Gila National Forest Trail Technician Individual Placement

Position Description

Gila National Forest: Trail Technician Individual Placement

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.

Individual Placement positions work within RMYC partner agencies, and are intended to provide meaningful job experience for young professionals looking to build their careers in specific fields.

POSITION OVERVIEW: 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.

POSITION TYPE: Seasonal, full time, AmeriCorps member

SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week, (April/May - Oct/Nov). Exact start and end times will be determined by program funding, program needs, and timing of applications received. Camping and overnight travel are required, with the exact schedule to be determined by USFS staff. 

REPORTS TO: Gila National Forest Staff daily and to RMYC Individual Placement Program Coordinator on a weekly basis.

LOCATION: 3005 Camino Del Bosque Silver City, New Mexico 88061

TERM LENGTH: 900 hour AmeriCorps term.

COMPENSATION: Biweekly Stipend of $1,440 (Equivalent of $18.00/hour over 80 hours)

EDUCATION AWARD: AmeriCorps Segal Education Award scholarship of $3,697.50 upon successful completion of term of service.

OTHER SUPPORT: Parents or caregivers are eligible and encouraged to apply. Full time, 1700 hour term applicants may qualify to receive childcare benefits through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program. More information is available by request or through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program website.

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

ELIGIBILITY:

A chosen candidate must meet the following requirements:

• 18-30 years old as of the position start date. 

• All AmeriCorps members must be citizens, national, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.

• Chosen candidates must complete a pre-employment National Service Criminal History Check and fingerprint scan with the following requirements:

  • You must be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history.

  • You cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry.

  • You cannot be convicted of murder.

• Insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license.

• Have a High School Diploma, equivalent diploma (G.E.D.), or agree to obtaining one prior to using the Segal Education Award

  • If you are not capable of obtaining a High School diploma or equivalent or are enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis you may be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091)

• Able to complete the entire length of the service term, including make up hours if necessary.

• Essential physical functions include the ability to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, climb, balance, reach with hands & arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis, and lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Trail work:

• 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..

Administration/Data Tracking:

• 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.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing environment.

• Perform various tasks within the scope of work for an AmeriCorps member.

Developed Recreation Work:

• 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

• 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.)

EVALUATION:

Members serving less than a full-time term of service (<1700 hours) will receive a mandatory end-of-term evaluation, with an optional mid-term evaluation.

CONTACT:

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

RMYC:

• Carl Smith, Individual Placement Coordinator: carl@youthcorps.org

Host Site:

• Jason Neel:  jason.neel@usda.gov

To apply, please submit an application to the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps application portal at https://youthcorps.org/apply-now including a resume and cover letter.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is available to all and we will not discriminate or refuse services to any staff or member because of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, military service or pregnancy.

 RMYC is a drug free workplace. All positions are dependent upon funding availability.