “Last Name, First Name Ecological Monitoring

Applicant”.

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

reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a

request to the hiring manager.

Required SkillsRequired Experience