Plantings for the Piedmont Assistant

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 through Plantings for the Piedmont, which includes the Rappahannock Headwater Stream Initiative and the Potomac Planting Program. These programs provide 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 more.

PEC is seeking to hire an Assistant to organize and support tree planting projects. This is an entry level, seasonal, part-time position that is grant-funded until August 2026. PEC anticipates this position will work between 400 - 600 hours in 2025 and 100 - 200 hours in 2026. This position requires a commitment to work in spring and fall 2025 and spring 2026. This timing mirrors ideal planting seasons and PEC anticipates the position to be active late February through May and September through early November. During the spring and fall seasons, the Assistant can expect to work between 20-30 hours per week. As such, there will likely be fewer working hours during the summer months (e.g., 4-5 hours per week).

The position is based out of PEC’s headquarters in Warrenton, Virginia. However, the majority of time will be spent in the field at planting locations.

Geographic Focus: Counties of Fauquier, Clarke, Loudoun, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, Madison, and Greene

Areas of Responsibility

The Plantings for the Piedmont Assistant will report to the Plantings for the Piedmont Coordinator. The Assistant will be responsible for organizing and facilitating tree planting projects in coordination with PEC staff and partner organizations. In general, the successful candidate will:

• Plant bareroot trees and tublings in riparian and upland zones on rural lands. ● Communicate with the landowner about appropriate site preparation (mowing, herbicide application, etc.).
• Coordinate the schedule with contractors and/or volunteers on tree planting days ● Use a provided vehicle, haul a trailer and planting materials/tools to planting sites. ● Be present for the entire planting day and act as PEC lead. For volunteer plantings,

acting as PEC lead includes, but is not limited to, 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.

• Complete quality control after plantings, performing walk-throughs of the planted area. ● Assist landowners with tree maintenance questions and concerns.
• Assist with replanting trees at sites that were planted in previous years.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong work ethic and commitment to PEC’s core values, mission and vision. ● Enthusiasm for natural resource conservation.
• Experience and comfort driving an automatic pick-up truck and towing a trailer. No CDL license or experience is required.
• Ability to organize, coordinate and manage diverse 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.
• 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.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Familiarity with basic technology and computer skills (email, video conferencing, shared drives).
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) principles. ● 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 thus requires timeliness for all programmatic activities, including landowner site visits, contractor meetings, volunteer days, outreach events, and more.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with GIS and handheld GPS units.
• Experience working with rural landowners and on rural lands.
• A working knowledge of common best management practices for landowners in the Piedmont.
• Basic tree and plant identification skills.

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 lbs is required. Occasional attendance at night or weekend events may be required.