Recreation Technician Crew Leader

Arizona Conservation Corps; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Forest Service housing

Public Lands Corps certificate

Job summary

Conservation Legacy in Arizona seeks a temporary, full-time Recreation Technician Crew Leader to guide a four-person crew on Tonto National Forest projects. You will supervise field crews, mentor young adults, and coordinate site maintenance, safety, and public education across Payson and Tonto Basin districts.

Applicants must demonstrate leadership, strong communication, and wilderness first aid readiness, with housing considerations available during the term.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Wilderness First Aid/ CPR or higher certification required or willingness to obtain before start date.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of crew members in conservation projects.
• Coordinate scheduling, timesheets, and performance evaluations.
• Assist in maintenance and operations at recreation sites and educate the public on Forest Service rules.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentorship

Outdoor leadership

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

• Location Conservation Legacy,Phoenix, AZ, 85006,United States
• Job Category Conservation , AmeriCorps
• Employee Type AmeriCorps

Reports to:Angela Abel, North Zone Recreation Manager, Tonto National Forest.

Status:Seasonal, Full-time, non-AmeriCorps

Dates: January 11, 2027 – August 6, 2027* (Anticipated)

*Potential to extend position through end of September 2027.

Wages: $900/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.

• Public Lands Corps Certificate**
• Healthcare Coverage (following 60 day waiting period)

** To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

Training:

The term begins withan intensiveleadership 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 onAmeriCorpsprohibited and unallowable activities.Following leadership training, the Recreation Technician Crew Members will join the Crew Leader for orientation.

Housing:

Forest Service housing may be provided in Tonto Basin to the selected member during their term.

Application closes: 12/4/2026

PositionSummary:

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 40 hour work weeks with some exceptions. Crew Leaders will be approving timesheets and conducting evaluations for crew members.

The Crew Leader position requires patience, a consistent 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.

Description of Duties:

Tonto National Forest is seeking a temporary, full-time Recreation Technician Crew Leader , who will lead a small 4 person team of Arizona Conservation Corps Recreation Technician Crewmembers. This team will focus on both the Tonto Basin Ranger District and the Payson Ranger District, where they will support and complete weekly project lists at developed recreation sites. The Recreation Technician Crew Leader will also help with regular recreation duties. They will be trained in the basics on how to clean different types of toilets, campsites, and how to interact with the public while educating them about the fees and the services that the fees provide. The weekly list of things to address includes cleaning toilets, picking up trash, checking on fee compliance at recreation sites, working with campground hosts to ensure sites are ready for visitors, and communicating with the team to ensure that all bases are covered.

Other projects during the term will include light maintenance duties, repair of faucets and lights, installation of signs, and use of weed eaters and pressure washers as needed. The Recreation Technician Crew Leader will regularly interact with USFS employees, campground hosts and USFS volunteers, and members of local communities, and will get to see how the USFS manages a large recreation program with staffing challenges to continue to keep sites open and in the best shape possible.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Approve timesheets and conduct evaluations for Recreation Technician Crewmembers.
• Assist in general upkeep of several developed recreation sites.
• Work with Recreation Technician Crewmembers and accomplish regular responsibilities and areas to focus on and patrol.
• Drive to designated recreation sites on a regular basis and learn regular operations.
• Assist in general upkeep of several developed recreation sites.
• Learn rotation and look for ways to improve sites, including taking of before, during, and after photos.
• Work with field supervisor and other Recreation Technician Crewmembers to learn the process of making regular seasonal inspections of developed recreation sites.
• Assist in seasonal inspections of recreation sites.
• Work independently to complete assigned inspections-making sure to document any issues or concerns.
• Assist in fee compliance and educating the public about Forest Service rules and regulations.
• Work with field supervisor and other Recreation Technician Crewmembers to learn the process of making public contacts in developed recreation sites.
• Assist other Recreation Technician Crewmembers in making public contacts and completing inspections.
• Work independently to make public contacts as knowledge of the area and recreation sites increases.
• Mentor crew members: 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 together and managing high quality work and crew morale.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems, requesting assistance or help when needed.
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners.

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.

MinimumQualifications:

• 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 (24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher) orbe willing toreceive certification prior to start date.
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40 hour work week including managing projects and programmatic policies and integrity throughout.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
• Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate professionalism, both in demeanor and appearance.
• Some knowledge of public lands and recreation opportunities.
• 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 be over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for at least 3 years without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).

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

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living, and travel.
• Facilitation and team-building experience with varied groups of people.
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Technical trails, Crosscut or Chainsaw experience.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
• Customer service skills when interacting with the public.
• An appreciation and interest in outdoor recreation.
• Past experience with recreation site maintenance, or light maintenance skills.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to 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 50 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.

Tonto National Forest:

At over 2.9 million acres, the Tonto National Forest is the largest National Forest in Arizona, and the seventh largest National Forest among 154 USDA National Forests. The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. Sonoran Desert cacti and flat lands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude -- from 1,300 to 7,900 feet -- offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it's lake beaches or cool pine forest.

The North Zone of the Tonto National Forest provides quality developed Recreational opportunities for both the Payson and Tonto Basin Ranger Districts. These ranger districts contribute to the overall Tonto Fee program where we generate revenue from developed campground fees, day use fees, boat launch fees and shoreline area fees. Our mission is to continue to provide these quality recreational opportunities to our visitors while also providing a much-needed outdoor recreation economy to our surrounding communities here in AZ.

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.