Habitat and Volunteer Manager

Riverbend Environmental Education Center; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 36,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading nonprofit organization in Philadelphia seeks a part-time Habitat and Volunteer Manager to oversee its 30-acre preserve. The role involves maintaining the natural environment, managing volunteers, and collaborating with the education team to enhance community engagement. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and significant hands-on experience in relevant fields.

Benefits

Short and long term disability insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) after 1 year

Paid PTO and holidays

Qualifications

• 5 years of practical experience in horticulture, ecology, or related fields.
• Ability to handle strenuous outdoor work in various weather conditions.
• Experience in recruiting and supervising volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve the 30-acre preserve.
• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers.
• Collaborate with staff to execute organizational priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Manual Labor

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Part-time, (PT/20 hours per week)
Reports to: Director of Operations

ABOUT RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Riverbend Environmental Education Center (Riverbend) is an independent nonprofit organization focused on teaching children in the Philadelphia region to be responsible and caring stewards of the natural environment by offering an array of experiential education programs in a natural setting. Riverbend is a platform for scientific discovery that leverages children’s inherent curiosity in the natural world and longing for authentic experiences. Riverbend dedicates 50% of its programming hours each school year to
provide free nature-based STEM education for children in Title I schools.

While the organization began and continues to serve children in nearby geographic communities, a top priority is reaching children in urban communities throughout the region that lack ready access to the natural environment. Its 30-acre open space preserve is located just minutes from the Conshohocken exit of the Schuylkill expressway, making it accessible to communities and schools throughout much of the Philadelphia region.
Riverbend offers several core programs for educators, children, and families such as professional development discussions, camps, school field trips, as well as opportunities to rent areas of the preserve for parties and other private gatherings.

The Habitat and Volunteer Manager is a vital member of the Riverbend team. They are the primary steward of Riverbend’s 30-acre preserve. In this role, you will maintain and make improvements to our 30-acre preserve, recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, partner with our education team to find collaborative growth opportunities and manage relationships with external partners and stakeholders.

COMPENSATION:
$36,000 (part-time, average of 20 hours per week depending on the season)

WORK HOURS:
Averaging around 20 hours per week, some weekend work will be required, specific workdays can beflexible, but project deadlines will have to be met.

BENEFITS:

• Short and long term disability insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) after 1 year
• Paid PTO and holidays

PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of practical, hands-on experience working in any of the following disciplines: horticulture, gardening, ecology, botany, environmental studies, conservation, or landscaping is preferred, but credit will be given for more years of practical experience without a degree.
- Ability to identify areas for improvement around the preserve, discuss them with leadership, and remediate them within the limitations of a small nonprofit.
- An outgoing leader who can comfortably recruit, collaborate with, and supervise volunteers of all ages.
- Ability to handle strenuous manual labor associated with outdoor work and ability to work outdoors in inclement weather and on a hilly terrain with occasional exposure to poison ivy, biting and stinging insects, etc.
- Commitment to natural, native gardening
- Ability to use Google and Microsoft suites of office productivity software

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work outside of normal business hours to lead volunteer events on your own.
- Create, plan, and execute a master site preservation plan and prioritize areas for planting, removal ofinvasive species, and monitoring the health of the preserve. Be vigilant for emergency tree work that must be completed to maintain a safe environment for visitors to the preserve.
- Collaborate with all staff members to execute organizational priorities, sometimes with limiteddirection and resources.
- Assist the Director of Operations with mechanical work and facilities requirements not associated withplants or the natural elements of the preserve.
- Learn the basics of the mechanical systems around the preserve, in the buildings and structures onthe property.
- Participate as a staff representative on the Board of Directors Property Committee
- Take immediate action to resolve any issues on the preserve that affect safety, preserve integrity, orput visitors at risk such as holes in the deer fence, fallen or at-risk trees, and storm damage to any ofthe structures and trails on the property.
- Plant, mow, weed whack, trim shrubbery, spray for bees, weed growing beds, and conduct otherproperty maintenance as needed.
- Create and supervise meaningful and mutually beneficial volunteer experiences for:

• Individuals, corporate groups and school groups, including high school senior interns
• Recruit, train, and supervise summer habitat interns and teen volunteers.
• Cultivate relationships with local scout troops to engage Eagle Scouts in potential projects.

- Work closely with vendors that help maintain the property
- Keep storage areas neat, clean and accessible

- Maintain power and hand tools in a safe, operable condition

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Pass Child Abuse and Criminal Background checks, including submitting fingerprints
- Current driver’s license
- Flexible schedule
- Other duties as assigned

NOTES:
This profile is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by the Habitat andVolunteer Manager. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of allduties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Riverbend is an equal opportunity employer that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Riverbenddoes not discriminate based on ethnicity, race, gender or sexual orientation, and encourages all qualifiedindividuals to apply. See more about the Riverbend DEI Plan here:
ttps://riverbendeec.org/uploads/attachments/clct9cc0u22jpqd8yxlsl7tl7-riverbend-dei-plan-2022-2024.pdf

Application processSubmit a résumé and a one-page cover letter that conveys why you are well suited for this position andhow it fits into your career goals to Ed Parry, [e-mail] .

Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is hired. The interview process will be acombination of a video interview, an onsite panel interview, a tour of the property, and a final interviewwith the Executive Director.

Confirmation of receipt of the application will be sent by return email. No phone calls, please.