What are the responsibilities and job description for the Crew Leader II - BLM Renewable Energy Plant Survey Crew position at Conservation Legacy?

Description

Title : Crew Leader II - BLM Renewable Energy Plant Survey Crew

Reports to : CCNM Program Coordinator

Location / s : Las Cruces, NM

Status : Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program

Dates : March 17th, 2025 - July 18th, 2025

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

Training : Generally, the term begins with leadership training which focuses on developing outdoor leadership skills, goal setting, technical and field skills training and developing an understanding of CCNM procedures. Following leadership training, most seasons will begin with an orientation with Crew Leaders and Crew Members that includes Leave No Trace, Outdoor Living & Nutrition, Crew Culture and Diversity, and goal setting. Informal hands-on training will continue throughout the term with on- the- ground skills training.

Depending on the project needs, crews may receive specialized training. During the season members may have the opportunity to participate in a Wilderness First Aid certification course.

Housing : Housing on days off is not provided.

One Crew Leader position available.

Application closes 03 / 24 / 2025- Cover letter and resume must be attached with the application

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. CCNM crews are typically based in Las Cruces, NM and all project work will take place on public lands in New Mexico and surrounding states. CCNM's Field Crew program engages motivated young adults, ages 18-30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout southern New Mexico and surrounding states.

Position Summary :

The Crew Leader II 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 crew leader will supervise two crew members for the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Renewable Energy Rare Plant Survey Crew, operated by Conservation Corps New Mexico. More information about New Mexico's rare plants can be found here. The crew will consist of three individuals : one crew leader and two crew members. Together, the crew will survey for rare plants in remote areas on BLM lands across the Southwest portion of New Mexico within the Las Cruces District Office, particularly in areas where renewable energy development impacts on rare plants are anticipated. Safety is a prerequisite and will guide how fieldwork is conducted.

Crews will be required to drive to different areas throughout New Mexico, camp overnight for 1-3 consecutive nights, hike several miles a day, and return to the office for equipment and data management. Crew Leaders may also be required to come in for an additional day each hitch cycle to complete administrative duties and check-ins with program staff. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.

In addition to fieldwork, crews will be expected to uphold strong organizational skills for the sake of successful data management. All data will be georeferenced using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase. Some previous experience collecting data, producing excel spreadsheets, and entering data is desirable. The occurrence data collected by the rare plant survey crew will provide essential information for future avoidance of rare plant populations that intersect renewable energy development projects.

While rare plant surveys are the focus, where possible, crews will assist with other plant conservation program projects in progress during the summer. Other projects may include pollinator monitoring and setting up new monitoring plots. When or if available, crews may participate in local BLM sponsored training sessions, outside symposia, and coordination meetings.

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on diverse teams and with those from a variety of populations and communities.

Requirements

Responsibilities :

Leadership & Mentorship

Lead and participate in Land Acknowledgements that recognize Indigenous communities who have historically and continue to steward the Las Cruces region.
Employ a restorative justice approach to disciplinary incidents.
Facilitate and engage in environment education that includes the fraught history of public lands in the United States.
Model strong communication and conflict transformation skills.
Rely on program staff during weekly check-ins to provide feedback and support for mentorship.
Understand and integrate Conservation Legacy's DEI vision and values (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within crew community context.
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 CCNM policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program.

Project Management & Implementation

Leads the completion of rare plant surveys for multiple species and ensures the crew is following the approved survey and data collection protocols

Is the primary contact between the crew, the CCNM supervisor, and BLM staff; effectively coordinates with the BLM LCDO District Botanist and the state office program leads to complete tasks properly

Demonstrates strong organizational skills and collaborates with BLM Staff to complete survey protocols for populations of rare plants through NM

Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp.

Delegate project work and camp chores.

Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.

Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners & CCNM staff.

Safety & Risk Management

Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety on and off the work site.

Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.

Transport crew and equipment safely in CCNM trucks or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with Conservation Legacy Driver policy.

Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.

Administration

The crew leader will analyze, interpret, or make deductions for varying data, and will be required to report data to various BLM offices and stakeholders

Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure.

Record all project related outcomes and deliverables.

Written reports will be completed and involve the presentation of scientific data

Meet all deadlines for documentation and data collection.

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 community 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 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.

Environmental Stewardship

Must have a genuine enjoyment and desire for caring for the land while living and working outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions.

The crew leader should be passionate about sound science principles, be an advocate for the botany program at the BLM, and have a willingness to learn about the use of rare plant survey protocols in land management within the BLM

Learn and practice 'Leave No Trace' techniques at all times.

Minimum Qualifications :

Full commitment to the program and its mission.

College Graduate (Bachelor's, at minimum) with degree in botany, plant ecology, plant biology, plant systematics, ecology (preferred); or with experience in botany and a degree in range science, soil science, wildlife biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related field

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.

Self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after initial training period; must be capable of performing well in an office setting, as well as the field

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 years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).

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

At least 6 months of experience in botanical or vegetation monitoring. Previous rare plant survey / monitoring experience and / or statistical based ecological monitoring

1 to 2 years of experience using taxonomic keys to identify plants to species in the field, from photos, and from pressed specimens.

Familiarity with New Mexico flora in general and Flora Neomexicana III.

Experience with Floras from adjacent states to New Mexico.

Experience working in regions with high floristic diversity.

Experience with ArcGIS tablet applications and basic troubleshooting (FieldMaps and Survey 123).

Experience with ArcPro and / or ArcGIS Online interface.

Knowledge of creating maps, performing basic analysis and organizing data.

Knowledge of downloading, using, and syncing ArcGIS Online Maps.

Experience collecting, managing and summarizing data for plant monitoring programs

Experience performing quality assurance, quality control, and data analysis using Microsoft Excel and R

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.

Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

Other Considerations :

Having a vehicle is recommended for this position to transport yourself between your living arrangement and our work base.

The ability to live, work and camp in rural New Mexico is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year (ranging from below freezing in winter to 105 °F in the summer).

Any questions can be addressed to :

Richard Clayton

575) 294-4537

rclayton@conservationlegacy.org

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.

Salary : $925 - $1,125

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