Field Crew Leader; Trails, Backcountry, Forestry, Fuels

Field Crew Leader (Trails, Backcountry, Forestry, Fuels)

Join to apply for the Field Crew Leader (Trails, Backcountry, Forestry, Fuels) role at Environmental Career Center

Location:

Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula, MT.

Ages: 21 or over

Program Dates: 02/23/2026 - 10/22/2026

Living Allowance: $1,360 biweekly ($2,720 per month) before taxes

Ameri Corps Education Award: $5,176.50 upon completion

Health Insurance:
Provided at NO COST

Member Assistance Program:
Free 24/7 access to confidential behavioral health counseling, financial assistance, medical/legal advocacy, and more!

Public Lands Service Corps Hiring Preference:
Members serving with federal land management agencies may be eligible for hiring preference for future federal job placement.

Supportive coaching staff invested in your success.

Community Spaces:
We offer community spaces to build community, connection, and support during the season. The groups meet regularly and are open to all participants who identify within the respective community.

Food Per Diem while on projects.

Access to Pro Deals.

Housing options may be available in specific regions; talk with a Program Manager to learn more.

Learn More About Adult Conservation Crews (view full position descriptions).

APPLY HERE!

As a Crew Leader (CL), you will oversee 3-4 adult crew members on 4‑9 day overnight conservation projects across the Northern Rockies and Plains. Some leaders will work solo, some with a co‑leader, and some will have an assistant crew leader. Crew Leaders facilitate crew member growth, manage conflict, and support the crew in completing quality project service in the field.

Crews will camp for the full duration of a hike (4‑9 day project), often in remote locations on varied terrain and all weather conditions. Not all CLs will serve on all types of projects; crews may be deployed for natural disaster relief, and project & crew types may shift during the season.

• Field Crews:
  Duties may include building or maintaining trails, treating or removing invasive species, building fences, operating chainsaws to reduce wildfire risks by thinning trees, among many other types of projects.
• Forestry Crews:
  Duties may include Tree Species , Timber Stand Assessment, Tree Marking, Timber Sale Boundary Marking, Tree Planting, Silviculture Prescriptions, Reforestation Plot Surveying, Chainsaw Operations/Maintenance, Precommercial Thinning, Fireline/Fuelbreak Operations, and more.
• Fuels and Fields:
  These crews will likely have a high proportion of chainsaw use, fireline construction, and other forest health monitoring activities, including wildland fuels mitigation projects.

As a Crew Leader, you will participate in a 3‑month dynamic and immersive leadership development program crafted over two decades to enhance your confidence, resilience, and technical capabilities. You will engage in activities that explore communication styles, develop emotional intelligence, master conflict resolution, and learn facilitation techniques to teach to different learning styles, applying your knowledge to new scenarios. Through feedback, reflection, and discussion, you will leave with actionable strategies to become an effective leader.
You will also receive extensive technical training covering federally recognized certifications in chainsaw and cross‑cut use (depending on crew type), defensive driving, and Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA). You will gain expertise in backcountry travel, trail maintenance, Leave No Trace principles, habitat management, and natural resource management. This comprehensive training equips Crew Leaders with knowledge and skills needed for diverse situations and challenges.

We often see applicants who don’t realize they are qualified to take on a leadership role  is a developmental program whose mission is to teach, train, and develop leadership competencies. Your experience—paid, unpaid, volunteer, or otherwise—builds competencies and knowledge that translate to our openings. We encourage anyone with an interest in conservation and personal growth to apply.

• A passion for…