Youth Programs Specialist

Boulder County's wildfire mitigation program-Wildfire Partners-is currently seeking a Youth Programs Specialist to help coordinate our Youth Helping Vulnerable Individuals and Communities effort. Wildfire Partners works with two partners-TEENS Inc. and Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC)-to provide free wildfire mitigation services to individuals and communities who are unable to perform mitigation on their own. The Youth Programs Specialist will be the liaison between Wildfire Partners, the two partner organizations, and the individuals and communities receiving the free mitigation services. This position is newly created, resulting from a grant from the Fire Adapted Communities Network (FAC Net).
Mitigation work focuses on creating and maintaining defensible space: removing combustible material near structures (and placing into dumpsters), cutting trees and shrubs, cutting grasses, removing surface fuels, low limbing trees, removing combustible debris and other items from under decks and other locations, and creating and maintaining a five-foot non-combustible zone next to structures. MHYC has chainsaw crews; TEENS, Inc. crews do not operate chainsaws.
Vulnerable individuals and communities are historically underrepresented or underserved residents of Boulder County who often have not been able to easily access mitigation services. They may not be fluent English speakers.
To learn more about Wildfire Partners and wildfire mitigation, visit our website: www.WildfirePartners.org.
This position is a term limited position with an anticipated end date of February 28, 2025. This position will work weekday business hours, depending on the time of year, working both 4, 10-hour days and 5, 8-hour days per week, with occasional evenings and Saturdays as needed. This is a hybrid position with work taking place at home, in the field, and in the office located at 2045 13th Street in Boulder, CO.

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.
Hiring Salary Range: $49,956.00 - $52,152.00 annually

1. Identify and help recruit vulnerable individuals and communities to apply to the program.
2. Help select individuals and communities to receive free mitigation services.
3. Identify mitigation projects that youth crews can effectively complete.
4. Provide wildfire mitigation education to individuals and communities participating in this initiative.
5. Plan the mitigation measures to be performed by the youth crews before they arrive on site.
6. Oversee 20 weeks of on-site mitigation work by youth crews averaging 10 or more crew members per day (Note: during these 20 weeks, the Youth Program Specialist will spend their time on-site with the crews. The work location could be anywhere in the county. The schedule for these 20 weeks of on-site work will be 4, 10-hour days per week. There is a break in the 20-week field season in August.
7. Coordinate with participating individuals and communities for these planning and implementation efforts.
8. Help generate significant publicity from this work and inspire others to perform their own mitigation or pursue similar projects in their communities.
9. Inform participating communities about additional engagement opportunities including community chipping, community mitigation planning, and other Wildfire Partners programs.
10. Encourage qualified participants to sign up for the Individual Home Assessment program.
11. Share lessons with and increase Boulder County's participation in FAC Net by attending workshops and giving informal and formal presentations.
12. Perform related work as assigned.
13. May be reassigned in an emergency situation.

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of five years of combined education and relevant experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience as a crew member or crew leader for TEENS, Inc. MHYC or a similar youth corps or youth organization
• Bilingual in Spanish and English

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Direct experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, including residents of diverse and under-represented communities.
• Ability to engage diverse and under-represented communities in collective action programs.
• Direct experience coordinating youth corps and/or volunteer projects, including designing projects and managing youth and/or volunteers.
• Knowledge of Firewise ® principles and wildfire mitigation best practices. Familiarity and experience with the Wildfire Partners program a plus.
• Experience managing and prioritizing a diverse workload to accomplish tasks for several projects on defined timelines.
• Intermediate-level or better familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite including Teams, Word, Exel, and PowerPoint.
• Willing and able to work flexible hours to perform job duties.
• Willingness and ability to drive to all parts of Boulder County including mountain and plains communities on paved and unpaved roads.

Employment Type: Full-time