Gila National Forest Trail Technician Individual Placement

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps • Taos, NM

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position will work with Gila National Forest, alongside conservation crews, on building, scouting, maintaining, and managing trails in Wilderness and non-Wilderness settings, with a majority of work done on backcountry settings. Hiking long distances while carrying camping supplies and tools is a key duty of this position. Trail work involves new trail construction, along with construction of drains, dips, and other erosion mitigation trail features. Other trail duties include logouts for improving trail safety, usability, and wildfire prevention. Logouts may involve chainsaw or crosscut saw use or assistance with their use. This position will focus on conservation and trail construction efforts in the Black Fire burn scar, as well as other locations throughout the Gila National Forest.

In addition to trail work, the position’s secondary duties will involve maintaining, monitoring, repairing, and resource protection measures for developed and dispersed recreation sites such as campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, restrooms, and other facilities. Candidates should be comfortable interacting with the public when necessary. Administrative responsibilities include collecting data, writing brief project reports, and communicating with USFS and RMYC staff.

Professional development and training is a major focus of this position. The ideal candidate is someone who has experience with trail work and is looking to build a career in outdoor management, conservation, and recreation. This position is managed through RMYC and includes regular check-ins and life skills training. Other training opportunities will be provided through the host program or outside training tailored to the needs of the individual. Cross-training with other programs is also encouraged. As an AmeriCorps member, this position will not serve in any supervising or staff roles.

Requirements

• Must be comfortable working outside and performing fieldwork for long periods of time in all weather conditions.
• Must be comfortable working and camping in remote backcountry settings for several consecutive days under spike schedules.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, be self-motivated, and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
• Applicants must have great attention to detail and problem solving skills.
• Strong work ethic, and the ability to take initiative and work independently with periodic check-ins.
• Participation in one service event that benefits the community is required, with options to attend additional service events.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with full-bench trail construction and maintenance.
• Alternate experience, such as agriculture, landscaping, or other skills from similar fields.
• Chainsaw and/or crosscut experience (B-Faller or FAL2 preferred but not required)
• Strong project management, written and oral skills.
• Volunteer coordination and public relations skills.
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (conservation management, environmental science, biology, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Work with host site staff, other individual placements, and conservation corps crews, on the construction and maintenance of multi-use trails.
• Use hand tools to construct bench, clear corridor, and build features such as crib walls and drain dips.
• Use crosscut saws and chainsaws to perform logouts of Wilderness and non-Wilderness trails.
• Monitor volunteer groups and agency partners on the implementation of various projects across the district.
• Inspect trails post construction to ensure consistency with trail specifications.
• Maintain and install trailhead structures, such as signage.
• Utilize vehicles such as excavators, skidsteers, trucks, trailers, etc.
• Track miles of trail improved and acres of land improved, along with other notable project work, for biweekly RMYC reports.
• Assist with Forest Service data collection.
• Administrative tasks, including filing, organization, invoicing, and reporting.
• Work with host site staff on the construction, maintenance, and management of developed recreation sites.
• Implement site improvements for campgrounds, trailheads, and other recreation facilities.
• Utilize basic carpentry skills to repair and replace recreation features, such as signage.
• Maintain and service recreational infrastructure including restrooms and amenities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage is available to all AmeriCorps members at no cost to the member.  This is considered primary coverage and is not available as supplemental coverage.
• 6 paid Not Scheduled Days. Time off in excess of assigned not scheduled days will require make up work or a stipend reduction. Not scheduled days do not count toward AmeriCorps Education award hours.
• RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off, however RMYC reserves the right to have AmeriCorps members work or earn service hours on certain holidays if necessary to meet program requirements (holiday time off hours ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award).
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.
• Public Lands Hiring Authority status

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees