American Conservation Experience seeks Professional Trails Trainer

Sept. 15, 2010

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Flagstaff, AZ, is seeking highly skilled and enthusiastic professional trainers to teach ACE Crew Supervisors, AmeriCorps Members, and Professional Development Interns how to construct and maintain multi-use trails in many of the most spectacular and challenging public lands in the United States.
Position(s) Available:
1 Full-time, Year-Round, Permanent Staff Position
OR
1 Full-time, Winter-Seasonal, Temporary Staff Position
1 Full-time, Summer-Seasonal, Temporary Staff Position

Start Date: Position(s) available immediately. Start date negotiable.
Length of Term: Year-round for one permanent position. 6 months for seasonal positions.
Hours: 40 hours per week. Must be flexible, including some weekends.

A full-time commitment is required for all positions.

Position Description: ACE is a rapidly growing, dynamic organization with the reputation for providing crews capable of safely accomplishing structurally complex and aesthetically pleasing trail work for the National Park Service, US Forest Service, BLM and other land management agencies. In order to maintain our reputation for quality work, and to avoid diluting our skill base in favor of programmatic expansion, we wish to attract one or more trails specialist(s) with standards as exacting as our own. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for perfectionists who take trail work to a higher art form and who love to share skills and perspectives with others. In other words, we are looking for genuine trails professionals.

The ideal candidate(s) will possess a broad spectrum of skills gained from extensive experience constructing and maintaining trails for multiple agencies, for a range of user groups, and in diverse ecosystems and soil/rock types. ACE’s Trails Trainer must be guided by the concept of sustainability in all trail work. Just as importantly, the candidate(s) must be able to supportively, yet uncompromisingly, impart these skills to ACE’s field staff and to hold them to the highest standards at all times.

Location: Flagstaff, AZ with travel to various project locations throughout the Western United States.
While the opportunity is based out of Flagstaff, AZ, significant travel is required. Much of the training takes place as part of ACE’s weekly rotation of trails projects, so the Trails Trainer must be willing and able to travel for up to 9 days at a time to participate in projects that represent learning opportunities throughout the Western United States.

Working Conditions:
Work is labor intensive and strenuous, performed outdoors in remote high desert terrain and other challenging areas. ACE crews may work and operate equipment in adverse conditions that include extended exposure to Arizona’s summer monsoon thunderstorms, sun, heat, wind, rain, loud noise, uneven terrain, mud, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and various stinging or biting insects.

Qualifications:
The ideal Trails Trainer(s) will have strong experience and skills in the following disciplines:
Dry stone retaining wall construction
Construction of rock steps and checks
Layout and design of sustainable trail
Construction of full bench tread
Trail maintenance in wilderness settings and the ability to adapt approach and standards to wilderness situations calling for a more refined, subtle approach.
Operation, maintenance and repair of pionjars
Use of rigging equipment
Experience working with volunteers
Teaching

Other Requirements:

Drug users, including recreational smokers of marijuana, should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing and emphatically abhors the presence of drug users in our program.
Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
Salary:
Full Time Permanent Position: $35,000 - $45,000 annual salary, depending on experience. Full benefits start after six months, including health insurance, dental insurance, two weeks annual paid vacation, sick leave, and a paid foreign volunteerism sabbatical after three years of service.
Seasonal Full Time Positions: $16 hourly. No health benefits or vacation time.
Application Deadline: Position Open Until Filled. Please apply ASAP.

To Apply:
Please email the following to Chris Baker at cbaker@usaconservation.org with “Professional Trails Trainer” in the subject heading of your email:
Cover Letter
Resume
2 written references from trails professionals, including reference contact information
If possible: Pictures or website link to portfolio of past trail work
Please note whether you are applying for a year-round or seasonal position

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