Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative Assistant

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has proudly promoted and protected the natural resources, rural economy, history and beauty of the Virginia Piedmont since 1972.

PEC empowers residents to protect what makes the Piedmont a wonderful place, and works with citizens to conserve land, protect air and water quality, celebrate historic resources, build smart transportation networks, promote sustainable energy choices, restore wildlife habitat and improve people’s access to nature (learn more about PEC).

PEC and the Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes launched the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) to address grassland bird decline on working lands in the Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley. American Farmland Trust and Quail Forever have joined as lead collaborators, bringing with them their respective expertise in conservation messaging and technical assistance on working landscapes. Together, we partner with landowners and producers in 16 counties to restore grassland habitat for the benefit of birds and farms.

Description

PEC is seeking a part-time Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative Assistant to work with landowners, PEC staff and partner organizations to enhance wildlife habitat and restore land and water resources. 

While the Assistant may work throughout VGBI’s sixteen-county region, their focus will be in PEC’s southern counties (Albemarle, Greene, Orange and Madison). 

The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative Assistant will work to advance the following goals:

• Coordinate with staff at public and private partner organizations and agencies to enhance wildlife conservation and restoration of land and water resources in the Piedmont region, working both at the site and landscape scale (particularly related to the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative);
• Engage and educate landowners, farmers, and professional advisers on local wildlife conservation tools and techniques that can be adopted to improve wildlife habitat and stewardship of land and water resources;
• Increase positive awareness of PEC and VGBI, and build support for PEC programs.

Responsibilities

• Organizing landowner workshops, professional conferences, on site field walks, and other education and outreach activities that provide venues for communicating to the general public PEC and VGBI work and related tools and techniques for enhancing wildlife habitat and resource conservation stewardship.
• Meeting with landowners interested in enrolling in VGBI’s Incentives Program for Delayed Haying and/or Summer Pasture Stockpiling, and providing site-specific technical assistance and related information on wildlife habitat and resource management options.
• Conducting grassland bird surveys on properties enrolled in the VGBI Incentives Program.
• Collaborating with PEC communications and development staff to secure appropriate funding and highlight the benefits of PEC’s work in the region.
• Track programmatic efforts within PEC’s Salesforce database.

Note: The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative Assistant reports to PEC’s Wildlife Habitat Restoration Coordinator, but will also work closely with other field representatives, departments within PEC, and partner organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. 2+ years work experience in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, wildlife conservation or related field preferred.
• A working knowledge of plant and wildlife communities of Virginia is preferred. Experience identifying Virginia birds by sight and sound is a plus.
• A working knowledge of regional land and wildlife conservation policy preferred.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills, both written and oral, including ability to write, edit, and proofread written materials for use in communicating with the PEC Board of Directors, PEC staff, PEC members, and the public at large.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a diverse constituency including elected officials, non-profit representatives, neighborhood associations, and individual citizens with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Experience working with rural landowners and the farming community is preferred.
• Experience working with local residents and/or community organizations, particularly in leading public outreach and/or education campaigns.
• Knowledge and experience with Google Suite and Microsoft Office productivity software.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS is a plus.
• Willing to work some weekends and evenings.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

Compensation

Salary is based on established weekly work hours.

• At 20 hours per week, the position is considered part time with a salary of $24 per hour. 
• As a part-time, temporary position, there is no eligibility for fringe benefits other than Workers’ Compensation and participation in our 403b retirement plan (if person works more than 1,000 per year). PEC’s 403b retirement plan allows an employee to contribute to the plan – either on a pre-tax basis or to a Roth plan – from the start of employment. PEC contributes on behalf of the employee starting on the first payroll of the month following the employee’s one year work anniversary date. PEC then automatically contributes 3% to the plan and will match up to an additional 3%. 

To Apply

Interested applicants should click "Apply" below to email a resume. A cover letter is optional. Deadline to apply is July 31, 2023. Resume reviews begin immediately.

The Piedmont Environmental Council is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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 recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions and qualifications 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 of our organization. Diversity of experience and skills, combined with passion, is key to our organizational identity.