Job Opportunity
Part-Time Trails & Stewardship Assistant
Posted March 27, 2024
Applications are now being accepted through Monday, April 15.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
Thank you for your interest.
Friends of Panthertown, Inc. is a rapidly growing, dynamic 501(c)3 non-profit organization tasked with conserving Panthertown Valley, a 6,311-acre backcountry recreation area on Nantahala National Forest, located between Cashiers and Lake Toxaway in southern Jackson County, North Carolina.
The mission of Friends of Panthertown is to work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to conserve Panthertown as a backcountry natural resource and to enable sustainable recreation.
We acknowledge that Panthertown and its surrounding forests are located on the ancestral lands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East).
Since 2005, Friends of Panthertown has trained and coordinated hundreds of volunteers, and raised funds for trail maintenance and much needed conservation projects in Panthertown Valley. We encourage environmental stewardship, volunteerism, and create public awareness of issues concerning Panthertown.
What we do:
Our staff and volunteers maintain 30 miles of public trails in this treasured backcountry recreation area located on Nantahala National Forest in Western North Carolina. In the past two years, we have increased our vision to include environmental education for both youth and adults as well as educational programming from March to October. Friends of Panthertown relies on our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service for all of the work we do.
We are hiring:
Friends of Panthertown is hiring a part time Trails and Stewardship Assistant on a six month contract with the potential of more responsibility and increase in hours.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Friends of Panthertown is currently hiring a part-time Trails & Stewardship Assistant to help with trail programs, education programs, sustainable trail system management, volunteer engagement, public outreach, and special conservation projects in Panthertown.
The part-time Trails & Stewardship Assistant will be responsible for assisting with on-the-ground conservation efforts, maintaining and restoring trails, monitoring ecosystems, collaborating with stakeholders, and leading education programs focused on public lands conservation, backcountry stewardship, sustainable recreation, and Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Trails & Stewardship Director to fulfill the mission, annual plan, and strategic directions of Friends of Panthertown.
- Represent Friends of Panthertown and the work we do in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Share Leave No Trace information with visitors. Be a public lands ambassador while working in Panthertown, at outreach events, and in the community.
- Coordinate with our team to design announcements, press releases, and posts to social media. Document stewardship projects and collect content. Capture photos and videos for volunteer outreach. Create storylines and publish content on a variety of platforms.
- Assist in planning, coordinating, and leading outdoor education activities and events, including guided hikes, interpretive education programs, and youth engagement efforts.
- Assist with trail programs including trail maintenance, special conservation projects, Panthertown Ambassadors, and Adopt-A-Trail. Help at workdays and outreach events.
- Co-lead trail workdays and service projects with an opportunity cross-train to become a Stewardship Crew Leader, and to attend related stewardship conferences and trainings.
- Update online trail management databases and provide regular reports to team. Collect, update, and maintain GIS field assessment data, trail and traffic counter data, ecological monitoring, and update databases using a variety of tools and applications.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Highly motivated. Adventurous spirit.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must be in good health and physical fitness.
- Must be capable of hiking long distances on mountain terrain while carrying equipment.
- Must have strong organizational skills and attention to details.
- Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Must be comfortable working without direct supervision.
- Must pass a background check, have a valid driver’s license, and a clean driving record.
- Must have a reliable vehicle, telephone, computer, and internet access.
- Must have strong computer skills, and the knowledge and ability to use technology to effectively communicate storylines and be a social influencer for conservation efforts.
- Must have the ability to inspire and work with people of all ages, levels of experience, and backgrounds.
Highly Desirable
- Passion for nature conservation and outdoor recreation.
- One or more seasons of trail work or other conservation related experience.
- Experience in natural resource management, outdoor leadership, recreation, education, programs, planning, project management, or a relatable field.
- Experience with the Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics.
- Experience with ecological monitoring and data collection.
- Experience with GIS mapping software, data collection, and trail/traffic counters.
- Experience with customer service, creative problem solving, and public relations.
- Experience with web communication, social media and marketing, and public outreach.
- Experience working with volunteers, or as a volunteer.
- Knowledge of Panthertown Valley and surrounding area is a plus.
- Knowledge of local flora and fauna is a plus.
COMPENSATION
- Flexible start date after May 1.
- Employment is part-time, paid hourly (average of 20-30 hours per week) starting at a rate of $17.00 per hour with opportunities for advancement.
- This position is contracted as a 6-month assignment. Friends of Panthertown will evaluate the individual for a part-time staff position upon completion of the assignment.
- Worker’s Compensation insurance, tools, and personal protective equipment are provided. Reimbursements are provided for other materials as needed for this position.
- Training and certifications are provided as needed, including Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Leave No Trace Trainer, and U.S. Forest Service chainsaw sawyer certification, plus opportunities for additional advanced trainings and certifications after evaluation period.
TO APPLY
Friends of Panthertown, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please send your resume, a cover letter, and three professional references to: friends@panthertown.org
Attention: Jason Kimenker, Executive Director
Deadline is Monday, April 15, 2024 however Friends of Panthertown may schedule interviews and make a selection prior to that date, so please submit your application materials as soon as you prepare them. We look forward to hearing from you!
Friends of Panthertown has a strong and abiding commitment to diversity and inclusion that is important to our mission. By welcoming individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds among our employed and volunteer workforce, board, and donors, we seek to further the goal of the U.S. Forest Service to create a culture of inclusion that awakens and strengthens all people’s connections to the land and each other.
