Employment
If hard, rewarding work is calling you …
Join our team to help protect and preserve Virginia’s most vital resource. Our staff works hard to nurture the James, enjoy the James, and restore the river we love.
Open Employment Positions
Open Request For Proposals/ Statements of Qualification
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountains and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.
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:
- Achieving a fully healthy James River
- Helping communities within the watershed realize the benefits from a healthy James River and support protecting it.
Open Positions
Seasonal Living Shoreline Stewardship & Outreach Assistant
Location: Williamsburg Region, Virginia
Telework: Hybrid
Experience: Entry Level
Job Status: Seasonal Part Time, Non-Exempt
Hourly Rate: $15/Hour, 30-40 hours/week
Reports to: Senior Coastal Restoration Manager
Duration: Tuesday May 26 – Friday Aug 14, 2026 (flexibility on start and end date, if needed)
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 a job opening for a Seasonal Living Shoreline and Marketing Program Assistant to be focused in the tidal James River watershed of Virginia. Work will be split between field activities and office-related work, with an option of teleworking from home and/or from JRA’s regional offices.
JRA’s Living Shorelines Program is focused on scaling up implementation of resilient shoreline protection projects in the tidal James River watershed, through use of nature-based designs that provide erosion control, habitat and water quality benefits, and buffer floodwaters. JRA increases installation of living shorelines by 1) working directly with property owners, providing technical assistance and cost share support, and 2) convening the Living Shoreline Collaborative, a network of partners and communities focused on building and sharing knowledge, increasing capacity, and elevating acceptance of living shorelines. This position will support several key initiatives, including: the Living Shoreline Cost Share Program, Marsh Stewards Program, and the Living Shoreline Collaborative.
This seasonal opportunity offers hands-on experience in coastal restoration, environmental stewardship, marketing and communications, along with opportunities to network with professionals across nonprofits, government, and academia. Note that the position may require driving to attend partner meetings and to access JRA’s living shoreline projects, which span from Hampton and Norfolk to Charles City County. This position will receive on the ground training in plant identification, and shoreline maintenance and assessment by JRA and partner staff. JRA will provide access to a laptop, and supplies needed for shoreline assessments. JRA intends to hire two people for this position.
Key Responsibilities:
Site Inspections & Monitoring (Cost Share Program):
- Assist with pre- and post-construction inspections of living shoreline sites
- Collect field data to assess living shoreline project success
- Support data management related to site assessments
- Conduct monitoring at sites through spatial data collection (e.g., GIS)
Community Engagement (Marsh Stewards Program):
- Help coordinate and support volunteer stewardship events (e.g., marsh plantings, invasive species removal, site cleanups)
- Assist with outreach materials, event logistics, and volunteer coordination
- Contribute to educational content creation for social media
Partnership & Program Support (Living Shoreline Collaborative):
- Support planning/coordination of Living Shoreline Collaborative meetings
- Assist with maintaining website, generating monthly LSC newsletter, and general marketing
- Other general duties as assigned such as blog writing, water quality monitoring, or other activities related to promoting and stewarding living shorelines
Qualifications:
- Interest in environmental science, marine biology, ecology, or related field
- Ability to conduct fieldwork in coastal/marsh environments and work in various weather conditions such as heat, rain, and cold
- Willing to participate in JRA’s random drug testing policy for vehicle operators
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
- Computer skills, particularly in word processing and record-keeping (Microsoft Word and Excel).
- Knowledge of or experience in GIS is a strong plus, although not required
- Excellent at problem-solving, meeting deadlines, following schedules, and overall time management in independent work
- 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 submitting your resume and cover letter, and 3 references through this link by 5pm on March 20, 2026.
Open Request For Proposals/Statements of Qualification
The James River Association is requesting Statements of Qualification from contractors for living shoreline construction services to be provided in the lower James River watershed.
Statement of Qualifications must include the following to be eligible for consideration (1) Cover Letter (2) Summary of Qualifications (3) Prior Experience (4) Safety Record (5) Insurance Requirements. Proposals should be emailed to Amanda Guthrie of the James River Association at aguthrie@thejamesrier.org by 5pm ET on Friday, January 30, 2026.
Why Work for the James River Association?
We are OPTIMISTS
We believe through individual and collective action, the James River can be preserved and improved, enriching all communities in the watershed.
We are CATALYSTS
We are proactive change-makers, not bystanders. We take initiative, bring creativity and passion, and enlist the broader community to drive positive change for the James River.
CREDIBILITY is our currency.
Our success depends on the trust we build. We operate with integrity and can be relied on as a true, steady, dependable resource grounded in science.
COMMUNITY drives everything we do.
We believe in the power of community to achieve common goals, honoring a full range of voices in the process. Our efforts consider the varied needs and interests of our watershed communities.
Building a James River for All
JRA’s vision is a fully healthy James River, valued by all communities in the watershed. At JRA, we believe in community, conservation, and driving change. We encourage applications from all backgrounds—if you’re excited about working with us, we want to hear from you!
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.
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 your community is in the James River watershed, you can give back to its health.
Whether you appreciate access to clean water or just feel passionate about protecting our environment, there are things you can do that don’t involve getting wet!
Use your time on the river to give back to its health.
We are a voice for the James, identifying the risks facing our river and sharing solutions that will produce results for clean water and healthy waterways. With so much ground to cover, we need your help.
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!
