CDT Colorado Conservation Fellow

Office Location: Colorado

Status: Full Time, Salary, Non -exempt

Hiring Salary: $42,000

Supervisor: Executive Director

Start Date: June 1st, 2022

The mission of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The CDTC will do this by building a strong and diverse trail community, providing up-to-date information to the public, and encouraging conservation and stewardship of the trail, its corridor, and surrounding landscapes.

Summary of Position:

The Colorado Conservation Fellow will support CDTC’s conservation, gateway community and policy programs across Colorado to assure we have high quality, turn-key program support of our cooperative stewardship activities associated with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). The Fellow will help CDTC program staff to facilitate the cooperative work of the agencies and volunteer organization partners; and help in the development and implementation of trail-wide guidelines, policies, procedures and positions established by the CDTC Board of Directors; and assist and support the trail wide CDTC team to develop and refine that direction as it pertains to Colorado. This position will help sustain and support effective and meaningful partnerships and communication with individuals, organizations, communities and tribal nations across the state to document information and establish priorities to accomplish broad overall goals for the CDTC.

The Fellow will be expected to support many aspects of the program, including:

Cooperative Stewardship

The Fellow will work with the CDTC Trail Policy Manager to identify, respond to and address issues affecting the stewardship of the CDT in Colorado. This may include drafting, reviewing and researching trail policy issues and policy statements, as well as development of project analysis response letters, meeting in the field with agency staff and meeting with decision makers to educate and inform them on issues affecting the CDT.

Gateway Community Engagement

The Fellow will support the Gateway Community Program Manager in maintaining communication and relationships with the designated Gateway Communities along the CDT in Colorado, and in building relationships with communities who are not designated. This may include travel to communities along the Trail to meet with local leaders and community organizers as well as attending events in communities across Colorado to help raise awareness of the CDT and CDTC work.

Next 100 Coalition Colorado

The Fellow will participate in activities associated with the Next 100 Coalition Colorado and Next 100 National Coalition. This may include participation in Next 100 projects, campaigns, policy development, meeting attendance and may include support of events and other public outreach activities and support development of joint CDTC - Next 100 efforts.

Trail Management

The Fellow will be exposed to the various aspects of issues and activities affecting the CDT across Colorado. From time to time, the Fellow may be asked to represent CDTC in these regional activities affecting the Trail. This may include representing CDTC at public meetings and other events where issues that may affect the CDT Corridor or landscape are discussed. This work may also include building and engaging in grassroots organizing opportunities with local CDT supporters and advocates as well as with decision makers. The Fellow will be given the opportunity to become familiar and knowledgeable about the CDT in Colorado and specifically become familiar in areas where the Trail is yet to be completed.

Trail Protection

The Fellow will work with the CDTC Trail and Lands Conservation Program Manager to support ongoing work to complete and protect areas of the CDT across Colorado. This may include maintaining the list of acquisition needs and their priorities. It may also include representing CDTC in working with responsible agencies and other partners to assure that the trail experience is well protected for the long run.

Trail Information

The Fellow will support the gathering and dispersal of information regarding the condition of the trail in Colorado and therefore may be required to gather trail condition information, verifying it when possible and relating that information to the public and trail management partners.

Volunteer Trail Stewardship

Volunteer Trail Stewardship activities are not a required component of the Fellow’s work plan. However, CDTC strongly encourages all of our employees to participate and support, when possible, volunteer stewardship activities to fully understand all of our work to cooperatively steward the CDT.

GIS and Digital Asset Development

Depending on the skills and background of the Fellow, there may be an opportunity to support CDTC’s GIS program under the supervision of the GIS Program Manager. This is not a requirement of the position, but for those individuals who have this skill already developed or who would like to further this skill, it may be possible, through coordination with the GIS Program Manager, to craft an appropriate project deliverable(s) to gain this skill and support CDTC’s mission.

Individual Professional Development

This position will create an opportunity for the Fellow to gain professional skills and talents to help them gain permanent employment with CDTC or any other natural resource career field. CDTC encourages all of our team members to continually grow and expand their knowledge. The Fellow will work with the Executive Director to craft a professional development plan that helps them to gain access and shadow people who hold positions they may be interested in amongst our network. CDTC is committed to creating pathways and opportunities for young professionals to find positions after their time with us in any capacity. The Executive Director will work with the Fellow to develop a plan for the first year of work that will be adaptable and flexible so that as information and experience is gained, the Fellow will be prepared to develop in their desired areas of focus in their second year of the fellowship.

QUALIFICATIONS & PREFERRED SKILLS

EDUCATION

Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience or five years of substantial volunteer experience or comparable experience and/or education in natural resource or environmental management, outdoor recreation management, planning, public administration, environmental studies, geography, landscape architecture, environmental education or related field.

Advanced study in these areas or training in specific areas through agency or professional training programs is welcomed.

REQUIRED SKILLS

● Willingness and desire to develop positive relationships with local governments and landowners.

● Ability to work as part of a small team and ability to ask for help and support others when help is needed.

● Excellent organizational skills.

● The ability and willingness to travel on the CDT in remote, backcountry locations sometimes requiring days of backcountry travel.

● Excellent written and verbal communications skills.

● Ability to work independently.

● A strong desire to learn and grow professionally.

● A willingness to support Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts of CDTC.

● Ability and willingness to travel and work a variable schedule including weekends.

● Computer proficiency

● GPS proficiency

● Valid driver license

HIGHLY DESIRABLE SKILLS

Experience working with public land managing agencies.

● Professional or volunteer experience in areas relating to the position.

● Experience in working as a volunteer and with volunteers.

● Experience in working on trail stewardship work, projects or programs.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

Experience in analysis and response of forest planning or land management project proposals.

● Experience with technical construction skills such as chainsaw operation, crosscut saw certification, wilderness medical training, winch use and rigging, stock packing, etc.

● Experience working with youth in trail or environmental work, environmental education, backcountry travel, or service learning.

● Experience in adult training or education.

● Experience in planning, project management, and coordination with diverse stakeholders.

SUPERVISION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Colorado Conservation Fellow works under the direct supervision of the Executive Director; however, they will be expected to prioritize their work in order to effectively meet day to day demands and ongoing assignments. Additionally, they will work with other CDTC staff members to achieve successful programs in their work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do physical labor in outdoor and backcountry environments including overnight camping. Work will include travel in personal vehicles (travel reimbursement included), so individuals must have a valid driver’s license and operative vehicle. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. CDTC is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

CDTC also provides benefits including company sponsored health insurance, cell phone reimbursement, 403(b) retirement plan contributions, and a generous time off policy.

TO APPLY

Interested individuals should send a cover letter, resume and three references to sshattuck@continentaldividetrail.orgwith subject line “CDT Colorado Conservation Fellow”. The application deadline is April 30, 2022.

EOE Statement:

CDTC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or other protected status. For information about CDTC, please visit our website at Who We Are | Continental Divide Trail Coalition