SUPPORT WRV
Project Leader: Guiding Successful Volunteer Restoration Projects
Project Leaders play a vital role in advancing Wildlands Restoration Volunteers’ mission by providing vision, coordination, and logistical oversight for volunteer restoration projects. As a Project Leader, you help foster teamwork, ensure volunteer experiences are excellent, and support the impact of hands-on ecological stewardship throughout Colorado.
Project Leaders work closely with WRV staff and trained volunteer leaders to plan, implement, and wrap up projects — bringing people together to care for the land in meaningful, organized ways. WRV
What Is a Project Leader?
A Project Leader (PL) takes responsibility for project planning, oversight, and execution for WRV volunteer projects. PLs lead and facilitate a team of trained volunteer leaders to ensure that every project runs smoothly and that volunteers have a great experience in the field. This role is central to the successful completion of work and to nurturing a strong community of land stewards.
How Project Leaders Make an Impact
Project Leaders bring vision and logistical management to their project teams. They coordinate planning meetings, organize communications among team members, and work with agency partners and staff to develop logistics plans. By helping plan, implement, and debrief projects, Project Leaders strengthen WRV’s capacity to deliver impactful restoration outcomes while creating positive volunteer experiences.
Responsibilities and Collaboration
A Project Leader serves as a primary liaison between the project team and the WRV Staff Liaison (WSL), communicates with agency contacts, recruits additional team members as needed, and coordinates educational and social activities associated with the project. They document volunteer hours, help manage logistics on the project day, and support the team in reflecting on lessons learned afterwards.
Background, Training, and Preparation
Effective Project Leaders bring strong organizational, communication, and planning skills. Many come to this role after gaining experience as certified WRV volunteer leaders, such as crew leaders or tool managers. WRV encourages prospective Project Leaders to participate in multiple projects and complete relevant leadership trainings — including ecological restoration and project leadership sessions — to build confidence and capability.
Commitment and Involvement
Project Leaders typically facilitate several project team meetings, attend site visits, and support crew orientation — arriving before volunteers on project day and staying through project completion. Leaders may also mentor new Project Leaders and participate in broader WRV planning discussions, helping sustain the culture of excellence and community that makes WRV projects so meaningful.