2026 Rare Plants Survey CCNM Crew Leader

Title: CCNM Crew Leader II – Rare Plants Survey 2026

Reports to: Program Director

Location: Las Cruces, NM

560 N. 17^th Street

Las Cruces, NM 88005

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program 

Dates: 02/09/26 – 07/10/2026

Wages: $925-1125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications. During the initial training weeks, the pay will be $750/week.   

Benefits: Health benefits eligible. Employee Assistant Program provided. Food provided while in the field. Uniforms and personal protective equipment also provided.

Application Closes 12/31/2025 - Cover letter and Resume required with application

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM) engages motivated young adults, ages 18 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the western United States. CCNM crews serve in a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and other public areas. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, historic preservation, chemical and mechanical invasive plant removal, and local environmental service projects. CCNM provides opportunities for members to learn about the local environment and conservation issues throughout the duration of the program. Selected members are placed on a crew that will then collaborate to perform project work.

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.

The Rare Plants Crew Leader will supervise two crew members for the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 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 impacts from energy infrastructure development on rare plants are anticipated. Safety is a prerequisite and will guide how fieldwork is conducted. Crew will be required to drive to different areas throughout New Mexico, camp overnight for 3-7 consecutive nights, hike several miles a day, and return to the office for equipment and data management.

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, navigating off-trail using digital maps, and entering data is desirable. The occurrence data collected by the rare plants survey crew will provide essential information for future avoidance of rare plant populations that intersect energy development projects. This data will also be critical for informing species redundancy across the landscape and mapping the entire species range to prevent the need to list the species under the Endangered Species Act.

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, crew may participate in local BLM sponsored training sessions, outside symposia, and coordination meetings.

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. There is also a significant administrative component to this position, as the Leader is responsible for approving timesheets, managing crew budget and receipts, and submitting timely Post-Hitch Accomplishments, just to name a few. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work with people from a variety of populations and communities.

Responsibilities: 

Leadership & Mentorship

•       Support and manage the crew’s safety and wellbeing, consistently exercising discretion and judgment.  
•       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 and refraining from the use of alcohol and drugs while involved in the program.
•       The crew leader should be passionate about sound science principles, be an advocate for the rare plant program at the BLM, and have a willingness to learn about the use of rare plants survey protocols in land management within the BLM. 

Project Management & Implementation 

•       Coordinate field logistics, scheduling, crew tasks, and management of the crew’s equipment. 
•      Serve as 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.
•      CCNM will run two rare plants survey crews this spring/summer. Crew leaders from each crew will be required to coordinate with each other to plan survey locations.
•       Analyze, interpret, or make deductions for varying data, and will be required to report data to various BLM offices and stakeholders.
•       Demonstrate strong organization skills and collaborate with BLM staff to complete survey protocols for populations of rare plants throughout southwestern NM.
•       Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed. 

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 trucks 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 

•       Before, during, and after field data collection, the leader is responsible for the organization and quality control of all data collected. 
•          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 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 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 the 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. 
•      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 biology, 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. 
•      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. 
•      Must be over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or more years, without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport duties).  

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

•       Previous leadership experience leading a group of two or more people. 
•      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.

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

o   Experience with Floras from adjacent states to New Mexico.

o   Experience working in regions with high floristic diversity. 

•      Experience with ArcGIS table applications and basic troubleshooting (FieldMaps and Survey 123).
•      Experience with ArcPro and/or ArcGIS online interface. 

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

o   Knowledge of downloading, using, and syncing ArcGIS online maps and other ESRI products like Survey123 or FieldMaps. 

•      Experience collecting, managing and summarizing data for plant monitoring programs.
•      Experience performing quality assurance, quality control, and data analysis.
•      Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel. 
•      Strong conflict resolution skills. 
•      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 inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Benefits: Health benefits eligible. Employee Assistance Program provided. Food provided while in the field. Uniforms and personal protective equipment also provided.

Training: The term begins with an intensive leadership training focused on practicing outdoor leadership skills, goal setting, technical and field skills, and understanding CCNM 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, and goal setting. Depending on project needs, crews may receive instruction in herbicide, crosscut saw, chainsaw, or other specialized equipment use. Informal training will continue throughout the term in areas such as tool maintenance, plant identification, and overview of public land management agencies.

Housing:

CCNM is an independent, non-residential program – we do not provide housing. It is advised that all participants supply their own outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. because rental supplies are limited and given out on a first-come first-served basis. A suggested gear list will be provided before starting the term of service. CCNM will provide the tools, personal protective gear, crew meal budget, and project transportation. Additionally, CCNM has Pro Deals opportunities to receive discounts on some outdoor gear brands.

Any questions can be addressed to: 

Genevieve Tucker

Crew Program Director

Gtucker@conservationlegacy.org

We will be collecting applications on a rolling basis until December 31^st and early applications are highly encouraged.

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. 

Salary : $925 - $1,125