American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of a volunteer labor force to help restore America's public lands. ACE has a national reputation for providing exceptional training and support to enable crews to safely and economically implement technically complex and physically demanding conservation projects for the US Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, USFWS and numerous state and local land management partners.
Job Title: Project Manager 

Location: Fletcher, North Carolina (Asheville Area). This is an on-site position with some opportunities for limited local telework.  
 
Department/Division: CREW, Eastern Division
 
Status: Salaried, Full-Time Regular (Exempt)

Schedule/Hours: ​​Full-time, 40 hours/week, Monday - Friday. Flexible hours, expected to be on duty during ACE Core Business Hours of 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern time. Some adjustment of hours is expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be required occasionally.  
 
Reports To: Associate Director of Operations.

Travel: Significant travel in the eastern half of the United States to support crews and projects, up to 25%

Promotion Pathway: Senior Project Manger

Preferred Start Date: February 9, 2026
 
Eastern Division Program Summary:
ACE’s Eastern Division provides young adult volunteer AmeriCorps crews to carry out a variety of environmental conservation projects on lands east of the Mississippi River, with occasional projects farther west. The Crew model focuses on professional development, training, and skill development for early-career crew members through delivering high-value conservation work to the land agencies and communities where we work.

Position Summary:
The Project Manager position for ACE Eastern is a hybrid office/field based position responsible for supporting ACE field crews with safely and efficiently accomplishing conservation projects. This position will coordinate and manage project implementation and directly support and train crew leaders to successfully complete various trail, environmental restoration, fencing, forestry, historic preservation, and land management projects on public lands throughout the Eastern region of the United States. The Project Manager will prepare pre-project logistics and post-project reporting, work closely with the Associate Director of Operations and project partners to ensure the safe execution of field projects, and regularly provide direct support and training to crews in the field during site visits.   Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Management of Project Operations:

• Independently manage project logistics including developing project itineraries, communicating with project partners, forecasting equipment needs, briefing and debriefing with Crew Leaders, responding to emerging concerns such as weather events, etc.
• Manage 2-4 projects concurrently, assuming responsibility and ownership for project results, and actively supporting crews in multiple locations.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of ACE's core project types: trail construction, trail maintenance, dry stone masonry, historical restoration, fencing, habitat restoration (mechanical and non-mechanical; herbicide use), and others.
• Assist with planning, scheduling, developing, and coordinating field projects with ACE staff and project partners.  
• Ensure timely and complete project rig-up, provisioning, and de-rig, before and after field projects. 
• Conduct pre-project site visits and support the Associate Director in planning project scopes.
• Provide strategic support to crews on longer deployments to long-distance sites, increasing routine communication with the Crew Leader and project partner to ensure clarity and success; project locations include regionally nearby sites such a NC, SC, TN, VA, GA, and long-distance sites such as TX, KS, WI, IN, OH, WV, NH, MA, FL, and others.
• Perform quality control field visits and provide technical and logistical assistance as needed.  
• Ensure project work is safe and timely, holding ACE field staff and crew members to ACE's high standards at all times. 
• Implement field safety programs and inspections under the supervision of the Associate Director.
• Ensure compliance with ACE policies and laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing field operations in environmentally sensitive areas.    
• Maintain close communication with project partners and Crew Leader throughout project, anticipating challenges and working to address problems before they happen
• Uphold ACE/partner relationships with professionalism and courtesy.   
• Lead crews in the absence of a Crew Leader.
• Arrange post-project meetings with project partners and solicit post-project feedback.  
• Operate ACE-owned or rented vehicles for work-related travel.  Some travel will require flights.

Training and Mentorship:

• Assist the Associate Director and other Project Managers with training ACE staff and members for safe and professional conservation projects including: herbicide handling; trail building; use and maintenance of hand and mechanized tools (chainsaws, brush-cutters, chippers, axes, hand saws, etc.).   
• Support Crew Leaders and crew members in ongoing technical skill-building through project-specific training sessions and direct instruction and mentorship during site visits.

Participation in Collaborative Team:

• Support the Eastern Division’s Field Operations team in collective scheduling of people, vehicles, equipment, and other resources.
• Regularly communicate with team about project progress and needs.
• Oversee proper maintenance and use of tools, vehicles, field-related equipment, including organization of ACE equipment and supplies that have been issued to specific projects.  
• Cooperate with Member Management staff to support growth and professional development of early career crew members.
• When scheduled, be available for on-call emergencies, providing real-time leadership and support to field staff even outside normal working hours. Each member of the Division support staff is scheduled for on-call responsibilities an average of one week every two months.

Reporting:

• Assure accurate, timely compliance with all field reports and project tracking records, including weekly reports, accomplishment reports, incident reports, safety sheets, end of project checklists, OSHA injury reports, partner reports, and others as required.
• Guide Crew Leaders in reporting project data including tool logs, herbicide application, and GIS map data.
• Generate and submit ACE Project Reports prior to established deadlines.  

Required Experience and Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree and two years of related professional experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2-3 years of experience working in field conservation positions, with at least 1 year serving in a leadership role, preferably within a Conservation Corps.
• Current Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and BBP certification or willingness to obtain within 90 days of appointment.  
• Computer skills required including professional email etiquette and intermediate knowledge of Google suite or other word processing and spreadsheet programs.
• Willingness to travel to field sites for up to a week at a time, work occasional weekends, and camp outdoors.
• Ability to perform work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple concurrent projects, and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes including key responsibilities of crew leaders. 
• Strong organizational and communication skills and experience leading, training and motivating diverse groups of young adults in a safe, organized and professional manner  
• Working knowledge of young adult development, team-building and motivational techniques.
• Must be flexible and possess a strong work ethic.  
• Ability to maintain a positive, constructive work environment conducive to team performance, maintaining effective working relationships with coworkers and supervisors. 
• Ability to adapt to the surrounding work environment and conditions that can change frequently. 
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex issues.  
• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback. 
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports. 
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions. 
• Strength in managing and supporting staff who are not direct reports.    
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members, partner agency staff, and the general public.  
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. 

Other Requirements:  

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.  
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record.  
• Proficient in English.  
• Willingness to undergo and ability to pass a federal criminal background check.  
• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time. 

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions  

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of hand and power tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.  
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.  
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 60 pounds.  
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; work takes place under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.  
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.  
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel. 

Compensation: $53,000 starting annualized salary (40 hours/week, 52-weeks)

Medical/Health Benefits: ACE offers competitive medical and ancillary plans (health, mental health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, and other supplemental benefits). ACE Staff members are also eligible to participate in ACE's 403b retirement plan, with a 3% employer contribution for participating, contributing staff. 

Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time: As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to accrue up to 80 hours of paid vacation time annually during your first two years of continuous employment, then it increases to 120 hours annually. Additionally, ACE observes 13 paid annual holidays (floating holiday flexibility) and provides 10 days (or 80 hours) of paid sick time annually.

Additional Benefits: 

Outdoor Perks: As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.

Phone Provided or Reimbursement Option: You have the option to select one of the following options: ACE work phone device/number provided or monthly phone reimbursement for personal device/number use. 

Trainings and Certifications – Project Managers may receive industry recognized certifications provided by ACE including:  

• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder - equivalent cost of $300 - $900, two-year certificate with recertification options
• 32-hour Chainsaw and/or Crosscut Saw Training based on the NWCG S-212 training with the possibility of receiving a Forest Service Saw Certification