Stewardship Coordinator

About PEC

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

Your Role

The Stewardship Coordinator will play a lead role in fulfilling the annual monitoring and stewardship responsibilities related to PEC’s 90+ easement and fee simple properties across our nine-county service area. Land conservation monitoring obligations include extensive fieldwork conducting site visits to properties with PEC-held conservation easements, using technology to document observations during site visits, regular communication with rural landowners and desktop research and analysis using tools such as Salesforce and ArcGIS Pro to prepare detailed monitoring reports. The position will also support the Deputy Director of Conservation in maintaining stewardship policies and procedures, responding to requests for easement interpretations, resolving observations that may be inconsistent with easement terms, and preparing baseline documentation reports or land management plans related to new conservation projects.

Areas of Responsibility

• Lead and assist in conducting annual monitoring and stewardship visits to the 90+ properties in PEC’s easement and fee simple portfolio. 
• Maintain a positive working relationship with easement landowners and easement co-holders through frequent communication and coordination.
• Prepare and support preparation of monitoring reports, including accurate and timely data entry into a customer relationship management (CRM) database (Salesforce/LOCATE).
• Use ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online to prepare property maps, document photopoints and support other mapping and spatial analysis needs. 
• Prepare detailed documentation and analyses to support the preparation of responses to landowner questions regarding clarification of easement terms.
• Assist the Deputy Director of Conservation and field representatives in the preparation of baseline documentation reports for new easements.
• Assist in maintaining and updating monitoring and stewardship policies and procedures and support staff training on the same.
• Provide information and educate landowners about cost-share programs and land management practices that enhance wildlife habitat, restore water quality and/or improve agricultural productivity.
• Collaborate with PEC communications and advancement staff on content for grant proposals, reporting and/or presentations related to stewardship, and to highlight PEC’s work in the region through social media, email, publications, presentations, etc.
• Attend occasional PEC and partner events and meetings.

The Stewardship Coordinator reports to PEC’s Deputy Director of Conservation, but will also work closely with the Legal Assistant and Records Manager, other field representatives, the Director of Conservation, and other departments within PEC.

In this position, the employee may work in PEC’s headquarters office in Warrenton, VA, or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor. This position requires frequent travel by personal vehicle to locations across our nine-county region.

PEC offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

• Two health plans offered, a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or a high-deductible Health Savings Account (HSA) plan 
• Dental and Vision insurance plans
• Short & Long Term Disability*
• Group Term Life*
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
• HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
• FSA accounts (health & dependent)
• 403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
• 12 paid holidays
• PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
• 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
• Salary Continuation Leave for employee or family illness (including maternity and paternity) – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
• Paid Bereavement, Jury Duty and Military Service Training leave
• Travel Expense Reimbursement (including mileage)
• Hybrid work environment and Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development support
• Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees

*Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for employee coverage.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, planning, public policy, environmental studies, or a related field. Equivalent professional work experience may be considered in place of a bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and terrains.
• Detail-oriented and excellent organizational skills.
• Familiarity with ESRI Suite (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online).
• Demonstrated strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Knowledge and experience with Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office productivity software.
• Reliable personal transportation to and from the office and to offsite locations for rural property visits, events, meetings, etc. (mileage will be reimbursed).

Preferred Qualifications

• 1-2 years of work experience in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, planning, law or a related field.
• Experience working with rural landowners.
• Familiarity with land management practices that enhance wildlife habitat, restore water quality, and/or improve agricultural productivity. 
• Familiarity with land conservation programs and conservation easements, including Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position will be completed in both an office environment and the outdoors. Office work requires extended sitting or standing and the use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Fieldwork is performed outdoors in all weather conditions, frequently carried out alone, and may be physically demanding, including walking/hiking several miles over remote, rugged terrain, with a risk of exposure to natural hazards. Occasional lifting of materials up to 30 lbs is required. Occasional attendance at night or weekend events may be required.

Application Process

Interested applicants should fill out our job application form. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resumé. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Piedmont Environmental Council strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all aspects of achieving our mission. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Read more about our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) commitments.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process may be requested.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.