Trail Crew Leader

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 Trail Crew Leader is responsible for supervising and leading a crew of 4 individuals as well as volunteer groups on both frontcountry and backcountry trail and restoration projects. Approximately half of the season will be spent completing deferred maintenance projects in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, with the other half of the season focusing on other frontcountry and backcountry projects throughout our service area. This position requires efficient leadership skills, an agile thinker who can respond to fluid environmental conditions and crew dynamics within various frontcountry/backcountry settings, and an ability to build and support an effective team. In addition, the Trail Crew Leader will possess a strong skill set in trailwork, particularly in a wilderness setting, ability to assess and manage risks, and organizational skills in project reporting, logistics and time management.

Specific Responsibilities
Program Management and Operations:

• Supervise and lead a team of 4 crew members on frontcountry and backcountry trail and stewardship projects.
• Work with the Program Director and other relevant staff to determine each projects’ logistics including food, transportation, tools, and equipment.
• Assist with pre-project planning logistics, working directly with land managers and the RFOV Program Director to determine scope and location of work, implementation standards, current trail/campsite conditions and other pertinent logistics needed for successful backcountry hitches.
• Oversee on-the-ground project logistics: coordinating travel, tool preparation, and lining out project work sections.
• Ensure project safety and practice effective risk management strategies.
• Serve as the technical expert on trail construction and maintenance projects to land manager standards including: rock work (including rock steps, retaining walls and turnpikes), building and maintaining multiple types of drainage structures, and restoration such as installation of erosion control structures, revegetation or decommissioning trails.
• Assist with project reporting
  • Accurately compile project metrics onsite and use internal databases to record metrics following each hitch.
  • Ensure accurate and consistent photo documentation and organization of project work.
  • Assist in the creation of reports regarding the progress and accomplishments of all trail crew projects and ensure consistency and clear communication internally among RFOV staff.
  • Collect notes on project site conditions and features in addition to project partner interactions and record these notes in internal databases.
  • Record time worked accurately and timely for accountability and grant reporting.
• Support RFOV equipment and tool management: ensure tools, project equipment and supplies are clean, in good working order, and regularly inventoried.
• With support from Trail Crew Members, plan, create menus, purchase food for and organize into bear safe containers all meals for all backcountry hitches.

Volunteer Coordination and Management
*As volunteer engagement is central to our mission, the Trail Crew plays an important role in supporting and overseeing volunteer projects throughout the season.

• Serve as a crew leader on volunteer projects, supervising and coordinating the efforts of a group of 8-10 students or volunteers and providing them with technical expertise needed to complete a variety of trail work and restoration tasks.
• Work to create an inclusive and equitable environment for a diverse group of volunteers.
• Ensure all RFOV volunteer programs foster a positive, educational, engaging, and motivating experience for volunteers.

Required Qualifications

• Strong belief in RFOV’s mission.
• Ability to live in the backcountry and conduct trail work while following Leave No Trace principles.
• Trail building/maintenance experience with at least one year in a supervisory role, or trail building/maintenance experience with other relevant leadership experience.
• Practical knowledge of methods and techniques to design, layout and construct/reconstruct natural surface trails.
• Ability to hike up to 10 miles/day at altitude
• Ability to use heavy hand tools (i.e. pick mattocks, rock bars, pulaski, etc.) and supervise crew members and 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
• Strong rock work experience (stairs, retaining walls, check dams, turnpikes etc) as pertaining to trails.
• 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 for both personnel and tool transport to and from project sites as needed throughout the season.
• 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 – 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.

• Previous experience leading a crew within a jobshiringnearme.org Corps, land management agency, or non-profit organization.
• Ecological and natural resource knowledge and ability to teach others about these topics.
• 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.
• Experience or interest in creating inclusive work environments that support collaboration among diverse crew members and across a diverse volunteer base.
• Experience implementing accessible programming for staff and participants with varying physical, cultural, and language needs.
• Experience (either personal or professional) planning and implementing backcountry trips for groups (menu prep, pre-trip planning and logistics, etc.).
• Demonstrated people-management experience.
• Outdoor leadership, outdoor education, or environmental education experience.
• Experience working with youth outdoors or in other educational settings.
• Excellent organizational, planning, time-management and logistical skills.
• Self-directed, highly motivated, reliable, with a result and solution oriented perspective.
• Ability to proactively solve problems, work independently, and be creative and resourceful.
• Consistent, professional and reliable communication.
• Spanish language proficiency is highly desirable.

This position is strenuous, physically demanding and requires exceptional mental, emotional and physical fortitude. Please consider these challenges prior to applying!

Work Schedule
The weekly work schedule will be variable with regular weekends and occasional evenings required and is based on a 10 hour day/40 hour work week. Work schedule for half of the season will require living in the backcountry for 8 days in a row with 6 days off between backcountry hitches. The frontcountry portion of the season will follow a schedule of 4 days on and 3 days off.

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