We’re Hiring: Plantings for the Piedmont Specialist

Posted on by PEC

Join one of the most effective community-based environmental groups in the country.

Title: Plantings for the Piedmont Specialist
Manager: Plantings for the Piedmont & Natural Resources Restoration Program Manager
Location: Warrenton, VA
Job Classification: Full-time (30 hours/week), non-exempt

About PEC

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

Your Role

PEC is accelerating water quality improvements by enhancing and restoring riparian and freshwater habitats on agricultural land in the upper Rappahannock, Potomac and York River watersheds. We achieve this through our Plantings for the Piedmont programs, which include the Rappahannock Headwater Stream Initiative, Potomac Planting Program and the York River Steward Program. These programs provide landowners with free technical assistance, project design, materials (trees, stakes, tubes), and labor for planting native trees and shrubs along waterways and in upland areas. This work is done in partnership with Friends of the Rappahannock, with support from the Virginia Department of Forestry, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and additional partners.

The Plantings for the Piedmont Specialist will collaborate directly with landowners, conservation partners, and contractors to organize and execute riparian restoration and afforestation tree plantings on private and public properties throughout PEC’s geographic area. The specialist will work directly with volunteers and contractors to implement riparian and upland planting projects and will offer support and facilitation for landowners through state and federal cost-share programs. The specialist will also represent PEC and Plantings for the Piedmont at various outreach events.

Key Responsibilities

The Plantings for the Piedmont Specialist will report to the Plantings for the Piedmont & Natural Resources Restoration Program Manager. This is a hands-on position responsible for organizing and facilitating tree planting projects in coordination with PEC staff and partner organizations. In general, the successful candidate will:

  • Support the Plantings for the Piedmont Program, working with rural landowners and multiple conservation partners to implement riparian tree plantings and afforestation projects. 
  • Support all aspects of tree planting projects, including:
    • Communicating to landowners and partners about Plantings for the Piedmont and PEC’s role in supporting the planting of bareroot trees and tubelings in riparian and upland zones on rural lands.
    • Assisting the Plantings for the Piedmont Manager in developing and maintaining budgets and managing private contractors.   
    • Supporting landowners through cost-share applications, when applicable.
    • Communicating with landowners about appropriate site preparation (mowing, herbicide application, etc.).
    • Coordinating the schedule with contractors and/or volunteers on tree planting days. 
    • Using a provided vehicle to haul a trailer and planting materials/tools to planting sites.
    • Acting as the PEC lead for volunteer projects, including describing the role of PEC and Plantings for the Piedmont programs in the region, providing background on the planting project, giving tree planting demonstrations, and offering hands-on instruction to volunteers on correct tree planting techniques, and being present throughout the day. 
    • Supporting all aspects of tree planting maintenance projects
      • Respond to landowners’ tree maintenance questions and concerns.
      • Help replant trees at sites that were planted in previous years.  
  • Work with the Plantings for the Piedmont staff to support the organization of periodic public engagement events, volunteer tree planting projects, representing PEC and relevant programmatic work at conferences and workshops, and similar public outreach activities. 
  • Work with PEC staff to respond to public inquiries about Plantings for the Piedmont Program, including promoting the program, reviewing applications and scheduling visits to applicant sites. 
  • Coordinate regularly with nonprofit partners, including Friends of the Rappahannock, and public conservation agencies, such as local soil and water conservation districts and the Virginia Department of Forestry. 

Geographic Focus

This position is based out of PEC’s headquarters in Warrenton, Virginia or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with the specialist’s supervisor. It will require frequent travel within eight of our nine-county region: counties of Fauquier, Clarke, Loudoun, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, Madison, and Greene. Occasional travel to Albemarle County may be required. Plantings for the Piedmont also has funding to support projects in Louisa County.

Required Qualifications

  • Three years of professional experience in forestry, natural resources, ecology, wildlife conservation or related fields.  
  • A technical knowledge and experience planting bare-root trees and tree identification. 
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to PEC’s core values, mission and vision.
  • Enthusiasm for natural resource conservation.
  • Ability to organize, coordinate and manage a variety of activities and deadlines.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a diverse group of people.
  • Ability to work outside in challenging and occasionally uneven terrain, and in inclement weather conditions.
  • Willingess to work non-standard hours, with some early mornings, late afternoons, evenings and weekend work anticipated. We strive to schedule tree plantings in advance; however, it is not always possible.
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Experience and comfort driving an automatic pick-up truck and towing a trailer. No CDL license or experience is required.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Familiarity with basic technology and computer skills (email, video conferencing, shared drives). 
  • Ability to work in a team environment with PEC staff, volunteers, contractors, and a variety of PEC partner organizations. 
  • Dependability and punctuality. This position is highly collaborative and public-facing and thus requires timeliness for all programmatic activities, including landowner site visits, contractor meetings, volunteer days, outreach events, and more. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in forestry, agriculture, natural resources, ecology, wildlife management, environmental studies, or a related field. 
  • Experience with GIS and handheld GPS units. 
  • Experience working with rural landowners and on rural lands. 
  • A working knowledge of common best management practices (e.g., riparian buffers, stream exclusion fencing, etc.) for landowners in the Piedmont.
  • Familiarity with land conservation programs and conservation easements.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position will be completed in both an office environment and the outdoors. Office work requires extended sitting or standing and the use of a computer, keyboard and mouse. Fieldwork is performed outdoors in all weather conditions, carried out alone or with contractors, volunteers and landowners, and may be physically demanding, including walking/hiking over remote, rugged terrain, with a risk of exposure to natural hazards. Occasional lifting of materials up to 50 pounds is required. Occasional attendance at night or weekend events may be required.

Compensation

This is a full time (30 hours/week), non-exempt position with benefits. $24.04 – $31.25/hour, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

PEC offers an outstanding and robust benefits package to full-time employees including:

  • Two health plans (83% employer paid premium for employee only plan, 80% employer paid for added dependents)
  • Short- & Long-Term Disability*
  • Group Term Life*
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
  • HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
  • FSA accounts (health & dependent care)
  • 403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
  • 10 paid holidays
  • 2 floating holidays
  • PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
  • 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
  • Salary continuation leave for employee or family illness – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
  • Paid bereavement, jury duty and military service training leave
  • Travel expense reimbursement
  • Hybrid work environment and flexible work schedules
  • Cell phone reimbursement, up to $75 per month
  • Professional development support
  • Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees.

*Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for employee’s coverage.

Application Process

Interested applicants should fill out our job application form. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resumé as a PDF. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2026. The position will remain open until it is filled.

Desired start date:  August 31, 2026

If your qualifications and experience are a good fit, PEC will reach out to you within two weeks of receiving your application or one week after the application deadline closes, whichever is later. The following is what you can expect as part of our hiring process:

  1. First Round of Interviews (Hiring Manager, Phone or In-Person)
  2. Second Round of Interviews [Panel, Virtual / In-Person (preferred, if feasible)]
  3. Reference Check
  4. Offer Letter and Background Check

The Piedmont Environmental Council recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, and therefore our job descriptions are guidelines. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process may be requested. If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.