Starting Salary: $55,000-$60,000
Benefits: Platinum level health care package (organization covers 90% of the premium), 26 Annual Leave Days, 13 Sick Days, 17 Holidays, 4% 401K match, professional development
Direct Supervisor: Director of Education and Community Engagement
Status: Full time, exempt

Purpose:
Our vision – every community in Anne Arundel County is actively engaged to ensure a healthy environment for all – cannot be achieved without intentional engagement of each community in our County. In order for our waterways to be clear, our air to be clean, and our natural ecosystems to be resilient, every community must have access to leadership and restoration benefits. WSA is committed to ensuring that all communities have leaders who can drive change for sustainable landscapes and clean waters.

WSA trains and supports local leaders—people who recognize environmental challenges in their communities, identify problems, build trust, and take the initiative to lead restoration efforts. Since 2009, WSA has trained over 375 Watershed Stewards, who, together with their communities and the WSA staff, have installed thousands projects from rain barrels to stream restorations, and engaged over 250,000 neighbors in environmental action. These Stewards come from all walks of life—teachers, retirees, business owners, students, and faith leaders—people deeply rooted in the places they serve and committed to improving their communities. We stay with our leaders long after their initial training, offering continued support, community, and guidance to help them make a lasting impact. Together, we’ve built a trusted network of community-based leaders driving positive environmental change.

The Steward Engagement Specialist is a key position supporting, facilitating and celebrating the work of Watershed Stewards. Under the direction of the Director of Education and Community Engagement, the Specialist will implement a Steward engagement plan including continuing education trainings, events and resources to build impact. Working with other WSA team members, the Specialist will help to measure and evaluate Steward impact and share Stewards’ stories through our digital and print communications. The Specialist will also support the Watershed Steward Certification Course, our annual Spring Into Action Conference and other educational programs.

The Steward Engagement Specialist will play an important role in facilitating Watershed Steward involvement in WSA’s Watershed Movement, a campaign to ensure that all communities have access to WSA’s resources and environmental leadership. In collaboration with other WSA staff, the Specialist will lead strategic efforts to facilitate Watershed Stewards to promote the awareness of the WSA organization, engage communities through environmental education, connect residents to local restoration projects and foster relationships through social events.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Steward Engagement and Support (65%)

  • Support Watershed Stewards: This position provides excellent customer service to support the needs of Watershed Stewards as they engage their communities, from providing digital and print resources to connecting them to restoration experts. Under the Director of Education and Community Engagement, the Specialist implements a Steward Engagement plan, providing the support and resources most requested by Watershed Stewards to increase their fulfillment and impact. The Specialist also provides support to Steward Action Groups (affinity groups of Stewards who specialize in certain types of action such as project maintenance or site assessments).
  • Measure Watershed Steward Engagement and Impact: Increase the percentage of Steward reporting actions through our online database and capture major Steward actions not recorded by Stewards. Measure progress toward and maintain data related to Steward Engagement goals.
  • Support, celebrate, and promote the work of Watershed Stewards. Capture and organize visual and written documentation of Steward work in communities and share Stewards’ stories with the community.
  • Support Steward involvement in the Watershed Movement: WSA’s Watershed Movement raises funds and capacity so that all communities across Anne Arundel County can be connected with WSA’s resources.
  • Continuing Education and Networking Events: Plan and execute continuing education and networking events for Watershed Stewards as per the Steward Engagement Plan.
  • Community Outreach and Promotion: Coordinate Steward presence to promote the work of Stewards and environmental stewardship at community events throughout the County.
  • Training and Event Support: Support the Watershed Steward Certification Course, the annual Spring Into Action Conference and other events.

Communications and Publications (20%)

  • Digital resources and tools for Stewards: In collaboration with other WSA staff, manage web-based support systems and communications to facilitate connections between Stewards, the Consortium of Support Professionals and communities, and provide essential tools for Steward action. These include e-newsletters, email forwarders, map based tools, collaborative forums, risk management tools and presentation templates.
  • Outreach Publications and Materials: Manage and refresh publications and materials to support Steward outreach in communities and ensure Stewards have access to these items as needed.
  • Communications: Ensure that Stewards can effectively communicate with each other and the community through WSA communication channels.

Community Partnerships (15%)

  • Support Stewards to engage with key strategic partnerships, including the partners of the Severn River Whole Watershed initiative.
  • Work with the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and other government partners to promote environmental stewardship messages to communities through Watershed Stewards.

Required Skills/Abilities:

  • Demonstrated ability to connect with groups concerning environmental stewardship and restoration or related community development topics. Candidates must have general knowledge of environmental restoration and individual stewardship practices and be committed to modeling good environmental stewardship through this work.
  • Commitment to supporting the volunteer goals of a diverse range of constituents and a strong desire to help forward WSA’s mission to advance the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in our watershed.
  • Ability to work collaboratively to develop publications geared toward specific goals and audiences.
  • Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, including prompt response time, ability to listen and respond constructively to feedback, and fostering an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere.
  • Excellent written communication skills.
  • Ability to exercise considerable patience, courtesy, tact, and judgment in working with students, teachers, fellow employees, parents, volunteers, and the general public.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with office software (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Office Suite – Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, and/or PowerPoint preferred, Google Suite) and willingness to learn new programs as required.

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in applicable field of environmental studies, or related field from a regionally accredited college or university
  • 3-5 years of experience working in the environmental restoration or community engagement field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities deemed sufficient to prepare the applicant to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Work location and schedule:

  • Flexible work schedule to include approximately 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends are required, but daytime hours are flexible around the employee’s schedule.
  • This is a hybrid position. Primary work location is the WSA Office located at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center (975 Indian Landing Road, Millersville, MD), with telework on an agreed schedule.
  • A background check and fingerprinting (paid for by WSA) is required prior to employment.
  • The Specialist must have the ability to travel to and from sites using their own vehicle. Business mileage reimbursement is included.

Application and timeline:

  • This position will remain open until filled, but applicants are encouraged to submit applications by June 15, 2025.
  • Applicants should apply by sending a resume and cover letter to resume@hri-online.com. Please include “WSA Steward Engagement Specialist” in the subject line. Applicants are encouraged to include references.
  • Well qualified candidates may also send a duplicate resume and cover letter to Suzanne Etgen (suzanne@aawsa.org)