Employment

About the James River Association

Founded in 1976, the James River Association is the oldest and largest river conservation group in Virginia, and the only organization solely dedicated to protecting and restoring America’s Founding River, the James River. JRA’s mission is to be the guardian of the James River – to provide a voice for the river and take action to promote conservation and responsible stewardship of its natural resources. To accomplish our mission, JRA’s two strategic goals include: 1) Achieving a fully healthy James River; and 2) Helping communities within the watershed realize the benefits from a healthy James River and support protecting it.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice

We’re committed to embedding the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all parts of our work and our watershed. We acknowledge this takes time, intention, and effort. It requires truly listening to others, identifying shared goals, and charting a strategic course through collective action. People who have been historically marginalized in the James River Watershed have suffered injustices for far too long. At JRA, we recognize that at times our actions and inaction have contributed to the problem, and now we are stepping up to be part of the solution.

JRA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, military status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Open Positions

 Education Program Coordinator – Petersburg

Location: Richmond Office
Telework: Hybrid
Experience:  Mid-level
Number of Openings: 1
Job Status: Full Time
Salary Range: $42,000 – $52,000
Reports to: Regional Education Manager

The James River Association(JRA) is a non-profit organization on a mission to protect the James River and connect people to it. JRA is excited to announce an opening for an Education Program Coordinator. In this role, you’ll focus on delivering engaging, high-quality environmental education programs while coordinating and leading the logistical and operational components of these experiences. Acting as a program lead for trips and programs, this position collaborates closely with the Regional Education Manager, team members, and external partners to ensure smooth, impactful programming. The Education Program Coordinator will serve as a key contact for program communications, safety preparation, and equipment management, contributing to the James River Association’s mission of protecting and enhancing the James River.

We’re looking for someone with passion for education with leadership skills and a commitment to fostering meaningful environmental stewardship. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a passion for environmental education and curriculum development, and a personal interest in the James River.

Responsibilities: 

• Program Delivery – Deliver dynamic environmental education experiences for school-age children, ensuring inclusivity for participants of all ages and backgrounds. Facilitate professional learning for educators that connects them with the natural and cultural resources of the James River. Lead multi-day trips, including overnight experiences, ensuring program safety and excellence.
• Program Coordination and Leadership – Serve as the main point of contact during trips to ensure smooth execution and address challenges. Brief seasonal educators on schedules and content, ensuring clarity and readiness. Collaborate with the Education Manager to align programs with organizational goals and lead team debriefs for feedback and improvement.
• Operations, Maintenance, and Safety Preparation – Oversee the daily maintenance and organization of education centers, including managing educational resources. Ensure the readiness of boats, canoes, vehicles, and equipment, coordinating seasonal openings and inspections with the Director of Operations. Lead safety preparations and ensure compliance with safety standards for all activities.
• Community Engagement – Represent the organization at community events to build awareness and foster engagement. Build positive relationships with partners, parents, and participants to enhance the impact of the program. 
• Administrative Duties – Log trip details and maintain accurate records for documentation. Support the Education Program Manager with communications related to JRLE and provide feedback on curriculum effectiveness to improve participant engagement.

Qualifications: 

• Passion for environmental education and a commitment to the mission and values of the James River Association.
• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions and perform physical tasks related to program setup and breakdown, including ability to lift equipment ranging from 40-50 pounds
• Demonstrated leadership in coordinating educational programs and managing teams.
• Must have strong communication and interpersonal skills 
• Strong group management, communication and interpersonal skill and experience working effectively with diverse audiences of youth and educators.
• Detail-oriented and organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Science Education, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in environmental education, outdoor education, or a similar role.
• Must be available for flexible scheduling, including occasional weekends, evenings, and overnight trips. 
• Ability to travel to various locations within the assigned region as needed to support programmatic requirements and seasonal demands, sometimes on short notice. 
• Travel within the James River watershed may be occasionally required for meetings and training.
• Ability to operate JRA vehicles and obtain a valid state issued driver’s license

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Comfort with kayaking and canoeing, including basic paddling skills, safety practices and gear management and maintenance.
• Strong working knowledge of best practices in providing environmental education experience for school-aged students.
• Familiarity with field science tools and equipment, such as water quality testing kits, sampling gear, and data collection instruments.
• Boating safety certification and/or willingness to obtain required certifications, such as CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Responder/Wilderness First Aid, etc.

Competitive Salary & Benefits Package includes fully paid employee-only health and dental coverage, Life and LTD insurance, generous paid time off (starting at four weeks/year), twelve paid holidays, and 401(k) matched contributions! Professional development and growth opportunities. Work-life balance and dynamic, hybrid/flexible work environment. The exempt salary range for this full-time position is $42,000 – $52,000 annually, depending upon several factors including education and work experience.

APPLY by sending your resume and cover letter to talent@thejamesriver.org. This position will remain open until filled. 

 Seasonal Stewardship Assistant

Location: Rustburg, VA and Amelia, VA 
Telework: Hybrid
Experience:  Entry Level
Number of Openings: 4 
Job Status:  Seasonal Part Time, Non-Exempt 
Hourly Rate: $15/Hour
Reports to: Restoration Director
Timeframe: May 26-August 15, 2025 (2 week flexibility on start and end date)

The James River Association(JRA) is a non-profit organization on a mission to protect the James River and connect people to it. JRA is excited to announce job openings for four Seasonal Stewardship Assistants: two to be located near Lynchburg, VA and two to be located near Farmville, VA. The two near Lynchburg will work out of the Rustburg County NRCS office and cover Campbell, Appomattox, and Amherst counties. The two near Farmville will work out of the Amelia NRCS office and cover Amelia, Powhatan and Goochland Counties. Most of the work will be in the field with the option for office-related work to be telework from home and/or from a partner office in the respective areas.  

The primary focus of this position will be to perform site assessments of riparian forest buffers as part of the James River Stewardship Program (JRSP), which was launched in 2022. This program was developed to assess and perform needed maintenance on riparian forest buffers installed 3-15 years ago through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program (VACS), and the James River Buffer Program (JRBP). Assessments include visual observation of invasive plant species and native tree establishment, and light tree shelter maintenance at the select project locations. The position will be employed by JRA, but will also be working closely with Virginia Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Soil and Water Conservation District staff. JRA will provide each pair of Assistants access to one vehicle to share, laptops, and supplies needed for assessments. Housing is not provided.

This seasonal opportunity is a perfect match for students or individuals wanting to learn about natural resource management, work with private and public landowners, connect with a broad partnership of conservation professionals, and get their hands dirty while improving the landscape for water quality, wildlife habitat, and human communities. Note that it will include a lot of driving, possibly working in extreme weather conditions and traversing difficult terrain. This position will receive on the ground training in Wilderness First Aid, plant identification, and buffer maintenance and assessment by JRA and partner staff.

Responsibilities: 

• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to assess ~200 acres of riparian forest buffer projects installed 3-15 years ago on primarily agricultural lands
• Data management related to site assessments
• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to develop draft recommendation reports that include an invasive species management plan and replanting plan for ~200 acres of assessed riparian forest buffers
• Meet regularly with NRCS, DOF, SWCD, and JRA partners 
• Other duties as assigned such as buffer maintenance, blog writing, workshops with landowners, or other activities related to buffer stewardship

Qualifications: 

A successful candidate will possess the following:

• Some experience (education or lived) in restoration, agriculture, or forestry
• Interest in learning how to identify native and invasive plant types found in riparian habitats
• Comfort communicating with rural and agricultural landowners and comfortable in farm landscape
• Willing to participate in JRA’s random drug testing policy for vehicle operators and attendants
• Ability to perform physical work, navigate uneven terrain, and work in various weather conditions such as heat, rain, and cold
• A valid driver’s license
• Computer skills, particularly in word processing and record-keeping (Microsoft Word and Excel), and familiarity with internet communication and search tools. GIS experience is a plus, but not required.
• Excellent at problem-solving, meeting deadlines, following schedules, and overall time management
• Ability to coordinate with partners and collaborators via email and phone
• Strong communications, analytical skills, teamwork, integrity, and reliability

Compensation: JRA offers a dynamic and flexible work environment. Pay is set at $15/hour, 30-40 hours a week for 12 weeks. This position is part-time, non-exempt. JRA is an equal opportunity employer. 

Additional Benefits: Professional development and growth opportunities. Work-life balance and dynamic, flexible work environment.

APPLY by sending your resume and cover letter to talent@thejamesriver.org by 5pm on March 14th, 2025.

Why Work for the James River Association?

Volunteer

Ready to give back to the James? Whether it’s getting your hands dirty with one of our Watershed Restoration projects, acting as a voice for the river through our Advocacy efforts or helping out with office tasks, there is a job for everyone to play a part in making a cleaner James River.

If you live or work in the James River watershed, you can give back to its health.

We have great opportunities if you prefer working on land – or even your own backyard.

Use your time on the river to give back to its health.

We also have opportunities for individuals who enjoy time on the James. If you routinely spend time fishing, paddling, or boating the James or one of its tributaries, these are great ways to get involved!