Organizational Mission:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Position Summary

The Helene Recovery Project Manager reports to the Senior Trail Operations Manager and leads recovery and restoration efforts along the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap, Virginia, to the Trail’s southern terminus in Georgia.

Working collaboratively with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) regional staff, twelve A.T. Maintaining Clubs, the National Park Service, and the USDA Forest Service, the Project Manager ensures coordinated recovery of Trail facilities and infrastructure. The goal is to restore safe, sustainable, and resilient Trail conditions while mitigating future damage from severe weather events.

Recovery work will encompass a broad range of facility asset types, including habitat restoration, non-native invasive species control, trail treadway, parking areas, overnight sites, bridges, and privies.

The Helene Recovery Project Manager supports ATC’s cross-regional coordination of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts across both the Virginia Regional Office (VARO) and the Southern Regional Office (SORO). This role plays a key part in ensuring timely, efficient, and high-quality completion of all recovery projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the ATC Hurricane Helene Recovery Project Team to assess conditions, define project scopes, prioritize initiatives, and develop implementation strategies.
• Adapt and apply tools, frameworks, and methodologies from other ATC regions to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
• Coordinate project execution to meet defined goals and timelines across multiple funding sources, ensuring clear expectations, communication, and accountability.
• Develop and maintain a legal compliance tracking process for projects funded through Hurricane Helene recovery sources.
• Lead staff training and ensure consistent project management practices for Helene-related projects, including data collection, quality control, data management, analysis, prioritization, and reporting.
• Develop and manage project budgets throughout the lifecycle, including cost estimation, budget requests, implementation, and final reporting.
• Support contract negotiation and management for Hurricane Helene recovery projects, as assigned.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate training in databases, project management systems, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external partners on assigned projects.
• Plan and facilitate regular ATC Hurricane Helene Recovery Project Team meetings, including agenda development, action tracking, and follow-up.
• Develop and manage project timelines and ensure accountability for milestones and deliverables.
• Educate partners, staff, and the public on Hurricane Helene-related programs and recovery projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, with 2–5 years of relevant experience in project or program management (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets and funding sources, with a strong record of fiscal accountability, compliance, and risk management.
• Proven people leadership skills, including experience supervising, mentoring, and supporting a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse partner groups, including volunteers and state and federal land management agencies.
• Highly effective facilitator with experience engaging diverse stakeholders, navigating complex conversations, resolving conflict, and building collaborative partnerships.
• Self-directed and adaptable professional with the ability to organize, track, analyze, and report on multiple projects in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
• Knowledge of or experience with the Appalachian Trail, trail organizations, volunteers, hikers, conservation, natural resource management, or public land management strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and project management tools, with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems and technologies.
• Strategic and analytical thinker with experience contributing to or leading multi‑year planning, implementation, and continuous improvement efforts.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, and extended hours during peak periods or special events.
• Willingness to travel as needed for meetings, trainings, and field-based activities.
• Ability to perform work in both remote and shared office environments, with extended periods of computer and phone use.
• Ability to communicate effectively across multiple platforms, including phone, video, email, and in-person interactions.
• Ability to perform field work in remote or backcountry settings, including rugged terrain and varying weather conditions, with potential exposure to wildlife and environmental elements.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or move light to moderate weight as needed.
• Reliable transportation required for work-related travel; mileage reimbursement provided in accordance with organizational policy.
• Combination of remote and/or shared office environments.

Additional Details:

• Location: Hybrid Role - Requiring two in‑office days per week at the ATC regional office location in Roanoke, VA.
• Term Length: Four years
• Annual Salary Range: ($63k - $67k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of service.

ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

ATC encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and volunteers to enable participation and contributions to their fullest potential.

We are committed to being an inclusive organization and recognize that a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds contributes to an effective and successful organizational culture and mission.

ATC prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and/or expression), national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, political affiliation, union membership, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the locations where we operate.

ATC's Identity Statement

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