Field Instructor

Visit rfov.org/careers for the full job description.

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is the leading volunteer-powered stewardship organization serving the regional community of the Roaring Fork, Crystal River, and Middle Colorado watersheds. Our mission is to empower people with the tools and ethic to actively care for, and connect with the natural world, while supporting land managers to create healthy and resilient landscapes. Each year, RFOV works on 70-80 different project sites with over 2,000 adult and youth volunteers in collaboration with our partners using a combination of large community events, customized group work days, youth service-learning days, and professional staff.

position Description
The Field Instructor is responsible for assisting with the preparation, logistics and implementation of RFOV’s field-based volunteer and youth programs. This position requires excellent group facilitation and leadership skills; independence and accountability in decision-making; organizational skills in logistics and time management; building positive relationships with project partners, volunteers, and students; and a proven ability to educate, lead, and motivate people in backcountry and frontcountry settings. This position is primarily field-based with pre-and post-project office tasks and routine office/tool maintenance tasks regularly required.

Specific Responsibilities
Volunteer Coordination and Instruction

• Supervise volunteers and students in the field 3-5 days a week.
• Ensure all volunteer and youth programs foster an educational, empowering, rewarding, and meaningful experience.
• Work to create an inclusive, and equitable environment for diverse groups of volunteers across various project types.
• As needed and when appropriate, communicate with volunteers before the start of projects.
• Serve as a Crew Leader on projects, supervising and coordinating the efforts of a group of 8-10 students or volunteers.
• Assist in determining volunteer accolades and awards each season. In addition, Field Instructors will assess which volunteers have exemplary performance in leadership skills or technical aspects of trail work and restoration projects, encourage those volunteers to get more involved in volunteer leadership positions, and inform the Program Director and Program Manager regularly about volunteers who are going above and beyond.
• Manage the volunteer participation prize program and ensure efficient delivery of prizes to volunteers
  throughout the season.

Program Support and Operations:

• Assist with operations and implementation of all stewardship programs and projects:
  • Support RFOV equipment and tool management: ensure tools, project equipment and supplies are clean, in good working order and regularly inventoried.
  • Assist with pre-project planning logistics.
  • Assist with, and at times, directly manage on-the-ground project logistics: coordinating travel, tool preparation, lining out project work sections, and project implementation and wrap-up on both frontcountry and overnight/multi-day backcountry projects
  • Ensure project safety and practice effective risk management.
  • As appropriate, serve as an expert (Technical Advisor) on technical trail construction, restoration/revegetation and fire mitigation work and ensure that project work is being constructed to quality standards and timelines.
  • Continually enhance expertise in trail and restoration techniques, crew management, and leadership.
• Assist with project reporting
  • Accurately measure project metrics in the field and use internal databases to record metrics.
  • Ensure accurate and consistent photo documentation and organization of project work.
  • Under the direction of the Program Director, complete monthly metrics checks to ensure proper input of metrics within internal databases
  • Assist in keeping all project notes and details as well as partnership information.
  • Record time worked accurately and timely for accountability and grant reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Strong belief in RFOV’s mission.
• Trail building/maintenance on natural surface trails.
• Outdoor leadership, outdoor education, or environmental education experience.
• Ability to conduct stewardship work while following Leave No Trace principles.
• Ability to hike up to 6-8 miles/day at altitude.
• Ability to use heavy hand tools (i.e. pick mattocks, rock bars, pulaski, etc.) and supervise volunteers in the safe usage of these tools.
• Ability to proactively implement risk management strategies in accordance with RFOV policies and protocols
• Ability to execute strenuous stonework at altitude.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds regularly, 60 – 80 pounds intermittently and up to 100 pounds infrequently.
• Ability to work in potentially adverse weather conditions and proactively manage adversity and uncertainty.
• Current valid driver’s license.
• A personal vehicle in reliable working condition that you are willing to use as needed (infrequently throughout the season) for transport of both personnel and tools to and from project sites.
• Certification in either a) Wilderness First Aid and CPR, or b) Wilderness First Responder (or can achieve certification upon hire).
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to attend mandatory Staff Training dates to take place between April 20th and May 3rd, 2026.

Desired Qualifications
We encourage you to apply for this position even if you do not believe you meet all of the criteria listed here.

• Spanish language proficiency and ability to lead volunteer groups in Spanish while overseeing a variety of stewardship tasks is highly desirable.
• Practical knowledge of methods and techniques to design, layout and construct/reconstruct natural surface trails.
• Ecological and natural resource knowledge and ability to teach others about these topics.
• Experience implementing basic restoration techniques including reseeding, planting, erosion control, and barbed wire fence removal.
• Rock work experience (stairs, retaining walls, check dams, etc) as pertaining to trails.
• Experience working with youth outdoors or in other educational settings.
• Experience (either personal or professional) planning and implementing backcountry trips for groups of 8-15 people (menu prep, pre-trip planning and logistics, etc.).
• Experience working for or with land management agencies (state, federal, or municipal).
• Experience or interest in creating inclusive work environments that support collaboration across a diverse participant base.
• Experience implementing accessible programming for participants with varying physical, cultural, and language needs.
• A strong passion for and previous experience leading a diverse range of volunteers.
• Willingness to learn about ecosystems and natural resources of the Roaring Fork Valley through self-driven research and education from RFOV staff, partners, and volunteers.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and logistical skills.
• Ability to proactively solve problems, work independently, and be creative and resourceful.
• Consistent and reliable communication.
• Computer skills and data management experience (specifically Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Salesforce and Caltopo).

Work Schedule
The weekly work schedule will be variable with regular weekends and occasional evenings required and is based on a 35-40 hour work week, though some weeks may exceed this during the busy season and will be compensated with overtime pay.

Visit rfov.org/careers for the full job description.