Seasonal Stewardship Assistant

The James River Association (JRA) is seeking four Seasonal Stewardship Assistants: two to be located near Charlottesville, VA and two to be located near Farmville, VA. The two near Charlottesville will work out of the Louisa County NRCS office and cover Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Nelson Counties. The two near Farmville will work out of the Amelia NRCS office and cover Amelia, Powhatan and Goochland Counties. The timeframe for this position is May 20-August 12, 2023, with a 2 week flexibility on start and end dates. Most of the work will be in the field with the option for office-related work to be telework from home and/or from a partner office in the respective areas. 

About the James River Association: 

Founded in 1976, JRA is the oldest and largest river conservation group in Virginia and the only organization solely dedicated to protecting and restoring the James River. JRA has offices in Richmond, Lynchburg, Williamsburg, and Scottsville. JRA pursues its vision of a fully healthy James River that supports thriving communities by protecting the James River and connecting people to it. We work through four program areas based on a model of individual engagement – awareness, appreciation, action, and advocacy. JRA’s core values are: We are optimistic; We are catalysts; Credibility is our currency; and Community drives everything we do. 

Summary: 

JRA is seeking four Seasonal Stewardship Assistants to join our Restoration team. The primary focus of this position will be to perform site assessments of riparian forest buffers as part of the James River Stewardship Program (JRSP), which was launched in 2022. This program was developed to assess and perform needed maintenance on riparian forest buffers installed 3-15 years ago through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program (VACS), and the James River Buffer Program (JRBP). Assessments include visual observation of invasive plant species and native tree establishment, and light tree shelter maintenance at the select project locations. The position will be employed by JRA, but will also be working closely with Virginia Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Soil and Water Conservation District staff. JRA will provide each pair of Assistants access to one vehicle to share, laptops, and supplies needed for assessments. Housing is not provided. 

This seasonal opportunity is a perfect match for students or individuals wanting to learn about natural resource management, work with private and public landowners, connect with a broad partnership of conservation professionals, and get their hands dirty while improving the landscape for water quality, wildlife habitat, and human communities. Note that it will include a lot of driving, possibly working in extreme weather conditions and traversing difficult terrain. This position will receive on the ground training in Wilderness First Aid, plant identification, and buffer maintenance and assessment by JRA and partner staff. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to assess ~200 acres of riparian forest buffer projects installed 3-15 years ago on primarily agricultural lands
• Data management related to site assessments
• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to develop draft recommendation reports that include an invasive species management plan and replanting plan for ~200 acres of assessed riparian forest buffers
• Meet regularly with NRCS, DOF, SWCD, and JRA partners
• Other duties as assigned such as buffer maintenance, blog writing, workshops with landowners, or other activities related to buffer stewardship

Qualifications: 

A successful candidate will possess the following: 

• Some experience (education or lived) in restoration, agriculture, or forestry
• Interest in learning how to identify native and invasive plant types found in riparian habitats
• Comfort communicating with rural and agricultural landowners and comfortable in farm landscape
• Willing to participate in JRA’s random drug testing policy for vehicle operators and attendants
• Ability to perform physical work, navigate uneven terrain, and work in various weather conditions such as heat, rain, and cold
• A valid driver’s license
• Computer skills, particularly in word processing and record-keeping (Microsoft Word and Excel), and familiarity with internet communication and search tools. GIS experience is a plus, but not required.
• Excellent at problem-solving, meeting deadlines, following schedules, and overall time management
• Ability to coordinate with partners and collaborators via email and phone
• Strong communications, analytical skills, teamwork, integrity, and reliability

Compensation: JRA offers a dynamic and flexible work environment. Pay is set at $15/hour, 30-40 hours a week for 12 weeks. This position is part-time, non-exempt. JRA is an equal opportunity employer.