Overview

iverfront North Partnership (RNP) seeks a Stewardship Assistant to take an active role in managing the built environment and sustaining the community and organizational relationships on the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway. The Stewardship Assistant will report to the Stewardship Manager.

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 Assistant supports the creation and maintenance of 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 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. It also requires capacity to work in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, volunteers, and workforce development groups.

The Stewardship Assistant works with the Stewardship Manager in support of landscape management with seasonal park employees hired by the City, as well as volunteer groups and job skill training partners. Additional 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 position’s success will ultimately be measured in diverse habitats and ecology on the Delaware River and deep relationships with City departments and community partners.

Key Responsibilities:

The Stewardship Assistant will support the Stewardship Manager in the following activities:

• Stewardship operations that include landscape installation, streambank restoration, invasive species control, erosion control, and general greenway maintenance.
• Positive and collaborative relationships with City of Philadelphia employees.
• Monitor greenway conditions, interventions with contractors, and test plots (mowing, invasive species control, impact of construction projects, etc).
• Volunteer relations in coordination with the RNP team. Specifically, this includes being able to teach how to plant trees effectively and managing volunteers on the day of event.
• Workforce development partnerships, including support of PowerCorps work crews, PowerCorps Fellows, and Philadelphia Parks and Rec seasonal employees with the Stewardship Manager in the field.
• Basic facilities and janitorial maintenance, graffiti removal, cleaning and restocking restrooms, as needed.
• Represent and support RNP at public programs, organizational initiatives, environmental consortiums as necessary.
• Support organizational assessment and planning through staff retreats and professional development.

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.
• 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. Regardless of personal transportation, a candidates must have and maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing. The position is primarily in the field with some office time, and outdoor work is labor-intensive and may happen 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:

• $37,000 annually. Exempt with health benefits.
• 10 paid vacation days and 10-12 office holidays (depending on which day of the week the holidays fall).
• 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 emma@riverfrontnorth.org by 5 pm on December 3, 2021. Include the position title in your email subject,