Trail Crew Leader

The Trail Crew Leader is responsible for supervising and leading a crew of 3-5 individuals as well as youth corps groups and volunteer groups on both frontcountry and backcountry trail and restoration projects. Approximately half of the season will be spent in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness Areas, with the other half of the season focusing on frontcountry projects throughout our service area. This position requires excellent leadership skills and ability to build and support an effective team; strong skill set in trailwork, particularly in a wilderness setting; ability to assess and manage risks; and organizational skills in logistics and time management.

Specific Responsibilities:

Program Management and Operations:

• Supervise and lead a team of 2-5 crew members on frontcountry and backcountry trail and stewardship projects.
• Work with the Program Director and Field Coordinator to determine each projects’ logistics including food, transportation, tools, and equipment.
• Support RFOV equipment and tool management: ensure tools, project equipment and supplies are clean and in good working order and regularly inventoried.
• Assist with pre-project planning logistics.
• Oversee on-the-ground project logistics: coordinating travel, tool preparation, lining out project work sections.
• Ensure project safety and practice effective risk management strategies.
• Serve as the technical expert on trail construction and maintenance projects to land manager standards including rock work including rock steps and walls, building and maintaining multiple types of drainage structures, and restoration such as revegetation or decommissioning trails.
• Continually enhance expertise in trail and restoration techniques, crew management, and leadership.
• Assist with project reporting
  • Accurately measure project metrics and use internal databases to record metrics.
  • Ensure accurate and consistent photo documentation and organization of project work.
  • Assist in reporting systems on progress and accomplishments of all projects and ensure consistency and clear communication internally among RFOV staff.
  • Assist in keeping all project notes and details as well as partnership information.

Volunteer Coordination and Management

• Support RFOV’s volunteer programs to increase recruitment, retention, and pathways for involvement.
• Work to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for volunteers.
• Ensure all RFOV volunteer programs foster a positive, educational, engaging, and motivating experience for volunteers.
• Supervise volunteer Crew Leaders and Project Ambassadors during a project.

Special Benefits

Benefits include paid time off, mileage reimbursement, $500/mo living stipend, $500 professional development stipend, $500 gear stipend, simple IRA with 3% match, end of season bonus.

Requirements

Leadership

• Demonstrated capacity for managing and leading people. An excellent team builder who has experience in bringing a group of diverse individuals together for a common cause.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills and ability to navigate difficult decisions in the moment.
• Outdoor leadership, outdoor education, or environmental education experience.
• Experience working with youth outdoors or in other educational settings.
• Self-directed, highly motivated, reliable, with a result and solution oriented perspective, organized with an attention to detail, flexible with strong time-management skills.
• Excellent communication, motivational, and interpersonal skills applicable to a group outdoor setting.
• Strong belief in RFOV’s mission.

Management

• Experience working for or with land management agencies (state, federal, or municipal).
• Excellent organizational, planning, and logistical skills.
• Ability to proactively solve problems, work independently, and be creative and resourceful.
• Professional verbal communication skills including a professional appearance and positive demeanor.

Stewardship

• Introductory ecological and natural resource knowledge and ability to teach others about these topics.
• Ability to live in the backcountry and conduct trail work while following Leave No Trace principles.
• Willingness to learn about ecosystems and natural resources of the Roaring Fork Valley through self-driven research and education from RFOV staff, partners, and volunteers.

All Applicants Must Have:

• Trail building/maintenance experience with at least one year in a supervisory role, or trail building/maintenance experience with other relevant leadership experience.
• Practical knowledge of methods and techniques to design, layout and construct/reconstruct natural surface trails.
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. The work projects may require hiking up to 10 miles per day at altitude, using heavy hand tools, extensive heavy stonework, and working and contributing as part of a team.
• Strong rock work experience (stairs, retaining walls, check dams, etc) as pertaining to trails.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to live and work in potentially adverse weather conditions with a positive attitude.
• Current valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Certification in either a) Wilderness First Aid and CPR, or b) Wilderness First Responder (or can achieve certification upon hire).
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.