Conservation Ecologist Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Description
Title: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Program Manager
Starting Salary Range: The starting salary for this position will be in the $58,800 to $62,328 range, depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position. Please note that the indicated starting salary range describes the range for an incumbent in this position. Most new staff generally start at the beginning of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.
Location: Gallup, New Mexico Not Remote Eligible.
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Short/Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Retirement, Paid Time Off. Supplemental benefits including critical care, pet insurance, supplemental life, and others.
Reports to: ALCC Program Director
Posting Period: Please apply before 08/31/2026
Organizational Summary:
Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit. The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands. These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation's lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air, and water; thriving people and resilient communities.
Program Summary:
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) is a program of Conservation Legacy (CL). ALCC provides conservation service opportunities for Indigenous youth, young adults, and recent-era military veterans in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona and works with other Native American communities and conservation corps across the country to provide similar opportunities. Our vision is to lead our Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being and we do this by empowering individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities, and the environment. ALCC crews are supported from operational bases in Acoma Pueblo, Albuquerque, Zuni Pueblo, Gallup, and Kykotsmovi (Hopi) and we have an Individual Placement program that serves the region and nation.
Position Summary:
The ALCC Program Manager (PM) is responsible for the execution and overall quality of all programming and operations run out of individual ALCC offices. The PM is responsible for supervision and mentorship of any field and/or program staff of the office(s) they oversee. The PM delegates operational tasks to their team, serves as the local lead for program-wide communication and collaboration, ensures safe workplace standards in the office and the field, and maintains timely and effective relationship management with all collaborators and partners. The PM will be responsible for project reporting as delegated by the directors.
The position is approximately 60% office-based and 40% field based, with field visits that may include overnight stays. A strong and consistent in-person office presence will be required from the PM. The PM may occasionally work remotely in the case of emergency or as approved by the Senior Program Director, but a majority of the position is intended to be in-person.
Outcomes & Functions of Position:
Recruitment

• Develop and implement a recruitment strategy for seasonal participants.
• Interview and select program participants.
• Facilitate and support the submission of all onboarding paperwork.

Field Support

• Supervise staff in overseeing programming in the Middle Rio Grande region.
• Mentor field staff by providing technical expertise, guidance, and emotional support.
• Maintain a safe working environment for all ALCC Participants and staff.
• Collect and review reporting paperwork, surveys, incident reports, and project outcomes.
• Enforce all ALCC and Conservation Legacy policies and procedures
• Respond to crew emergency situations and participate in an on-call system for crews in the field.
• Assist program staff to develop and implement training including technical trails, chainsaw, herbicide application, leadership, and facilitation skills.
• Manage a project from planning to completion, preparing crews for projects and reporting outcomes accurately.

Program Development

• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with local and federal partners.
• Develop innovative programs that meet the needs and strengths of the communities and participants we serve and help ALCC meet our mission.
• Assist with applications for grants and fundraising campaigns to support programming.
• Manage grant budget(s) and partnership between funders, program, and grant support staff.
• Support a long-term support strategy for members and alumni.
• Develop a long-term plan for the direction of local program operations and support sources.

General Administration

• Work with ALCC Administrative Director to update multiple databases for recruitment, selection, onboarding, payroll, timesheets, and AmeriCorps information.
• Manage and maintain accurate reporting of all necessary information and complete program reports including field site visits, recruiting notes, and accomplishments.
• Manage credit cards, receipts, and financial reporting, and facilitate timely management of the same for local program staff.
• Work closely with administrative staff to ensure office-wide compliance of paperwork tasks and AmeriCorps requirements.
• Track expenditures for local program team to ensure we are staying within approved budgets.

Organizational Advocacy

• Successfully engages, leads, and supports a positive work environment for all within the organization and the communities we serve. Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual.
• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned.

Organizational Advocacy

• Successfully engages, leads, and supports a positive work environment for all within the organization and the communities we serve.
• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual.
• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned.

Our Commitment:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Requirements
Qualifications:

• Associate degree or higher in any area of study.
• Valid CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.
• 3 years' experience working with youth and/or young adults.
• 3 years working within indigenous communities
• 3 years' experience in all or most of the following: trail construction & maintenance, chainsaw operation & maintenance, hand tool maintenance, fencing, historic preservation, agriculture, herbicide application, backcountry travel, with a strong emphasis placed on multiple years of previous trail construction and maintenance experience.
• Ability to operate Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.
• Ability to keep others and oneself, in remote locations, accountable to expectations.
• Valid Driver's License and Insurable Driving Record per Personnel Policies.
• Must be able to pass the organization's criminal history check requirements.
• Ability to successfully work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Other Competencies Desired for this Position's Success: Manage Complexity, Resourceful, Effectively Communicate, Cultivate Innovation, Drive, and/or Influence Results, Plans & Aligns.