New River Conservancy (NRC) is an environmental non-profit organization, seeking to improve the health of North America’s oldest river through stream bank restoration projects, water quality assessment, land acquisition, river clean-ups, and policy advocacy.

In addition to our strong desire to protect our planet, our organization places a high value on team culture. We work hard and also we are intentional to make our jobs enjoyable; we boat on our river together, respect and support each other. Our team is supportive of each other and very collaborative with one another. We created a staff creed that identifies values which we all agreed to and adhere. While the focus of this position is restoration of the watershed, there will also be direct service to NRC that may be required at times.

This position will be the staff lead for restoration work with a focus to the North Carolina High Country and peripherally some field work in Virginia. This position is primarily grant funded. The opportunity to grow the position based on additional grants procured, and the amount of billable hours attributed from those grants, is a distinct possibility.

NRC is an organization that is constantly evolving and embracing new solutions to protect the New River. Learning new technologies and keeping up with industry standards is in our DNA.

Thus, we are seeking an entrepreneurial and start-up mindset. This position requires the ability to create and implement new ideas using a skilled level of critical thinking. As a full-time staff member reporting to the Executive Director, this position will also need the ability to function independently.

NRC has a history of strong partnerships within higher education institutions, especially with Appalachian State University. Working with faculty and staff at nearby universities is common, to promote learning and leverage thought partners for restoration work. There is also the opportunity to recruit college interns who would report to this position.

Because the culture can be fast-paced, this position requires flexibility. NRC produces many events and programs, and thus evenings and weekend work is required. With this position, NRC also offers flex time in addition to a generous amount of paid time off (PTO).

We are seeking a team member who embraces a passion for the New River and its environs, be an active participant in their community and who will serve the mission of the New River Conservancy. We also hope this team member would be eager to jump in a raft for a river clean-up or a paddle with friends.

Restoration Director

Range of hours:

40 hours weekly, typically between the office hours of 8:30 am - 5:30 pm with a lunch break, Monday through Friday. Some late evenings and weekends are required, and flexibility with work hours will provide subsequent comp time. This position requires some field work and travel throughout the NC High Country. Some office work is expected, and there is also the opportunity to work from home with an advance, communicated agreement with the Executive Director.

Salary

$45,000 - $50,000. Generous time off including 12 paid state holidays and 20 paid PTO days in the first year, an additional 5 PTO days in the second year, and an additional 1 PTO day for each additional year with a cap at 35 PTO days. IRA contributions of a 3% match.

Reports to:

Executive Director

Goals

• Strategically plan and implement conservation and restoration efforts across the watershed with a focus in the NC High Country.
• Achieve measurable results in water and habitat quality in the New River Watershed.
• Serve in a leadership role for New River Conservancy.
• Contribute to the fiscal vitality of NRC through managing grants and budget with a skilled sense of fiscal acumen.

Skills Required:

• A high level of professionalism as a front-line staff in public-facing arenas
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including being skilled at public speaking with the ability to convey complicated restoration projects and procedures to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to negotiate contracts with contractors and external stakeholders; analyze contracts with attention to detail and understanding of obligations and potential liability incurred by the New RIver Conservancy
• Proven grant writing and administration proficiency including grant reporting and budget skills needed for reimbursement of organization’s expenses; always maintain ethical standards; Use budget to leverage resources
• Strong analytical skills; ability to assess what is working well, what needs improvement, and what needs to be done for the organization; ability to assess ROI for projects
• Knowledge of restoration techniques such as Natural Stream Channel Design.
• Understanding of land protection mechanisms such as conservation easements and deed restrictions.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholder groups
• Ability to manage staff and work collaboratively with staff, and be a team-player within the New River Conservancy organization

Job Duties:

• Currently 1 of 3 full-time employees, this position will serve in staff leadership role for the organization, manage contractors, may oversee part time employees, and may eventually serve as back-up for the Executive Director
• Plan, write, and manage grant awards from local, state, federal, and private entities for multiple program areas of NRC; Manage project budgets within the larger organizational budget
• Negotiate with contractors, keeping budget revenue and constraints in mind when making decisions
• Submit grant reports on time or in advance of deadlines, adheres to all limitations and restrictions of grants, while also understanding the organizational budget and comprehensive resources required to implement grants
• Manage large restoration projects by keeping within the timeline and meeting project deliverables
• Coordinate consultations, site visits, and referrals for landowners
• Coordinate restoration monitoring and track data from monitoring visits
• Organize and lead restoration workshops for landowners and members of the public
• Act as staff liaison to relevant BOD committees
• Contribute to Board Meetings and committee meetings as needed
• Work with New River Valley Coordinator and Peak Creek Task Force stakeholder meetings.

Job duties of every NRC Staff member:

• Promotes NRC, its mission, and membership for NRC (e.g., work membership tables, ask people to become members, speak as an ambassador of NRC)
• Attends Annual Meeting
• Attends bi-weekly staff meetings unless otherwise determined with the Executive Director
• Conducts weekly or bi-weekly meetings with his/her supervisor as needed
• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to: tables at events, assistance with events, assistance with office mail; assistance with river clean-ups, assists with office organization; represents NRC at community-wide events
• Actively seeks professional development opportunities and works to be an expert in the field
• Provides communications in a timely manner to Marketing & Communications Director so that publicity can be created (e.g., press releases, communication stories, grant announcements, project updates, watershed announcements, etc.)
• Respond to emails, voicemails, and all administrative duties with the same work-week

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Travel requirement:

• Travel

Ability to Relocate:

• West Jefferson, NC 28694: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in West Jefferson, NC 28694