Stewardship Assistant

~ The Virginia Outdoors Foundation was created by the General Assembly in 1966. ~

It was established in the Code of Virginia under § 10.1-1800, which states:

Although VOF has been in existence for more than five decades, the vast majority of the current acreage protected by VOF easements has been achieved since 2000, when the state created the Land Preservation Tax Credit Program, one of the strongest tax incentives for land conservation in the nation. VOF’s biggest year ever was in 2006, when we protected approximately 70,000 acres. Our largest easement project to date—more than 11,000 acres on Carvins Cove in Roanoke and Botetourt counties—was recorded in 2008 and 2009.

Thanks to the generosity of landowners, the strength of our partnerships, and the support of legislators, VOF will continue to fulfill its mission of preserving our shared natural and cultural resources for future generations.

Position Overview

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is currently seeking an entry level Stewardship Assistant.

Responsibilities

• Working 40+ hours per week. Work in both the Warrenton and Charlottesville offices, may be primarily based out of either, with frequent travel required throughout the Piedmont.
• Assisting with assigned duties including, but not limited to, open-space easement monitoring, interpretations and approvals, landowner education, digital and paper file organization, and other assistance.
• Traveling across the Piedmont stewardship region to conduct site visits.
• Visiting easement properties to document any physical changes using GPS, digital photography, iPhone applications and GIS.
• Creating maps and manipulating data using ArcView 10.
• Contacting and maintaining good relationships with easement property owners and their representatives.
• Maintaining accurate documentation in paper and digital files.
• Researching courthouse deeds and county land use and development records.  
• Assisting with GIS editing and map creation.
• Assisting other staff with documentation, mapping and filing.
• Assisting easement owners with land management issues.
• Other general office duties and support.
• Participate in training activities, as required.
• Participate in staff meetings, as required. 

Qualifications

• Degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, Civil, Agricultural, or Environmental Engineering, or related field, from an accredited college or university preferred/desirable, or experience that would provide the skills and abilities listed.
• Must possess a valid Virginia driver’s license.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work alone or in teams on projects, including site visits to properties in remote and rural areas.
• Demonstrated experience with ArcView 10, GPS, and similar applications.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting deeds and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience in using aerial imagery, iPhone applications, compass and GPS for monitoring and navigating properties.
• Demonstrated computer skills using Microsoft Office, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation applications.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret boundary surveys, property descriptions, and other related materials.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented.

Compensation: $37,000