Trails and Natural Lands Manager

Thomas Jefferson Foundation; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Fitness club membership

Cafe/Shop discount at Monticello

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

$500 referral bonus

Job summary

Thomas Jefferson Foundation in Charlottesville, VA seeks a Trails and Natural Lands Manager to lead a team maintaining Saunders Monticello Trail and related trail systems. You will implement invasive species control, plant natives, and maintain a sustainable landscape across public lands and leased properties.

The role requires strong horticultural knowledge, experience in grounds management, and ability to supervise staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Four-year college education preferred in a related field.
• Ability to obtain Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s license within 6 months of hire.
• Strong knowledge of soils, fertilizers, pests and their control (IPM).
• Experience in grounds maintenance and forest management tasks.

Responsibilities

• Maintain trails and open spaces to keep areas safe and aesthetically pleasing.
• Plan and execute land management practices, including invasive species removal.
• Safely operate equipment to improve task efficiency and staff productivity.
• Inspect, maintain, and repair structures and surfaces; manage debris removal.
• Hire, train and supervise staff and volunteers; oversee daily work schedules.
• Assist with budget development, management, and record-keeping.
• Build relationships with donors and partner organizations to secure funding and support.
• Assist with snow removal and storm cleanup as needed.
• Coordinate work with Monticello grounds team and external collaborators.

Skills

Horticultural skills

Soil knowledge

Pest management

Public speaking

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Chainsaws

Tractors

Mowers

Pesticide application equipment

Irrigation systems

Job description

Position: Trails and Natural Lands Manager

Location: Charlottesville, VA

Job Id: 456

# of Openings: 1

About the Thomas Jefferson Foundation

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has a twofold mission of preservation and education, and was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the Foundation seeks to bring history forward into national and global dialogues by engaging audiences with Jefferson's world and ideas, and sharing the history of everyone, enslaved and free, who lived and labored at Monticello. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site and a Site of Conscience.

Trails and Natural Lands Manager (Full-Time)

The purpose of this job is to manage and work with a team to maintain the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s Saunders Monticello Trail, its accompanying rustic trail system, and the Foundation’s other trail systems. This position will also plan and implement invasive species control, plant native trees and forbs to combat the spread of invasives, and work to maintain a sustainable landscape in the open grasslands and woodlands owned and leased by the Foundation.

Compensation

$22.00-$25.00 per hour

Essential Functions

• Maintaining public areas and trails so that they remain safe, secure, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Schedule and execute land management practices for assigned areas, including the chemical or mechanical removal or control of invasive species.
• Utilizing equipment safely and effectively to increase the efficiency with which tasks are completed by staff.
• Responsible for inspection, maintenance, and repair of structures, hardscape, and surfaces, including removal of debris.
• Hire, train, and supervise employees. Determine daily work schedule of appropriate staff and oversee volunteers.
• Assist in budget development, budget management, and record maintenance.
• Assists with managing relationships with various donors, government organizations, and non-profits to secure funding, procure volunteer assistance, and maintain relationships (examples include Friends of the Trail, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Soil and Water Conservation District, Piedmont Environmental Council).
• Participate in inclement weather operations to remove snow and storm cleanup.
• Works alongside gardeners and groundskeepers throughout the Monticello property as needed.
• Maintains high standards of safety for self, staff, and visitors. Includes but isn’t limited to; maintaining PPE, complying with EPA (WPS) and OSHA regulations for pesticide use, operation of power and hand tools, operation of motorized vehicles (including snowplows, tractors, and heavy machinery).
• All other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proven horticultural skills and background including knowledge of soils, fertilizers, pests and their control (Integrated Pest Management), irrigation systems, seed harvesting, native plant identification, and care of perennials, trees and shrubs.
• Ability to preform general grounds maintenance and forest management tasks.
• Knowledge of natural succession and arboriculture.
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with peers and visitors, follow and give directions, organize a daily schedule, speak in public, and work under pressure and in changing circumstances.
• Proper knowledge and adherence of worker protection standards, EPA, USDA regulations for the application of pesticides.
• Knowledge of ANSI standards for tree work.
• Ability to use and maintain various types of machinery and tools. Including (but not limited to) chainsaws, tractors, mowers, string trimmers, hand tools, chemical sprayers.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and delegate appropriately.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas in writing and through public speaking.
• Thorough understanding of principles and practices of grounds maintenance and park operations.
• Knowledge of proper techniques of natural resource management and environmental conservation.
• Knowledge of proper administrative principles such as thorough record-keeping and budget accounting.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s license (must be obtained within 6 months of hire).
• Availability for occasional work outside of regular schedule.
• Ability to coordinate work with others in the management structure.

Physical Demands and Work Considerations

• Position requires extensive manual labor in extremely sunny, hot and humid conditions in summer, and sometimes cold, blustery, freezing and rainy weather during spring and fall.
• Ability to perform in hot and cold weather, and to perform physically demanding jobs, with or without reasonable accommodation, as described in this job description.
• Work with power equipment – driving tractors on inclines, pruning and removal of large trees with chain saws, and snow plowing during poor weather conditions – is inherently dangerous and requires experience and common-sense caution.
• Walking on inclines and rocky and uneven terrain is essential.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
• This position is considered essential personnel and expected to assist with snow removal operations or storm damage clean up, in the event Monticello is closed to visitors.

Education

• A four-year college education in a related field is preferred.

We provide the following benefits for our full-time employees

• Excellent benefits package (including medical, dental, vision,401(k) retirement plan plus 6% match, life insurance and more!).
• Fitness club membership discount.
• Discount in the Monticello Cafe, gift shop, and Monticello online catalog.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) free for employees and dependents.
• $500 employee referral bonus.