Veterans Fire Corps Crew Leader

Title: CCNM 2027 Veterans Fire Corps Crew Leader 

Reports to: CCNM Program Coordinator

Location/s: Las Cruces, NM

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program  

Dates: 01/18/2027 - 05/07/2027

Wages: $1025 - $1125/week, dependent on experience and qualifications

Benefits: Paid training, food budget while on hitch, Employee Assistance Program, health benefits for eligible positions. 

Training: The term begins with an intensive leadership training focused on practicing outdoor leadership skills, goal setting, technical and field skills, and understanding AZCC procedures/policies. Leads will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Following leadership training, corpsmembers will join leaders for orientation. This week-long orientation will include trainings such as Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace, outdoor living, crew culture, and goal setting. 

VFC crews 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. 

Housing: Housing on days off is not provided. 

One position available. 

Application closes November 8, 2026. Early applications are encouraged. Cover letter and resume required.  

Position Summary:

The Crew Leader 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.

Standard schedule generally consists of 8 days on-hitch (out in the field as a crew unit) and 6 days off with some exceptions. 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, typically the day after returning from the project. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Because of the nature of this work schedule, time off will not be permitted during hitches, and program participants are expected to plan accordingly. 

The Crew Leader 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 dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities. 

Overview of Veteran's 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 other 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 45-pound pack in 45 minutes or less). 

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor assistant crew leader (or Crew Leader in Development Program CLDP): provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
• 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 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

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale. 
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.  
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader (or Crew Leader in Development), & staff  

Safety & Risk Management

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety.   
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.  
• Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with CL Driver policy. 
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.

Administration

• Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure   
• Manage food budget and credit card for 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Full commitment to the program and its mission.  
• 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.
• 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 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:

• Veterans status and/or previous work with veterans. 
• Wildland fire experience (hot shot, hand crew, engine crew, etc.)
• 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.  
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience (B-faller chainsaw preferred)
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.  

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. 

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.