2026 Conservation Apprenticeship

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (“OSGF”) is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation based in Upperville, Virginia with a mission to perpetuate and share Rachel Lambert Mellon’s home, garden, estate and library to serve the public interest. The Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and facilitating scholarship and public dialogue on the history and future of plants, including the culture of gardens and landscapes and the importance of plants for human well-being. For additional information, please visit www.osgf.org.

OSGF is accepting applications for one (1) full-time 2026 Conservation Apprentice to work on the Native Plant Conservation (“NPC”) team. If available, on-site accommodations may be included for non-local candidates for the duration of the contract.

Schedule: Full-time, beginning May 2026 (or soon thereafter once the position is filled) through October 2026 – Monday through Friday (40 hours a week), with some weekend and evening hours.

Compensation: $20/hour; Paid holidays and approximately 5 days of PTO provided. Please note – Onsite housing may be available for those who live outside the range of a reasonable commute, however this is not guaranteed.

Location: Upperville, VA; The Oak Spring estate is located in rural northern Virginia, 15 minutes from the nearest town. Having access to a car is desirable, but not essential.

To Apply: We will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until this position is filled. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to hr@osgf.org with the subject line “NPC 2026 Conservation Apprenticeship”.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The selected individual will work across the OSGF’s 700 acres to assist with the day-to-day land management, plant monitoring, ecological restoration and inventory, and education and outreach operations conducted by the NPC team.  Much of this work takes place in the Foundation’s natural areas, where NPC monitors plant and animal community responses to invasive species management and ecosystem restoration.

The Conservation Apprentice will assist primarily with two main facets of our conservation work: GIS data collection and design for key projects (including workflow development, field data collection, imagery management, etc.), and management/maintenance (including pruning, planting, weeding, etc.) of the ¼-acre native wildlife garden. There may also be opportunity to assist with other plant conservation efforts, which include: native seed collection and storage, plant propagation, plant community inventories, iNaturalist and taxa list data management, vegetation surveys and data collection, herbarium specimen collection and preparation, database management and documentation, native meadow management, invasive species management, educational content creation, and outreach program and workshop organization. This position will also provide opportunities for hands-on conservation land management training in all areas of our program including: the planting, pruning, weeding, and watering of native plants, removing invasive species, monitoring bird boxes and other applicable flora and fauna, participating in ecological data collection, outreach and education to the local community, and career counseling appropriate for the career goals of the applicant, including support for both academic and non-academic career paths. This position is ideally suited to a recent college graduate (not required) interested in pursuing a career in GIS systems management, ecological conservation, restoration land management or applied research work with a focus on botany and ecology.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Conservation Apprentice will work closely with the Head of Native Plant Conservation, the GIS Data Systems Manager, and other NPC and ACL team members in all conservation-related responsibilities, to include: 

• Workflow Development: Help design and maintain a standardized system for importing, tagging, and storing imagery datasets across the property.
• Imagery Management: Organize high volumes of landscape photography and drone imagery using Adobe Lightroom and Esri ArcGIS products.
• Field Operations: Support imagery data collection in the field using drones and/or Esri Field Maps and Survey123.
• 3D Modeling & Visualization: Help process and organize 3D models and multi-spectral data.
• Strategy Support: Collaborate with the NPC team in how to best use imagery and visuals for reporting and storytelling.
• Management/maintenance (including pruning, planting, weeding, etc.) of the ¼-acre native wildlife garden.
• Assist with native meadow management, invasive species management, and other restoration and planting projects across the site.
• Actively participate in all facets of biodiversity monitoring including: plant surveys, tree measurements, insect surveys, bird surveys, small mammal surveys, water quality monitoring, remote and active photography.
• Assist with NPC and other OSGF outreach and education events.
• Assist with our native seed collection, saving and propagation projects.
• Assist with herbarium specimen collection, mounting and data processing.
• Contribute photography and written documentation of NPC and individual activities to the OSGF Communications team.
• Conduct proper stewardship and ongoing management of landscape restoration plots, fields, forests, waterbodies, Rokeby Wildlife Garden, Arboretum, experimental plots, and nursery fields and spaces, to include: soil preparation, planting, watering, weeding, pruning, mulching, seed spreading, seed saving, and plant propagation.
• Use the iNaturalist platform for casual documentation of wild biota.
• Other projects as assigned by the Head of Native Plant Conservation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, wildlife science, entomology, botany, or related field preferred, but not required.
• Attention to detail
• Experience with database standards/development
• Familiarity with SQL based relational database management system (RDBMS)
• Familiarity with metadata standards
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Notebooks and/or Anaconda/Juypter Notebooks/Python
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Drone2Map or other drone imagery processing software
• Familiarity with remote sensing techniques and multispectral imagery
• Strong working knowledge of the flora of Virginia and/or Eastern USA
• Experience using a dichotomous key and other resources for species identification
• Demonstrated interest and passion for biodiversity conservation and restoration
• Experience working outdoors in uncultivated environments with plants and/or animals of the Mid-Atlantic is a plus, but not required.
• Ability to meet physical requirements of working outside in varied weather conditions (including extreme heat and cold)
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks for long periods of time (weeding, mulching, etc.)
• Proficient use of Microsoft 365 and Chromium products; experience with Adobe, Esri software, and R is a plus, but not required.
• Willingness to learn the use of light and heavy equipment and exercise safety precautions when in use. Equipment may include: pick-up trucks, all-terrain vehicles, weed-eaters, mowers, deer fencing, etc.
• Willingness to learn and exercise the proper handling and safety precautions when handling substances such as gasoline, ethanol, ethyl acetate, antifreeze, pesticides, and herbicides.
• Must have a Driver’s License and a reliable method of transportation to and from work.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Conservation Apprentice must be comfortable working both indoors and outdoors, in extreme temperatures of Virginia’s ecological environment, and more. Days can sometimes feel long, even though we keep to an 8-hour day, and the work can be strenuous. For the right individual this work is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!