Natural Resources & Land Stewardship Manager

Organizational Mission:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National

Scenic Trail.

Position Summary

Under the primary supervision of the Science and Stewardship Director, this position is responsible for providing leadership in natural resource management and land stewardship for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the assigned region. The Mid-Atlantic Natural Resource and Land Stewardship Manager facilitates collaboration and cooperation between Trail-maintaining clubs and public-agency partners to manage and monitor the land and resources protected for the Appalachian Trail. This position is responsible for supporting and coordinating natural resource stewardship activities, land and boundary monitoring and maintenance, encroachment mitigation, and supervision of fulltime and seasonal Land Stewardship and Natural Resource staff. The Mid-Atlantic Natural Resource and Land Stewardship Manager will work in a dynamic team environment with ATC staff, Trail volunteers, the National Park Service (NPS), numerous state agencies, and other land management partners to address priority Trail land and resource management goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Natural Resources

• Develop and implement management strategies to protect and restore high priority natural resource areas.
• Coordinate regional invasive species inventory and monitoring, help establish management priorities using the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) approach, and coordinate and implement invasive control measures.
• Maintain a current commercial pesticide applicator license and implement invasive species management techniques that incorporate pesticide use.
• Inventory, restore, maintain, and enhance early successional habitat areas (i.e., open areas) within the A.T. Corridor.
• Coordinate open area management with ATC staff, agency partners, volunteer clubs, Special Use Permit holders, and neighboring landowners.
• Engage in a variety of forest and ecological restoration activities and management of forest pests.
• Perform capital planning activities with relevant Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) staff and associated reporting on an annual basis.
• Support regional rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) plant and wildlife program by assisting with volunteer training, monitoring, and management efforts.
• Coordinate project management related to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 compliance for corridor management projects, including botanical surveys of project sites.
• Represent ATC at professional and academic conferences for the purpose of maintaining an understanding of emerging scientific knowledge, exchanging information, and advocating for A.T. stewardship.

Land Stewardship

• Collaborate with program staff, volunteer clubs, and agency partners to establish a structured, systematic program of boundary monitoring and maintenance that will facilitate perpetual protection of Appalachian National Scenic Trail tracts and surveyed boundary lines.
• Supervise a fulltime Land Stewardship Coordinator that coordinates boundary monitoring and maintenance.
• Ensure the monitoring of lands protected under NPS easements by contacting the owners of these lands and ensuring compliance with easement rights and restrictions.
• Assist the Land Stewardship Coordinator with the hiring and supervision of seasonal Land Stewardship Technicians.
• May assist Land Stewardship Coordinator and NPS Law Enforcement with mitigation of boundary violations and encroachments.
• Support tract management and neighboring landowner communications.
• Provide support in the pre-acquisition phase of land purchases and land exchanges, including land stewardship assessments, coordination with the NPS National Trails Land Resources Program Center, deed interpretation, mapping and site assessments.

Administrative Duties

• Aggregate, organize, maintain, and analyze resource management data, including spatial data.
• Supervise the collection, aggregation and assessment of corridor stewardship data.
• Responsible for planning and managing program budget, purchasing supplies, and inventorying and maintaining tools and equipment.
• Compile quarterly and annual summaries of regional program accomplishments compatible with ATC and agency partner reporting needs.
• Formulate and implement annual task agreement(s) developed with the National Park Service.
• Work with Advancement team to support grant and foundation requests for funding.
• Collaboratively develop and present standardized training methodology, materials, and learning opportunities to regional Trail clubs, volunteers, staff, and agency partners.
• Work to strengthen and build cooperation between ATC and our partners (federal and state agencies, volunteer clubs, conservation organizations, neighbors, etc.) through effective communication, coordination, and land management support.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in conservation biology, ecology, botany, forestry, natural resources management, engineering, surveying, or outdoor resource related field required. Master’s degree encouraged.
• 5+ years’ work experience in related field.
• Advanced experience with ArcGIS software, GPS technology, ESRI applications and GIS principles.
• Creativity and attention to detail while handling multiple tasks and meeting assigned deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Northeastern U.S. natural history, flora, and fauna.
• Ability to solve problems and sensitively handle issues of a complex nature.
• Highly skilled in project management and contract oversight.
• Experience supervising and mentoring a team.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop and present training programs with a variety of media.
• Demonstrated proficiency in utilizing and interpreting a map and compass, survey plats, and orienteering towards natural resources, land use, development, or engineering/construction.
• Experience living and working outdoors, including primitive, backcountry camping.
• Experience with the safe and efficient operation of a variety of hand and power tools including but not limited to: loppers, hand saws, powered brush cutters, chainsaws and mowers, and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, ESRI, Field Maps, and Google applications.
• Maintain a current commercial pesticide applicator license or is willing to attain such licensing in state(s) of operation.
• Maintain Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications (Wilderness First Responder encouraged); training may be obtained post-hire.
•  Leave No Trace Master Educator or Trainer preferred.
•  Familiarity with the Appalachian Trail or other trail work experience is desirable.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Maintain personal workspace at Mid-Atlantic Regional Office or home (as assigned).
• Regional office environment is a multi-person office situation with moderate noise due to shared space, printers, phones, etc.
• Fieldwork may include the use of power tools not exceeding 120 decibels. (PPE provided)
• Must be able to provide or arrange transportation to office and field sites (mileage reimbursement provided).
• Requires valid state driver’s license with no restrictions.
• Rigorous outdoor work, long-distance travel on foot, and occasional camping in rugged terrain and remote locations with exposure to ticks and pests, as well as extreme and varied weather conditions.
• Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule; position requires regular travel throughout assigned region and some weekend work.
• Incumbent may be exposed to hazardous physical conditions and seasonal exposure to extreme weather conditions, including rain, snow, humidity, intense heat, and sunlight.

Additional Details:

• Location: Mid Atlantic Regional Office (Central Pennsylvania)
• Annual salary: ($64,000.00)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of service.

ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and volunteers to enable participation and contributions to their fullest potential. 

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive organization and recognize that diversity contributes to an effective and successful organizational culture and mission.  

The ATC prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and/or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, political affiliation, union membership, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the locations where we operate.