Regional Watershed Forestry Specialists – Four Positions

Harrisburg Office (Harrisburg, PA)

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s (WPC) watershed conservation program, in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, seeks four Regional Watershed Forestry Specialists for limited-term, contract positions.

These highly motivated, driven and well-organized individuals will further the state and federal watershed forestry-related goals set for the Commonwealth of PA and the Chesapeake Bay. The ideal candidates will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to focus on increasing landowner participation in watershed forestry programs. The positions will result in the implementation of new acres of riparian forest buffer planting, and lawn-to-forest planting and lawn-to-meadow planting, which help improve ecological function and water quality within the Chesapeake Bay and throughout Pennsylvania.

The regional watershed forestry specialists will work within the counties in their designated regions, with an emphasis on efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed for each of the following locations:

  • Northwestern PA (covering Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Warren, Forest, Venango, Clarion, McKean, Elk, Jefferson, Potter, Tioga, Cameron, and Clearfield Counties)
  • Southwestern PA (covering Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Bedford, Fulton, Somerset, Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, and Allegheny Counties)
  • Central PA (covering Clinton, Lycoming, Centre, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Union, Montour, Columbia, Northumberland, and Snyder Counties)
  • Northeastern PA (covering Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Sullivan, and Wyoming Counties)

 

Watershed Forestry Specialist Regions Map

Job Duties
  • Promoting and outreaching watershed forestry best management practices to PA landowners and stakeholders.
  • Responding to landowner requests for technical assistance and assisting landowners in finding appropriate funding sources for implementation projects on their properties.
  • Supporting long-term maintenance of new and existing watershed forestry practices.
  • Coordinating working groups of stakeholders on specific issues connected to watershed forestry practices.
  • Tracking and reporting implementation of watershed forestry practices.
  • Providing staff support for the DCNR-led Riparian Forest Buffer Advisory Committee and Lawn Conversion Advisory Committee, and associated Leadership Teams and Action Teams, etc.
  • Assisting with planning and hosting the annual Watershed Forestry Summit (formerly Riparian Forest Buffer Summit).
  • Assisting with grant management, as well as grant application reviews.
  • Developing planting plans for riparian forest buffers and lawn conversion projects.
  • Coordinating all aspects of watershed forestry plantings with volunteers and contractors.
  • Developing and maintain regional collaborations and partnerships.
  • Assisting regional partners in increasing capacity to handle watershed forestry projects.
  • Developing and host regional trainings for landowners, partners, and stakeholders on watershed forestry practices, planning, planting, and maintenance.
  • Participating in regional partner projects and initiatives.
Requirements
  • Experience working with cross-sector partnerships
  • Demonstrated ability to lead productive working groups
  • Ability to build new partnerships with similar organizations working towards shared goals
  • Ability to work independently
Absolute Requirements
  • Knowledge of PA’s natural resource concerns, water quality best management practices (including riparian forest buffers, afforestation, and conservation landscaping)
  • Must be comfortable regularly meeting with landowners on their properties to discuss potential projects
  • Familiarity with PA native trees and plants
  • Public presentation experience
  • Strong, well-developed interpersonal skills
  • Outstanding planning skills
  • Ability to juggle multiple projects at once
  • Demonstrated success with following-up with landowners and partners in a prompt manner.
  • Ability to maintain great working relationships with a variety of stakeholders
  • Ability to utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) software applications
  • Well-developed organizational skills- must be able to handle multiple tasks, simultaneous projects and priorities, keep track of many appointments and deadlines, etc.
  • Excellent work ethic, drive, and motivation to succeed as an individual and as a team-player.
  • Ability to work successfully with people at all organizational levels and from all backgrounds
  • Verbal and written communication skills- ability to effectively meet with, speak with, educate, and present to a wide variety of audiences and individuals
  • Ability to manage data/spreadsheets, develop documents, utilize virtual meeting software, etc.
  • Administrative responsibilities associated with the duties outlined above
  • Must be flexible with schedule; willing to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
Physical Requirements
  • Ability to work outside in occasionally adverse conditions to plant and maintain tree seedlings and meadows
  • Ability to traverse difficult/uneven terrain
  • Ability to transition between office work and field work
  • Ability to sit, bend, and stand for 8+ hours a day
  • Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
  • Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle within Pennsylvania; valid driver’s license, willing to travel extensively throughout assigned region and throughout the commonwealth
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in a natural resource-related/environmental field; OR a related degree and equivalent experience
  • Experience using BMP tracking systems and software
  • Ability to use MS Office software
Preferred Qualifications
  • 1-2+ years’ experience working in natural resources or closely related field
  • Demonstrated ability to work remotely/with a remote team in an effective and productive manner
  • Experience planting trees, and/or seeding meadows, and/or conducting maintenance activities on these types of plantings.
  • Grant writing and/or review experience.
  • Experience working as a team player and bridge-builder with partner organizations.
  • Project management skills.
Location

This position’s primary location(s): Harrisburg Office (Harrisburg, PA)

Position Duration

This is a limited-term, full-time position with benefits. The positions are funded for two years with a good chance for renewal beyond the initial term.

Additional Details

Location/Remote Work Option:

  • The positions are headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa. with options to work remotely from a PA residence within/near assigned service region.
Pay

Starting salary will be $52,851 with a robust and comprehensive benefits package. These are limited-term, full-time positions, which are funded for two years with a good chance for renewal beyond the initial term.

Application Process

Please send a letter, resume and salary requirements to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list Regional Forestry and the desired region or regions (NW, SW, Central, and/or NE) in the subject line.

Application Deadline

Until filled, but the first round of interview candidates will be selected from applications received by 11:59pm on June 5th.