Application deadline: Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at 5 p.m. MST

Anticipated start date: April 15, 2024

About the position

Do you want to get more young people involved in conservation?

We’re looking for a thoughtful, motivated individual to help plan and lead trips, workshops, and trainings for budding activists and leaders across the Colorado Plateau.

The Grand Canyon Trust’s Rising Leaders Program provides opportunities for people ages 15-30 to build leadership, advocacy, and professional skills; dive into environmental justice issues; and connect to landscapes and each other.

In this role, the Rising Leaders intern will help facilitate programs that support Indigenous young people who are building healthy and thriving futures, shaped by their own ideas and guided by Indigenous leaders. If you are ready to integrate cultural insight and sensitivity into environmental conservation and mentorship, this is the role for you.

The Rising Leaders intern will help lead the following projects and trips:

Regional Intertribal, Intergenerational Stewardship Expedition (RIISE): This Colorado River trip is designed to connect Indigenous youth with cultural knowledge holders of tribes who call the Grand Canyon home. Native participants and knowledge holders discuss the Grand Canyon through storytelling, historical context, and ecological awareness.

LeaderShift: This field-based leadership training program takes young people across the Colorado Plateau to build change-making and advocacy skills. Participants learn about the legacy of energy extraction, its impacts on local communities, and paths toward just and equitable futures.

Seeds & Stories: These workshops connect high school students with community farmers. Young people contribute to food sovereignty projects that center traditional farming practices and Native food traditions.

What does this position entail?

• Help in all aspects of trip implementation: recruitment, planning, coordination, food buying, gear packing, meal preparation, cleanup, and other assignments.
• Engage participants one-on-one and in group settings through discussions, activities, and workshops to share knowledge and facilitate reflection.
• Collaborate with the Rising Leaders manager to develop and facilitate workshops and activities in the field for groups of eight to 18 participants.
• Serve as a role model of excellent work ethic and inclusivity.
• Demonstrate outstanding people skills, including the ability to read social cues and support positive group dynamics.
• Keep a level head throughout inclement weather and difficult situations.
• Respect all program partners and participants.
• Provide feedback to Rising Leaders staff about programs and activities.
• Recruit applicants and advertise programs.
• Contribute to weekly check-ins with the Rising Leaders manager and staff.

What might you learn along the way?

• Hone recruitment strategies to engage diverse participants from across the Colorado Plateau.
• Help develop goals, curriculum, and vision for RIISE, LeaderShift, and Seeds and Stories.
• Help facilitate meaningful programs and field experiences to develop personal and professional skills.
• Assess risk and make conservative decisions for personal well-being and the well-being of group members in remote settings.
• Build trust and create new relationships with communities on the Colorado Plateau.
• Improve facilitation and coordination skills with support from staff.

Do you have what it takes?

• Experience with or significant connection to Indigenous communities of the Colorado Plateau.
• Ability to communicate with and collaborate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Comfort with and desire to work and camp in remote locations outdoors for multiple days at a time.
• Experience in event planning, outdoor guiding, or river trips.
• Experience driving four-wheel drive vehicles on rough roads.
• Attention to detail with organization skills and ability to meet deadlines while supporting multiple projects.
• Ability to give and receive feedback and ask for help when needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Note that experience includes lived experience, traditional knowledge, volunteer experience, school or coursework, work experience, and other related qualifications, skills, and experience.

No candidate will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the position and think you may be a good candidate, we encourage you to apply.

The nitty-gritty

Location

The intern is expected to report to the office in Flagstaff, Arizona, before and after trips, which occur throughout northern Arizona. Applicants must reside in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, or New Mexico. The Rising Leaders intern will work online and in person to plan and prepare for field experiences.

Trip dates:

Seeds and Stories: March-May 2024
RIISE: July 2024
LeaderShift: August 2024

Compensation and benefits

$23 per hour. This is not a benefit-eligible position, but individuals accrue sick leave during their internships (about two days) and receive a $500 housing stipend, a $250 travel allowance, and a $200 professional development stipend.

Employment term

This is a 480-hour internship, beginning around April 15, 2024, and ending around August 18, 2024. The intern will work primarily during trips and projects, usually with a day on each end to pack and unpack gear. There will also be some office work to prepare for trips and plan curriculum. There will be approximately two overnight trips (eight to 10 days each), and approximately six day trips throughout the internship.

Supplies needed

Some travel will be required. Since you will need to drive Trust-owned or rental vehicles, you must be at least 20 years old with a driver’s license, personal car insurance, and a clean driving record.

The intern will need to camp out for eight to 10 days at a time, so personal camping and hiking gear is recommended. The Trust can provide some camping gear as requested and will provide all necessary technology.

Who would my supervisor be?

Danya Gorel, Rising Leaders manager

Grand Canyon Trust internships are managed by the Rising Leaders Program. Interns are expected to communicate regularly with Rising Leaders staff about progress and any support needed along the way.

COVID-19 precautions

COVID vaccination is required for this position. If you need a reasonable accommodation, contact hr@grandcanyontrust.org.

How do I apply?

Please send your resume and cover letter to risingleaders@grandcanyontrust.org. In the subject line, please indicate the internship you are applying for, and please put the internship title and your name in the file names of application materials (ex: Firstname_Lastname_RisingLeadersIntern_resume.docx).

The application deadline is Feb. 16, 2024, at 5 p.m. MST. If you need a reasonable accommodation, contact risingleaders@grandcanyontrust.org.

EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION

The Grand Canyon Trust is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of our organization. We work actively to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of identity including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender, parental status, national origin, age, religion, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We actively seek diversity in our candidate pools. Applicants of all identities are encouraged to apply.