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Continental Divide Trail Alliance seeks New Mexico Coordinator

Do you dream about working along the Continental Divide and being a part of a Legacy in the making? If so, the King of Trails needs you! The Continental Divide Trail Alliance is currently seeking an individual to initiate and support our regional efforts in New Mexico along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

The ideal candidate will have an interest in the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the state of New Mexico, have experience in trail construction and management, community and volunteer engagement, and be willing to travel to remote and backcountry environments in support of CDTA programs. A background in Natural Resource Management and experience in implementing Trail construction projects, is desired.

The ideal candidate will be able to perform their duties with limited supervision, but be an effective communicator to maintain appropriate and timely communication with his or her supervisor in the CDTA main office in Pine, CO. Occasional travel to CDTA’s main office in CO may be required. Finally, the ideal candidate must enjoy being outdoors, working in unpredictable environments, with some of the most effective, engaging, and fun partners and volunteers in the world! If this seems like a good fit, please review the Position Description.

Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume to: CDTA, Attention Ruth Strauss, Human Resources Manager, P.O. Box 628, Pine, CO 80470. Electronic submissions should be sent to: ruth@cdtrail.org

Title: Regional Coordinator
Area: New Mexico
Supervision Received: Reports directly to the Field Operations Director.
Supervision Exercised: none

General Statement of Duties:
The Regional Coordinator will serve as CDTA’s primary staff facilitator in the region. They will have responsibility for developing and maintaining the organization’s programs to assure excellent maintenance, management and protection of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). They will serve to facilitate the cooperative work of the agencies and volunteer organizations responsible for the CDNST experience as established through the National Trail System Act and the history and traditions of the Trail. The Regional Coordinator will carry out the policies, procedures and positions established by the CDTA Board of Directors and assist the Board and the trail wide CDTA team to develop and refine that direction.

Over the course of the first year of this position it will be important for the person in this position to work with partners within the region to collect information and establish priorities that will set the regional partnership in the right direction to accomplish broad overall goals for the CDNST. To accomplish this it will be a key role for the regional rep to engage as many partners as possible in meaningful work to benefit the CDNST. As a part of this process it is likely that it will be possible to accomplish the following tasks over the course of the year.

Position Outcomes:

Partnership
Establish a meaningful, concrete working relationship with agency partners at the forest and district level, or their equivalent, within the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and relevant state agencies, and engage in any planning processes that are relevant to the CDNST experience. Set up a regular means of communication and planning between partners and within the volunteer community.

The Regional Coordinator should work as an important source of expertise, information and direct assistance to agency partners. This person should work to develop new resources to accomplish the work of the Trail in coordination with CDTA trail management team and partners, resulting in new sources of volunteers, materials, methods, and required funds.

The partnership for the management and protection of the CDNST is widespread and complex within the region. Serving as a catalyst and central coordinator for these partners is a key role of the position. Current partners include several local chapters of the Backcountry Horsemen of America, the New Mexico Mountain Club, The Village of Cuba, the Pueblo of Acoma, and many CDTA affiliated volunteers; the Carson, Santa Fe, Cibola, and Gila National Forests; Rio Puerco, Las Cruces, Socorro, Chain of Craters BLM Field offices; El Malpais National Monument, the Southwest Conservation Corps, The State Parks of New Mexico, and a variety of state and local agencies and representatives.

Volunteer Development
During the first year it should be possible to identify one new CDTA trail club to take on a significant geographic portion of trail as the primary maintainer and CDNST private partner. At the same time it should be possible to work with existing volunteers to support and consolidate their involvement by identifying their key geographic areas of work and getting them identified as CDNST maintaining organizations. This may include interested existing organizations with no present formal role related to the CDNST.

It will be a key role of the Regional Coordinator to identify potential volunteer leaders, to identify them to central staff and board members with committee management responsibilities, and work to develop their knowledge and skills in the wide variety of areas that are critical to the CDNST.It will be a key role of the Regional Coordinator to network to identify potential regional Board Members and/or significant supporters

Trail Management
As a result of their work in volunteer development, it will be important for the regional coordinator to work with these volunteer groups and their agency partners to tackle a half dozen meaningful trail projects during the 2009 work season. The Regional Coordinator should organize or identify training opportunities for volunteers and agency partners.

Trail Protection
The Regional Coordinator will have significant responsibilities ensuring a high quality the trail experience in New Mexico. It will be important for this person to work with knowledgeable agency staff and volunteers to review the acquisition program for the region, update the list of acquisition needs and their priorities and represent CDTA as an active partner in locating the final trail rout through New Mexico, and in working with responsible agencies and other partners to assure that the trail experience is well protected for the long run.

Resource Development
The Regional Coordinator will seek out and develop sources for funding of regional projects and programs in coordination with the CDTA development team.

Information
The Regional Coordinator is expected to be the primary clearing house for information regarding the condition of the trail in their region and in facilitating a coordinated plan of work to address priority needs. As such they will have responsibility for gathering trail condition information, verifying it in as much as is possible and relating that information to the public and trail management partners.

Building Community Support
The Regional Coordinator is to be the principle contact with local legislative representatives, community leaders, and landowners to identify issues, concerns, and opportunities. The expectation is that CDTA relationships will be maintained and improved through these contacts and interactions.

Job Requirements:

Education and Training –
• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource or environmental management, outdoor recreation management, planning, public administration, environmental education or related field.
• Advanced study in these areas or training in specific areas through agency or professional training programs is desirable.

Experience and Qualifications:

Required
• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience or five years of substantial volunteer experience.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with local governments and landowners
• Excellent organizational skills.
• The ability and willingness to travel on the CDNST in remote, backcountry locations sometimes requiring days of backcountry travel.
• The ability and willingness to perform physical trail work with partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work a variable schedule including weekends.
• Basic computer and GPS proficiency.
• Valid Driver License

Highly Desirable
• Proven experience and success in working with public land managing agencies.
• Additional professional or volunteer experience in areas relating to the position.
• Trail design, construction, and maintenance skills.
• Proven experience in working with and as a volunteer.
• Experience in recruiting, training and managing trail crews

Desirable
• Experience in analysis and response development for agency planning processes.
• Familiarity with agency land management systems and processes.
• Experience in using complex GIS and resource management data programs.
• Certification and/or proficiency in technical construction skills such 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.
• Success in supervising permanent and seasonal employees

Supervision and Work Environment:

The Regional Coordinator works under the direct supervision of the Field Operations Director; however he or she will be expected to prioritize his or her work in order to effectively meet day to day demands and ongoing assignments. Additionally, the Regional Coordinator will work with other CDTA staff members to achieve successful programs in their region. The Regional Coordinator is expected to communicate regularly on work projects and seek advice on new or controversial aspects of the work. The Field Operations Director will complete performance reviews on at least an annual basis. CDTA fosters a collegial work environment within a management team that includes volunteers, board members and other volunteer leaders and staff, as well as our partners in the project. This position will work in a one person office located in New Mexico. Travel throughout the region and to meetings that are trail wide in nature is a regular part of the position. Regular overnight travel is to be expected, as is an irregular work schedule that will include weekend work.

Working Environment/Physical Activities: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do physical labor in outdoor and backcountry environments. Work will include travel in personal vehicle (travel reimbursement included), so individual must have valid drivers license and operative vehicle. Travel will also include visits to the CDTA Central office on at least biannual basis. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. CDTA is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals should send resume and cover letter to CDTA, Attention Ruth Strauss, Human Resources Manager, P.O. Box 628, Pine, CO 80470. Position is open until filled.

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