Careers in Conservation
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Opportunities Abound
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There is a growing need for professionals who work in conservation, especially around riparian forest buffers. If you have interest and/or experience in the areas below, this may be a good time to pursue education and a career in this area.
Positions range from 1) primarily indoor focused like grant writing, communications and marketing, and program management, 2) hybrid positions split between indoor and outdoor work like doing site designs, meeting with property owners, and volunteer management, to those that are primarily outdoor focused like planting, buffer and landscape maintenance, and growing trees.
Here are some of the jobs available in the field:
- Arborists and Foresters
- Engineers
- Green Infrastructure, Low Impact Development (LID), Stormwater Professionals
- Grounds Managers and other maintenance professionals
- Horticulturists
- Landscape architects and designers
- Integrated pest management (IPM) technicians or licensed pesticide applicators
- Landscape contractors and technicians
- Nutrient management (fertilizer) planners
- Soil and Environmental Scientists
- Urban Planners
- Agricultural and Natural Resources
- Other Related Professionals
2023 Business of Buffers Roundtable Final Report
Within the James River Watershed, existing riparian buffer contractors are seeing an increase in the demand for their services but are struggling to recruit and train the workforce needed to fulfill existing contracts, limiting their capacity to take on more work. In addition, the cost of doing business has risen (materials, fuel, equipment, labor rates), profits have decreased, there aren’t always enough seedlings to meet demand, and there have been disruptions in the supply chain for tree tubes. In 2023, CBLP and JRA organized a Business of Buffers roundtable to inform the following:
- Small Business Engagement with Buffer Projects
- Ongoing Outreach Activities for the Riparian Consortium
- Contractor Capacity Building
- Planning and Delivery of Training and Professional Development Workshops
Read the Report to see their findings and recommended actions »
Business of Buffers webinar
The Seed Your Future movement was founded to address a critical issue in the horticulture industry – the lack of enough qualified candidates for all of the open jobs across the art, science, technology and business of plants. Learn more »
Meet the Pros
See highlights from people in the field and hear about their career path.
Are you a conservation professional? Share your story »
Early Career, Internships & Volunteering
Whether you are just out of high school, college, or looking for a change in your career path, figuring out how to get your foot in the door can be hard! It’s also a time where you might want to try some things out to see what you like and don’t like. Internships and volunteering are both great options to learn more about the conservation world, meet potential employers, and get your feet wet.
Internships & Fellowships
The James River Stewardship Program offers 12-week positions to support James River riparian buffer maintenance. Internships typically start in late May to late August and recruitment starts in February. More info »
The Virginia Department of Forestry offers paid summer internships each year. They have entry level jobs that do not require a forestry degree. Many have significant fire-response duties. Careers in Forestry brochure »
The Virginia Cooperative Extension, a Virginia Tech program, offers paid summer internships across the state, primarily in agriculture or 4-H youth development. More info »
The Student Conservation Association offers stipened internships across the country. Reach out to them directly and ask for advice on curating your profile to get matched with an opportunity that is right for you. More info »
The National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates offer fellowships that can help if you are looking to get into a Masters program. More info »
The Appalachian Conservation Corps partners with land management agencies and organizations to accomplish critical conservation projects and offers internships and AmeriCorps positions . More info »
The Allegheny Mountain Institute offers tuition-free farm fellowships designed for individuals interested in rural agriculture and sustainable farming. More info »
Volunteering
The Virginia Master Naturalist Training runs intensive volunteer training courses that cover all kinds of ecology topics. Learn more »
Your city may have an active Tree Stewards group. Here are a few from around Virginia:
Join the James River Association and Chesapeake Bay Foundation to plant riparian buffers or become a Riparian Steward to help care for them. Volunteer information »
Continued Learning
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Program is a system of materials and consistent instruction across the region, creating a community of certified professionals to be better stormwater partners and environmental stewards.
Visit the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional website for complete information »
CBLP-Buffers
CBLP also offers a series of certificate programs including CBLP-Buffers, a comprehensive riparian buffer training program developed with Pennsylvania partners and members of the James Riparian Consortium.
CBLP-Buffers is taught in 3 sessions, and is comprised of a series of videos, webinars, and in-person field workshops. Field workshops are held in Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia. More info »
Certified Pesticide Applicator
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services outlines the steps for becoming a commercial applicator or registered technician. Visit the VDACS website for complete information »
Nutrient Management Certification
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers training to receive nutrient management certification in either an Agriculture or Turf and Landscape category. Visit the VDCR website for complete information »
Sustainable Landscape Design with Woody Plants Certificate Program
This certificate program will familiarize you with woody plant identification, appropriate plant use, and design and landscape establishment in various human-impacted landscapes. Learn more »
Workshops & Training
There are a variety of workshops and training opportunities for you to build your knowledge of the latest and greatest in conservation practices and emerging needs. Keep an eye on our Consortium Calendar for related events.
Job Opportunities
Friends of the Lower Appomattox River is Hiring an Executive Director
Are you an enthusiastic environmentalist eager to inspire and connect with the community? Do you have a passion for sharing the natural beauty, cultural significance, and rich history of the Appomattox River? Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) is seeking an Executive Director to lead our organization as we grow and expand our enterprises. This position will oversee our strategic initiatives and operations, as well as ensure continued program excellence and organizational growth.
To read more, or to apply, read this flyer
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is Hiring a Green Infrastructure Projects Assistant
Under the direction and training of the Green Infrastructure Projects Manager, the Green Infrastructure Projects Assistant supports the completion of various programmatic tasks, predominantly supporting the Alliance’s RiverSmart Homes Permeable Surfaces and Rain Barrels projects in partnership with the DC Department of Energy and Environment. The position further supports various events and communications efforts based out of our DC Regional Office, to include Spanish translations and communications. The ideal candidate will be bilingual, possess strong organizational skills, excellent communication capabilities, a foundational understanding of environmental considerations in urban settings, and a desire to develop innovative solutions, partnership relationships, and future projects.
To read more, or to apply, visit allianceforthebay.org/job/
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is Hiring an Agriculture Projects Associate
This position is under the direct supervision of the Agriculture Projects Manager. This position will work directly with farmers and corporate partners to strategize and implement a wide range of conservation practices. The Agriculture Projects Associate is a fast-paced, full-time position working to help advance the Alliance’s Agriculture and Forests Programs implementation of conservation practices throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The position will support farmer and partner relations, project management, grant management, reimbursements, and programmatic financial reporting. This position will involve regular fieldwork in Central and Northern Virginia and supporting work in Southern/Western Maryland Regions.
To read more, or to apply, visit allianceforthebay.org/job/
Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is Hiring a Public Relations and Media Coordinator
The Public Relations & Media Coordinator will develop and deploy media relations and public relations strategies to elevate PEC’s profile in the Virginia Piedmont region and beyond toward advancing communications goals. The Public Relations & Media Coordinator will report to PEC’s co-director of outreach and communications, with responsibilities including cultivating strong relationships and facilitating staff interviews with media and working with PEC staff to support message development for advocacy and public policy initiatives, conservation and habitat restoration activities, and development and grant writing.
To read more, or to apply, visit pecva.org/about/jobs-internships/
Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is Hiring a Senior GIS Analyst
PEC is seeking an experienced, innovative and collaborative GIS professional to help advance PEC’s mission. PEC utilizes cartography and GIS tools to create effective visualizations of data and easy-to-understand maps for the public. In this fast-paced world, we know that an effective visual can be the pathway for community engagement and action on critical environmental issues facing our region and the planet.
To read more, or to apply, visit pecva.org/about/jobs-internships/
Shenandoah National Park Trust is Hiring an Operations and Finance Coordinator
The Trust is looking for a self-motivated and highly organized professional who is passionate about Public Lands and interested in managing the business side of nonprofit work. As the Operations and Finance Coordinator, you will manage our day-to-day general office operations; manage financial tracking and reporting, and track gifts and gift acknowledgments in our database. This is a full-time position based in Charlottesville.
This position reports to the Executive Director and is part of a larger team and entails various responsibilities that require professionalism, collaboration, initiative, a high level of attention to detail, and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
To read more, or to apply, visit snptrust.org/careers/
Shenandoah National Park Trust is Hiring a Communications Manager
The Trust is looking for a storyteller who will lead the organization’s strategic and authentic communications. You don’t just create beautiful content; whether digital or print; you’re excited to adapt Shenandoah National Park’s story for different audiences, features, and platforms. The Communications Manager will develop and implement internal and external communications for the organization to ensure that unified, consistent, and positive messages define and promote the Trust’s identity, mission, and impact.
To read more, or to apply, visit snptrust.org/careers/
Virginia Forestry and Wildlife Group is Hiring Seasonal and Full-Time Natural Resource Management Technicians
The technicians will be part of a field management crew. Activities will include (but are not limited to) the implementation of natural resource management activities: primarily invasive species control (75%), prescribed fire, forest management, wildlife habitat establishment and maintenance, tree/shrub planting, field surveys and assessments and biodiversity restoration work. Excellent communication with company principals, staff and clients (private landowners, public agencies and non-profit organizations) is an important part of the position.
To learn more, or to apply, visit vaforestwild.com/jobs
Places to post or look for jobs
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