POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Facilities and Grounds Stewardship Manager

Hours: 32 hours per week

Reports to: Operations Manager and Executive Director

Location: 1643 Salem Road, Schuyler, Virginia

Pay: Bi-weekly payroll, 3 months of half-time based on $48,840 salary x 1/2 at pretax of $1,017.50 per pay period. Beginning May 11, full-time, based on $48,840 pretax of $2,035 per pay period for one year.

Term: Intro phase of 3 months, and then 1 year. Start date, February 19, at ½ time and pay. Phase to full-time on May 11, 2026. Six-month review, November 2026. Terms of pay and benefits negotiable upon performance review, May 2027, 2028, 2029. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Piedmont Discovery Center (PDC) owns and operates a natural history center embedded in Virginia’s first and only public all-native botanical garden, and stewards 181 acres of remarkable biocultural landscape in the Piedmont of Central Virginia. This position offers an opportunity for an individual to fill a vital role in the advancement of our mission while building place-based knowledge, spreading an awareness of Piedmont natural and cultural heritage, and inspiring future generations of stewards in North America’s most heavily populated ecoregion. This position combines:

  1. facilities and grounds management 
  2. research, restoration, and nursery department support 
  3. education outreach

PDC is looking for efficiency and quality regarding the delivery of education programs, conservation action, and the care and maintenance of its grounds and facilities. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with experience in land stewardship, field ecology, outdoor education, and organizational management and development. This position requires someone with a strong scientific ethic, a passion for environmental education and biocultural restoration and reparation, and the ability to handle the day-to-day challenges of maintaining a public natural history center and botanical gardens.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Manage and maintain operational infrastructure and facilities, including routines for maintenance, check-in-reporting, and repairs
  • Organize and maintain a clean Crew Bay, to include dedicated areas for Rx fire supplies/tools, Biological Assessment Supplies and Equipment, Restoration Tools and Equipment, Soil Samples, Seed Storage Refrigerators, Utility Access, Workshop area, General Tool storage,  and lockers
  • Create and maintain inventory of facilities and processes as a calendar of duties to ensure smooth and continuous operations 
  • Track, maintain, and repair all physical equipment, machinery, vehicles, structures, and curate a list of local and regional contractors that are part of that ongoing effort
  • Remain aware of public use and safety and inspect, maintain, and install adequate signage
  • Create a maintenance plan and routine for inspection and repair of stairs, steps, walkways, pathways, roads, bridges, benches, picnic tables, views, and other infrastructure that facilitates and maximizes public engagement
  • Work with department leaders to revise and update Stewardship BMPs that define and limit how we engage the land, cultural resources, and ecological systems and organisms.
  • Work as needed as an assistant the to Conservation Nursery department
  • Work as needed as a stewardship technician with the Restoration Department
  • Work as needed as a field technician as needed with the Research Department 
  • Generate and support the development of research and restoration plans for various components of the land holdings as the need emerges.
  • Demonstrate thoughtful and professional communication as a point of contact for the general public, board members, fellow staff, and others. 
  • Generate project proposals, scopes, and research designs in an efficient and industry-standard manner while working with other staff leadership
  • Embody PDC’s core values and adhere to the PDC Staff Expectations Statement Policy, Code of Conduct, Inclement Weather Policy, and other core policies as required. 
  • Maintain a strong and creative work ethic among staff
  • Work independently in a problem-solving manner to maintain the balance of workflow and quality, in line with Piedmont Discovery Center’s brand and mission
  • Work closely with the PDC Executive Director and QG Director of Operations on important overarching initiatives, including master planning, fund-raising, event planning and implementation, and facilities modifications. 
  • Maintain, update, and post visible Facility evacuation diagrams and Utility infrastructure diagrams (electric, sewage, HVAC, internet, well/water, etc)
  • Collaborate with QG Director of Operations to ensure quality and towards mission and goals
  • Maintain high-quality, clean, inspiring interior and exterior spaces of exhibition and education
  • Create and implement education programs for the general public
  • Responsible for generating a social media outreach plan that gives the public access to the work we are doing in an exciting and engaging way. 
  • Work with QG Director of Operations and others as needed to create and implement training and education programs, citizen science events, volunteer events, classes, seminars, workshops, and events for the general public, professionals, public and private schools, clubs, and other groups.
  • Manage volunteer stewardship projects to maintain trails, remediate exotic species, storm damage cleanup, etc, AND coordinate with different volunteer groups to implement 
  • Work with outside organizations and initiatives on efforts without compromising core values

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE:

  • Self-motivated with the ability to problem solve, a high level of initiative, and the ability to successfully achieve objectives 
  • Operates heavy machinery, including diesel and gas-powered farm vehicles 
  • Drives environmental philanthropy in staff and community through conscientious cultivation of potential charitable contributions, and also with an eye toward meaningful in-kind gifts of materials and services. 
  • Educated and qualified in an environmental or related discipline (conservation, ecology, environmental science, biology, wildlife ecology, anthropology)
  • Demonstrated experience in biological research, including design, project management, collection of data, interpretation and statistical analysis of results, and peer-reviewed publication 
  • Passion for environmental education and conservation
  • Respects the need for reparation and anti-colonial action regarding human and non-human organisms and systems
  • Technically competent and excellent with map reading and landscape correlation
  • Deep knowledge of Piedmont biodiversity, culture, geology, and general natural history
  • Grant writing experience
  • Proficient with cloud-based data sharing, including Google Drive
  • Photography skills and graphic/illustration skills are a plus
  • Experience maintaining operational records and equipment, tool, and process  inventories
  • Prescribed Burn Manager certified

BENEFITS:

  • 10 paid days off during the first year of employment and a generous timeshare policy
  • 7 paid holiday leave days (you may pick which holidays are most important to your family)
  • Work schedule flexibility
  • Room to grow position, pay, and benefits
  • Free family membership and full access to the 181 acre PDC holdings, year-round 

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and any research publication portfolio resources directly to our Executive Director at director@piedmontdiscoverycenter.org

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, work-related injury, covered veteran status, political ideology, marital status, or any other factor that the law protects from employment discrimination.