New Mexico Regional Representative

Position: Regional Representative

Organization: Continental Divide Trail Alliance

Location: Albuquerque, NM

 

Description

General Statement of Duties:

The Regional Representative serves as CDTA’s primary representative in the region.  They have responsibility for developing and maintaining the organization’s programs to assure excellent location, planning, construction, maintenance, management and protection of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST).  They serve to facilitate the cooperative work of the agencies and volunteer organizations responsible for the CDNST.  The Regional Representative will carry out the strategies, policies, procedures and positions established by the CDTA and assist in their refinement.

Position Responsibilities: The Regional Representative will:

Agency Partnerships

• Develop meaningful, concrete working relationships with agency partners at the forest and district level, or their equivalent, within the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and relevant state agencies, and engage in any
• Engage in agency planning processes that are relevant to the CDNST experience.
• Establish and maintain effective means of communication and planning between partners and within the volunteer community.
• Will serve as the source of expertise, information and direct assistance to agency partners regarding the CDNST and the CDTA.
• Will provide continuous development of new resources to accomplish the work of the Trail in coordination with CDTA trail management team and partners, resulting in new sources of volunteers, materials, methods, and required funds.

Volunteer Development and Management

• Develop and maintain a system of trail maintainers and protectors that is sustainable, reliable, inspired, and ever growing.
• Develop an ever-increasing supply of New Mexico volunteers for trail construction and maintenance.
• Cultivate a sufficient supply of volunteer leaders with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to lead the maintainer organizations along the Trail in New Mexico.
• Identify potential qualified board candidates from New Mexico.
• Deliver an effective management, supervision, and training program for volunteers to accomplish trail maintenance and moderately complex trail construction work. This may include at times directly leading programs as desired or opportunities present themselves.
• Identify and organize training opportunities for volunteers and agency partners that maintain leading edge skills in CDTA volunteer resources.

Trail Protection

• Ensure a high quality trail experience in New Mexico.
• Work with knowledgeable agency staff and volunteers to review the acquisition program for the region,
• Update the list of acquisition needs and their priorities and represent CDTA as an active partner in locating the final trail route through New Mexico.

Resource Development

• Develop and cultivate sources for funding of regional projects and programs in coordination with the CDTA development team.
• Identify and develop adequate funding of New Mexico projects, programs, and overhead.

Information

• Serve as the primary clearing house for information regarding the condition of the trail in their region and in facilitating a coordinated plan of work to address priority needs.
• Gather trail condition information and relating that information to the public and trail management partners.
• Ensure there is a well maintained and usable CDNST through New Mexico.

Building Community Support

• Provide a strong and foundation and network of strategic partnerships with local groups throughout New Mexico who assist the CDTA the stewardship of the CDNST and who maintain a strong commitment to the CDTA.
• Promotes, recruits and sustains a vibrant trail adopter program amongst partners and individuals interested in long term stewardship of the CDNST.
• Serves as the principle contact with community leaders and landowners to identify issues, concerns, and create unique and creative opportunities for the completion of the CDNST in New Mexico
• Will maintain and improve relationships with all strategic partners throughout all interactions and develop a wide net of Trail and CDTA supporters, CDTA members and volunteers.

Job Requirements

Education and Training

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in natural resource or environmental management, outdoor recreation management, planning, public administration, environmental education or related field.
• Advanced study in these areas or equivalent training in specific areas through agency or professional training programs.

Experience and Qualifications:

Required

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in managing volunteer trail construction and conservation efforts. Ability to develop positive relationships with local governments and landowners
• Excellent project management skills.
• The ability and willingness to travel on the CDNST in remote, backcountry locations sometimes requiring days of backcountry travel.
• The ability and willingness to perform physical trail work with partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work a variable schedule including weekends.
• Basic computer and GPS proficiency.
• Valid Driver License.
• Trail maintenance skills.
• Proven experience and success in working with public land managing agencies.
• Proven experience in working with and as a volunteer.
• Success in supervising permanent and seasonal employees

Highly Desirable

• Additional professional or volunteer experience in areas relating to the position.
• Trail design and construction skills.
• Certification and/or proficiency in technical construction skills such chainsaw operation, crosscut saw certification, wilderness medical training, winch use and rigging, stock packing, etc.
• Familiarity with agency land management systems and processes.
• Experience in recruiting, training and managing trail crews.

Desirable

• Experience in analysis and response development for agency planning processes.
• Experience in using complex GIS and resource management data programs.
• Experience working with youth in trail or environmental work, environmental education, backcountry travel or service learning.
• Experience in adult training or education.

Supervision and Work Environment:

The Regional Representative works under the direct supervision of the Director of Trail Management; however, he or she will be expected to prioritize his or her work in order to effectively meet day to day demands and ongoing assignments within budgetary constraints.  Additionally, the Regional Representative will work with other CDTA staff members to achieve successful programs in their region.  The Regional Representative is expected to communicate regularly on work projects and seek advice on new or controversial aspects of the work.  The Director of Trail Management will complete performance reviews on at least an annual basis.  Travel throughout the region and to meetings that are trail wide in nature is a regular part of the position.  Regular overnight travel is to be expected, as is an irregular work schedule that will include weekend work.

Working Environment/Physical Activities: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do physical labor in outdoor and backcountry environments.  Work will include travel in personal vehicle (travel reimbursement included), so individual must have valid drivers license and operative vehicle.  Travel will also include visits to the CDTA Central office on at least biannual basis. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. CDTA is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

 

How to Apply

To apply please submit resume and cover letter to: Teresa Martinez, Director of Trail Management, [email protected],  or via mail at P.O. Box 986, Golden, CO 80402. Salary dependent upon experience, benefits include Health, Dental and 403 B plan.