Veterans Fire Corps Assistant Crew Leader-AmeriCorps

Position Title: CCNM 2027 Veterans Fire Corps Assistant Crew Leader - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico 

Site Location: Conservation Corps New Mexico Program Office - 560 N. 17th Street, Las Cruces NM 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 01/18/2027
• End Date: 05/07/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450-hour

Purpose:

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM):                                                                                                     

Conservation Corps New Mexico, an AmeriCorps Program, 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.

• This is an AmeriCorps position aiming to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our public lands through community-based service.
• You’ll learn new skills, but it will take sweat: this program is designed to be rigorous. You will complete conservation service projects and learn many skills through experience. Service as an AmeriCorps member is an introduction to a new and exciting lifestyle - over the course of the season you will live, learn, train, and work to protect and preserve America’s public lands.

Description of Duties:

Crew Models
CCNM's Field Crew program engages motivated young adults, ages 18-30 (35 for veterans), to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout southern New Mexico and surrounding states. Crews work with a variety of land management agencies, spending up to 8 days in the field camping. Projects can be front country or backcountry, with limited to no access to showers and running-water toilets. Backcountry projects involve carrying out all personal supplies (tent, sleeping bag, clothing) as well as group camp supplies (food, water, gear, tools) to the campsite and worksite.

Veterans Fire Corps - The Veterans Fire Corps is a multi-faceted and demanding crew, but with an opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate high standards, compassion, excellent judgment, effective communication skills, initiative, and the desire to devote themselves (at least seasonally) to working alongside military veterans, ages 18-35, in an environmental setting. The crew will work together and maintain a flexible, positive, and professional attitude. The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a team of recent-era military veterans work together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuels management and fuels reduction using chainsaws. This crew assists recent-era veterans in their transition from military to civilian careers. Participants must be a military veteran, provide a copy of a valid DD-214, or relevant discharge paperwork, and be able to pass a USFS Pack Test at the "arduous" level (3 mile walk with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes). 

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Assistant Crew Leader Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prior AmeriCorps service and experience with backpacking, wilderness travel, camp management and outdoor leadership preferred
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a changing work environment, including willingness to work a varying schedule. This position could also be deployed for national disaster relief, outside the region, for multiple weeks. 
• Excellent communication, teaching/mentoring, and full conflict resolution and team-building skills
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record
• Relevant bachelor's degree

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. 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. 

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Tuesday to Tuesday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service 
• This position generally entails an 8 days on / 6 days off hitch schedule. Time off will not be permitted during hitches, and members/leaders are expected to plan accordingly. 
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Training will also focus on topics such as Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace, outdoor living, crew culture, and goal setting. 
• VFC members will be required to complete a USFS Arduous Pack Test, and will also receive S-130 & S-190 Firefighter Training, S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, and S-212 Chainsaw Training. Crew leaders and members will be required to complete IS100b Intro to Incident Command System, IS700 National Incident Management System, and L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service prior to the beginning of their season. 
• All VFC crew participants (including members and leaders) will obtain the Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) upon successful completion of required training courses. 
• Depending on project needs, crews may have opportunities for training in herbicide, crosscut saw, chainsaw use, or other specialized equipment use. 
• Informal training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training in areas such as tool maintenance, plant identification, and overview of public land management agencies. 

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1565.08
• Living Allowance of $550 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $400 per week
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Any questions can be addressed to: 

Genevieve Tucker

Crew Program Director

[email protected]

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.