Trail Crew Lead

Trail Crew Lead

Job Type: Full-time, seasonal

Hourly Wage: $26.00 to $28.00 depending on experience

Experience: Minimum 2 years; Preferred 3 – 6 years

Deadline:  CCF is hiring on a rolling basis; early Application is highly recommended.

MISSION:

The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation supports the environment of the Cottonwood Canyons through stewardship and education.  The Cottonwood Canyons provide approximately 60% of the drinking water for the Salt Lake area. Located just east of Salt Lake City (and home to Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude), the Cottonwood Canyons are located within one of the most highly visited portions of national forest in the nation, with the tri-canyons receiving over 5 million visits a year.

CCF strives to educate the public on the Canyons’ importance and how they can help promote their ecological health. CCF works to provide the community with direct and hands-on ways to give back to this environment through volunteering.

PURPOSE OF position:

The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation is seeking professionals for the 2026 Trail Crew field season. We are looking for applicants who have experience in building trails and are passionate about trail stewardship and education. The Trail Crew Lead will supervise a professional trail crew working on a variety of trail projects in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Millcreek Canyon. The position is field-based and labor-intensive, with work ranging from technical stone masonry projects to coordinating volunteer events. This position is perfect for students who are intersted in a career in natural resource managemnt, ecology, or habitat restoration. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage day-to-day field operations, crew members, and volunteers, and assign proper tasks that make the trail program function efficiently, while prioritizing safety
• Communicate with Forest Service employees daily to coordinate project scheduling and scope of work details
• Assess, train, and supervise fellow crew members and volunteers in safe and efficient techniques for material quarrying/gathering, transport, and the construction of stone structures; corridor improvement and tread work; drainage structure building and repairing; as well as the restoration of natural landscapes at project sites
• Safely and efficiently work with a variety of tools (including chainsaws, crosscut saws, power tools, rock hammers and chisels, rock bars, power drill, feathers and wedges; experience with rigging equipment preferred) and maintain equipment conditions and an up-to-date tool inventory
• Assist in ensuring that proper project reporting is completed, including end-of-project reports, project tool inventories, daily logs, and volunteer paperwork
• Communicate with CCF administration daily to assist with scheduling, training, human resource issues and incident reporting, joint events, and social media production

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Moderate to advanced trail work and restoration experience and skills, including major projects and stonework, stone quarrying, rigging, and material management (minimum 2 plus years’ experience)
• Experience managing work sites and all elements of project coordination
• Experience training, supervising and/or managing trail crew members
• Experience training, supervising and/or managing volunteers
• Experience with safety preparation and implementation
• Possess a very strong work ethic and drive for a quality finished product
• Possess a high level of fitness including ability to hike with weight and on unsure terrain, strong cardiovascular fitness, ability to lift up to and exceeding 50 lbs on a continual basis
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, including public speaking
• Conscientious judgment and experience in managing risk on a continual basis
• B-level Sawyer Certification strongly preferred
• WFA/WFR Certification strongly preferred
• Possess reliable transportation for personal transport to and from worksites (paid mileage)
• In accordance with partner grant requirements, CCF maintains a drug-free workplace. Applicants may be required to pass a criminal background check as a condition of employment

SCHEDULE

• Lead Season: April to October, specific dates are negotiable. CCF can accommodate students who need to leave the position early to return to school in the fall.
• Work sites are located in Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Little Cottonwood Canyon, with occasional projects in outlying areas. The Trail Crew Lead must be willing to drive to and from the work sites in their personal vehicle.
• Work Schedule is 8-hour shifts, Tuesday – Saturday

BENEFITS

• Hourly salary range of $26.00 – $28.00, depending on experience
• PTO accrues at 13.3 hours per month (approximately 12 days over April – October season); PTO offered in lieu of paid holidays
• Uniform shirts provided, boot stipend provided, paid professional development training provided
• Season completion bonus