Riverfront North Partnership is now accepting applications for a Stewardship Manager.

Stewardship Manager

Posted January 2021

Organizational Background:

Riverfront North Partnership (RNP) seeks a Stewardship Manager to take a leadership role in managing the built environment and relationships on the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway. The Stewardship Manager will report to the Executive Director.

RNP is a nonprofit organization that works with the City of Philadelphia to build and activate eight parks and 11 miles of trail on the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia, with the belief that every Philadelphian should have access to their rivers. The greenway is 65% completed and expected to be fully connected by 2025. Working with the City, RNP expects to break ground on a new trail segment in Tacony and a riverfront park in Bridesburg in 2021. We are gaining momentum as a neighborhood asset and regional destination, with the understanding that, as the greenway nears completion, our future depends on an engaged community and the highest standards of stewardship

RNP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.

Position Overview:

The Stewardship Manager has a leadership role in creating and maintaining healthy and functional landscapes. Stewardship operations have grown significantly in the last four years through major restoration projects and diverse partnerships. This opening a great opportunity for a bright and enthusiastic individual as we anchor and expand that growth.

The Stewardship Manager will work closely with the City of Philadelphia, volunteer groups and workforce development partners.  The position requires understanding of landscape management in complex, industrial settings and a highly active riverfront. Areas of management include general maintenance and park landscaping, meadow, wetland, living shoreline, and woodlands.

The position requires direct management of a Stewardship Assistant. Depending on resources, the Stewardship Manager has also coordinated landscape management with seasonal park employees hired by the City. Guidance and support is provided by the Project Manager, who is a registered landscape architect, and outreach activities are supported by a Programs and Partnership Manager.

The individual hired will be an adaptable self-starter with ample field expertise and the ability to work within a team to achieve ambitious goals. The Stewardship Manager will work with the Executive Director to create strategies for sustainable stewardship operations based on the Master Plan and Strategic Plan. The position’s success will be ultimately be measured in diverse habitats and ecology on the Delaware River and deep relationships with City departments and community partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• An annual stewardship plan that aligns with RNP’s mission and strategic goals. This includes area-specific care plans, calendar, departmental budget, and staffing/resource needs.
• Stewardship operations that include planting and seeding projects, invasive species control, erosion control, and general greenway maintenance.
• Positive and collaborative relationships with City of Philadelphia departments (Parks and Rec, Streets, OtIS, and Philadelphia Water Department).
• Monitor contractors (mowing, invasive species control) and impact of construction activities.
• Volunteer relations in coordination with the RNP team. Specifically, this includes being able to teach how to plant trees effectively, creating an annual calendar, scope of work, purchasing, and managing volunteers on the day of event.
• Workforce development partnerships, including creating work scope and offering technical assistance.
• Represent RNP in organizational initiatives, environmental consortiums, and at events that support program growth and brand strategies.
• Support your team through communications, grant development, data collection for reporting, and general administrative.

Background and Skills:

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following in their application:

• Skillful operations: the candidate will demonstrate experience in resource management, land management, habitat restoration, or related fields. Preference will be given to individuals who have managed remnant, new native, and transitional landscapes, and who show day-to-day competency in hands-on plant identification, small tools and equipment maintenance, invasive species control, and planting trees.
• Working with people: whether it is individual and group volunteers or direct reports, the candidate must have strong speaking and listening skills. We look for cultural competency to work with individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests.
• Organizational relationships: the candidate will show experience in building collaborative relationships and teams to achieve a common goal
• Professional qualities: the candidate will have the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and take action. They will have a commitment to positive and proactive communication.
• Skills: the candidate will be proficient with technology, including the Microsoft Suite, online databases, basic photo editing, etc.

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 for commuting is strongly preferred. The position divides its time between office and field, and outdoor work is labor-intensive and sometimes happens under adverse weather conditions. Chainsaw operations and maintenance certification is a plus. They must be willing to use personal equipment such as a cell phone if working remotely.

Salary and Schedule:

• $48,000 annually. Exempt with health benefits.
• 10 paid vacation days and nine office holidays.
• Position is 40 hours week on a flexible schedule. A core part of this role is managing weekend and after-work volunteer events. The candidate should expect to work most weekends, especially during the spring, fall, and early summer.

To Apply:

Send resume and cover letter to sp@riverfrontnorth.org by 5 pm on February 5, 2021. Include the position title in your email subject line. No calls please.