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Continental Divide Trail Alliance seeks Field Operations Coordinator

Job Description: FIELD OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

CDTA Mission Statement

To construct, manage and preserve a non-motorized public backcountry trail along the full length of the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico and to link its significant resources with the assistance of volunteers and public and private partnerships. To develop an appreciation of and enjoyment in America's natural lands through education and the opportunity to experience the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Duties will be divided as follows:

50% Field Operations Assistant in New Mexico. Schedule will be determined based on predetermined Volunteer and Youth Corps project duties, meeting and events.

25% CDTA Youth Corps coordination.

25% overall CDT Field Operations (overall Trail).

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under direction of the Field Operations Manager. Also will assist the Director of Volunteer Programs and the Executive Director with special projects.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: The following of competencies are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

Increases CDTA capacity to be active in CDT planning and construction activities.

Establishes a meaningful, concrete working relationship with agency partners at the forest and district level, or their equivalent, within the Forest Service, National Park Service, BLM, and relevant state agencies, and engages in planning processes that are relevant to the CDT experience. Sets up regular means of communication and planning between partners and within the volunteer community.

Provides or obtains expertise, information and assistance to agency partners. Develops new resources to accomplish the work of the Trail in coordination with land managers and partners, resulting in new sources of volunteers, materials, methods and required funds.

Serves as a catalyst and central coordinator for the numerous and diverse partners in the management and protection of the CDT. Current partners include New Mexico Mountain Club, Volunteers for Outdoor New Mexico, Backcountry Horsemen, etc.

Facilitates a coordinated plan of work to address priority needs.

Acts as liaison and key communicator between national office and state stakeholders.

Increase CDTA effectiveness and presence in New Mexico.

Assures all work meets the vision of National Trails System Act and evaluates trail status.

Supervises Volunteer Projects and provides oversight of CDTA Youth Corps in New Mexico.

Assists in engaging communities along the Trail, including improving community relations.

Cultivates positive relationships with federal agencies, state and local governments.

Provides support, orientation, and acts as a resource for local groups, affiliates and partners, including training affiliate groups and setting up training courses for partners and affiliates as needed.

Develops new sources of volunteer services from local communities near the CDT to work with existing volunteers and support and increase likelihood of success by identifying and addressing training and resource needs.

Identifies potential volunteer leaders and works to develop their knowledge and skills.

Oversees and reports on trail progress.

Assists with private land matters as needed.

Visits and reports on CDT projects.

Assists with management of CDTA Youth Corps in all 5 states as needed.

Assists with Field Operations responsibilities along the entire Trail.

Collects Trail data using GPS technology as needed.

Manages Trail data and its incorporation into the CDTA GIS.

Assists national office with public comments by researching data, site visits, and soliciting support from locals as needed.

Acts as liaison and key communicator between national office and state stakeholders.

Oversees volunteers who participate in specialty skills program to help support, expedite, and improve trail project planning effort.

Gathers trail condition information and trail construction needs, verifying existing data as much as possible. Relays this information to Trail management, partners, and the public.

Gains knowledge about the physical Trail, its important features, and the trail experience offered by the CDT in New Mexico.

Other duties as assigned

Travel expenses will be provided and will include lodging, food allowance, and reimbursement for mileage.

DESIRED PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Adaptability: Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.

Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.

Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.

Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen, and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.

Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization.

Focus on Stakeholder Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.

Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.

Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.

Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.

Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.

Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.

Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Think Strategically: Assess options and actions based on trends and conditions in the environment, and the vision and values of the organization.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

This full-time professional position requires leadership experience in constructing and managing non-motorized trails through collaborative partnerships. Requires two (2) years experience and success in working with public land managing agencies, and familiarity with agency land management systems and processes. Requires the ability and willingness to travel on the CDT in remote, backcountry locations, sometimes requiring days of backcountry travel. Requires the ability to perform physical trail work with partners. Trail design, construction and maintenance skills required, as well as proven experience in working with and as a volunteer. Certification and/or proficiency in technical construction skills such as chainsaw operation, crosscut saw use, wilderness medical training, winch use and rigging, and stock packing required within 1 year of hire. Prior experience necessary in recruiting, training, and managing trail crews. Experience in GPS data collection.

Must be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and the Internet. Must possess strong leadership and time management skills and have the ability to motivate and effectively give presentations to groups of people. Must be self-directed, organized, detail oriented and flexible, and be able to handle multiple projects in a fast paced environment. Must have good interpersonal skills, be team-oriented, and enjoy working with others.

The ability to maintain a flexible schedule is necessary. This position requires periodic travel periods (including weekends) that could last from 1 week or up to 1 month in duration.

Work is performed both indoors in a busy office where noise and interruptions prevail and outdoors where environmental elements prevail. Must be able to frequently sit and frequently walk for long periods, stand, climb, bend, kneel, stoop, reach and lift, push or pull. Manual dexterity is needed to type, write, use a calculator, and answer the phone. The ability to talk and hear via the telephone and through face-to-face communication is needed. Vision requirements include near and far acuity. Upper body strength is a requisite to lift/move a maximum of 50 pounds unassisted and 100 pounds with assistance. The employee is frequently required to drive a personal vehicle, therefore, current driver's license and auto insurance is required. 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.

This position will help to establish CDTA's New Mexico Field program. Until such time that a permanent location for CDTA New Mexico Field office is determined, this position will be based out of CDTA's Pine, Colorado office (located approximately 40 miles southwest of Denver.) Major time will be spent in remote locations through out New Mexico attending to field work and trail projects. This position will maintain interim offices along the Trail in New Mexico until the permanent location for the New Mexico Field office is determined.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources/Recreation Management, or related field from an accredited educational institution.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of two (2) years project coordination experience.

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