The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, seeks a highly motivated, driven and well-organized individual to help promote and coordinate riparian forest buffer efforts in Pennsylvania as a part of a highly functional team working in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, outstanding planning skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects at once, and will demonstrate success with following up in a prompt manner with landowners and partners. Experience working with cross-sector partnerships and maintaining great working relationships with a variety of stakeholders is a plus. Knowledge of PA’s natural resource concerns, water quality best management practices and/or forestry and tree ID skills are preferred. Experience working with the agricultural community is highly desirable. Ability to lead productive working groups is a must. A four-year degree in natural resources or a related degree and equivalent experience are required. Must be willing to travel around PA for site visits and meetings on a regular basis. While much of the work will be in-office, the selected candidate must also be willing to work outside in occasionally adverse conditions to plant and maintain tree seedlings, etc. If you’re a people-person interested in a fast-paced career in the environmental realm, this might be the job for you.
The purpose of the position is to further the state and federal riparian buffer-related goals set for the Chesapeake Bay, and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, especially the eastern half of the state. Riparian buffer plantings are vital to the long-term health of the Bay and all Pennsylvania watersheds. Efforts will focus on increasing landowner participation in riparian forest conservation and riparian buffer plantings. Individuals will promote riparian best management practices and provide technical assistance for riparian buffer implementation, respond to landowner requests for technical assistance and assist landowners in finding appropriate funding sources for riparian forest buffer implementation on their properties. The position supports Pennsylvania’s renewed focus on increasing riparian buffers throughout the Commonwealth. The position will result in implementation of new acres of riparian forest buffers, which help improve ecological function and water quality within the Chesapeake Bay and in better long-term maintenance of new and existing riparian buffers.
The position will provide strategic input and direction, assistance and information to the state forester’s office, central office divisions/sections, and field offices of the bureau on the bureau’s riparian buffer activities, rural forest stewardship activities and related undertakings. The position will be based in DCNR Bureau of Forestry offices in the southcentral region of Pennsylvania.
Please visit https://waterlandlife.org/about-us/careers/job-openings/#riparian for a detailed description
