Stewardship Coordinator
Organizational Background: Riverfront North Partnership (RNP) seeks a Stewardship Coordinator to take an active role in urban ecological restoration as part of RNP’s mission to work with the City of Philadelphia to build, activate and care for an 11-mile network of public parks and trails on the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia.
Position Overview: The Stewardship Coordinator supports ecological restoration areas on the 11-mile Riverfront North Greenway. The position requires an understanding of landscape management in complex, industrial settings and a highly active riverfront. Areas of management include native park and trail plantings, meadow, wetland, living shoreline, and woodlands, all with a focus on biodiversity, ecological health, and natural beauty.
The Stewardship Coordinator works with the Greenway Operations Coordinator and Field Partnership Coordinator to facilitate landscape management with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. This entails partnership with seasonal park employees hired by the City, as well as volunteer groups and workforce development organizations. The Executive Director directly manages the Stewardship Coordinator, with additional guidance and support provided by the Program Director, VISTA Volunteer Support, and the Director of Projects.
Key Responsibilities:
- Landscape installation, watering, pruning, and caring for native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in ecological restoration areas.
- Invasive plant species control.
- Meadow and meadow buffer zone management.
- Streambank restoration and live staking.
- Trail and park volunteer workdays, both scope and implementation.
*Note – this position requires evening and weekend hours in support of volunteer workdays. A flexible schedule is available and encouraged.
In addition to these tasks, the Stewardship Coordinator has a role in the following:
- Setting and organizing ecological restoration priorities with the Executive Director and Director of Projects, and communicating progress with the RNP staff at weekly meetings.
- Positive and collaborative operational relationships with City of Philadelphia employees.
- Facilities maintenance that may include litter pick-up, graffiti control, line trimming, trail treads, etc. While this is not the primary focus of the position, a willingness to help if needed to ensure a good visitor experience is desirable.
- Support organizational assessment and planning through annual work plans and goal setting.
Background and Skills:
Successful candidates will demonstrate the following in their application:
Knowledge of sustainability, landscaping, horticulture, or stormwater management principles.
Experience in land management and/or working in a variety of outdoor environments. Proficiency with landscaping equipment and tools is a plus.
Working with people and cultural competency: the candidate must demonstrate proactive and positive communication with people of diverse backgrounds.
Team support that may include helping with job skill training partnerships, environmental programs, and “all-hands-on-deck” annual events, such as the Fish Fest, Spring Fling fundraiser, etc.
Ability to create and communicate weekly priorities and work plans to Executive Director and RNP staff.
Professional qualities: the candidate will be a proactive communicator. They will have the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and the flexibility take action to resolve unexpected situations in the field.
Skills: the candidate will be proficient with Microsoft Office and other standard technology.
Physical Requirements: RNP provides a truck for field work. However, due to the scale of the greenway and the lack of public transportation near it, a candidate with a car is strongly preferred. Candidates must have and maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing. The position divides its time between administrative and field work, and outdoor work is labor-intensive and may happen under adverse weather conditions. They must be willing to use personal equipment such as a cell phone if working remotely.
Salary and Schedule:
- $50,000 annually, exempt with health and dental benefits; SIMPLE IRA with employer match.
- 10 paid vacation days, 12 office holidays (including between Christmas and New Year’s Day), and flex time.
- Position is 40 hours week on a flexible schedule, including rotating weekend schedules. A core part of this role is supporting weekend and after-work volunteer events.
- Hybrid work environment; ability to work remotely when not in the field.
To apply, send resume and cover letter to sp@riverfrontnorth.org. Include the position title in your email subject.
Greenway Operations Coordinator
Organizational Background: Riverfront North Partnership (RNP) seeks a Greenway Operations Coordinator to take an active role in landscape management as part of RNP’s mission to work with the City of Philadelphia to build, activate and care for an 11-mile network of public parks and trails on the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia.
Position Overview: The Greenway Operations Coordinator focuses on parks and trail land maintenance on the Riverfront North Greenway. The position requires an understanding of landscape management in complex, industrial settings and a highly active riverfront. Areas of management include mowing, weeding, mulching, and watering in public park and trail areas, all with a focus on visitor experience and natural beauty.
The Greenway Operations Coordinator works with the Stewardship Coordinator and Field Partnership Coordinator to facilitate land management with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. This entails partnership with seasonal park employees hired by the City, as well as volunteer groups and workforce development organizations. The Executive Director directly manages the Greenway Operations Coordinator, with additional guidance and support provided by the Program Director, VISTA Volunteer Support, and the Director of Projects.
Key Responsibilities:
- Landscape management, including mowing, mulching, watering, and weeding in established planting areas.
- Monitoring and sharing trail conditions for litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, and other issues with RNP staff and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
- Inventorying and maintaining tools and equipment
- Scope and communication with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation seasonal maintenance staff.
- Support Field Partnership Coordinator to facilitate workforce development crews.
- Support Stewardship Coordinator volunteer workdays.
*Note – this position requires evening and weekend hours in support of volunteer workdays. A flexible schedule is available and encouraged.
In addition to these tasks, the Greenway Operations Coordinator has a role in the following:
- Setting and organizing landscape maintenance priorities with the Executive Director and communicating progress with the RNP staff at weekly meetings.
- Positive and collaborative operational relationships with City of Philadelphia employees.
- Support RNP colleagues and programs as needed with job skill training partnerships and “all-hands-on-deck” annual events, such as the Fish Fest, Spring Fling fundraiser, etc.
- Ecological restoration that may include invasives management, live staking, and landscape installation with the Stewardship Coordinator. There is much work to be done and a willingness to help as needed is desirable.
- Proactive communication as field conditions can change quickly and plans must be adjusted.
Background and Skills:
Successful candidates will demonstrate the following in their application:
Understanding of ecology, horticulture, and/or environmental stewardship practices.
Direct experience in landscape management and/or working in a variety of outdoor environments. Proficiency with landscaping equipment and tools is a plus.
Working with people and cultural competency: the candidate must demonstrate proactive and positive communication with people of diverse backgrounds.
Team support that may include helping with job skill training partnerships, environmental programs, and “all-hands-on-deck” annual events, such as the Fish Fest, Spring Fling fundraiser, etc.
Ability to create and communicate weekly priorities and work plans to Executive Director and RNP staff.
Professional qualities: the candidate will will have the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and the flexibility take action to resolve unexpected situations in the field.
Skills: the candidate will be proficient with Microsoft Office and other standard technology.
Physical Requirements: RNP provides a truck for field work. However, due to the scale of the greenway and the lack of public transportation near it, a candidate with a car is strongly preferred. Candidates must have and maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing. The position divides its time between administrative and field work, and outdoor work is labor-intensive and may happen under adverse weather conditions. They must be willing to use personal equipment such as a cell phone if working remotely.
Salary and Schedule:
- $50,000 annually, exempt with health and dental benefits; SIMPLE IRA with employer match.
- 10 paid vacation days, 12 office holidays (including between Christmas and New Year’s Day), and flex time.
- Position is 40 hours week on a flexible schedule, including rotating weekend schedules. A core part of this role is supporting weekend and after-work volunteer events.
- Hybrid work environment; ability to work remotely when not in the field.
To apply, send resume and cover letter to sp@riverfrontnorth.org. Include the position title in your email subject.
Robert A. Borski, Jr. Park Seasonal Maintenance Attendant (SMA)
SMA Duties:
- Assist Friends of Borski Park volunteer days and maintenance activities
- Includes turf and grounds maintenance work: maintaining and improving the park
- Pick up/gather litter and trash in the park; empty trash cans; deliver trash to a central disposal area.
- Sweep/shovel and clear pathways and steps
- Trim and clear around shrubbery, trees, fences and poles
- Shovel and remove silt and debris to clear drainage outlets
- Report all graffiti & hazards to your supervisor
- Pick up cuttings from beneath pruned trees
- Pick up small branches and twigs that fall from trees; report all branches that cannot be moved to your supervisor
- Rake and pick up leaves/debris/goose droppings in park, park entrance, and along fence-lines
SMA Hours:
- A standard work day includes a 30 minute lunch. Please discuss best work days and times with your
- direct Supervisor.
- You are expected to be in the park during your scheduled hours
- Your district supervisor may change your schedule if needed
The Seasonal Maintenance Attendant is a 6 month position, starting at 20 hours and increasing to 37.5 hours a week. It includes an hourly pay of $16.35.
Riverfront North Partnership
This is a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation position managed with Riverfront North Partnership, the nonprofit partner of Borski Park.
Weekend Coverage:
Park use is seven days a week. By accepting this SMA position, you have agreed to work the occasional
weekend days. (Some SMAs will work weekend days for the duration of the season. Your district supervisor may change your schedule as needed.)
Inclement weather:
Park SMAs still have to report to work on a rainy day. In the case of extreme weather, contact your
supervisor. They may assign you to a new location or allow you to make up your hours on a Saturday or
another day
To apply, send your letter of interest and work experience to Brian Green at brian@riverfrontnorth.org