Regional Stewardship Manager
Quiverheart Stewardship Hub
Arc of Appalachia Preserve Syste

Background on the Arc of Appalachia

The Arc of Appalachia began 29 years ago with the dream of saving the “Seven Caves,” a 60-acre privately operated cave park in Highland County on the Rocky Fork Gorge that boasted breathtaking beauty and rich botanical diversity. Today, that 60-acre dream - having been expanded upon 74 times, is now the 3000-acre Highlands Nature Sanctuary and the Arc of Appalachia’s main headquarters. The Arc currently supports nine full-time staff members, several hundred active volunteers, an energized and very effective board, eight overnight lodges, and a welcome and educational center at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary called the Appalachian Forest Museum.

For nearly 30 years, the Highlands Nature Sanctuary operated as the Arc’s sole equipment and staffing center. In 2023, however, a second staffing and equipment stewardship center was established at Quiverheart Gorge Preserve to more effectively serve the fourteen Arc preserves located in Adams County and Scioto County. 

We are currently seeking to fill the Quiverheart Regional Stewardship Manager position with someone who is passionate about wildlands preservation, and who has skills and interest in stewarding natural communities. 

The Quiverheart Regional Stewardship Manager performs mostly outdoor work, except during the deep of winter when much work usually moves indoors. Among this position’s varied tasks, the Regional Land Steward maintains existing trails and builds new trails, monitors and improves upon the balance and biodiversity of natural communities, mows trails and associated trailheads, removes invasive plants, and monitors for plant diseases as needed. The Regional Stewardship Manager works with other Arc staff to meet the needs of preserve communities, recruits for and cultivates a robust volunteer team, networks with citizens in the preserve’s local communities, and helps sponsor major public events in the region, including the Simon Sorghum Festival and the Little Smokies Firefly and Biodiversity Weekend. The Land Stewardship Manager also works in close partnership with another Arc staff member - the Land Stewardship Manager overseeing two Scioto County Preserves: Tremper Mound and Simon Farm. 

Job Summary

• Headquarters: Quiverheart Gorge Preserve
• Benefits: Full-Time position, 40 hours/week; health insurance is not provided
• Work Schedule: This is a full-time, year-round position. The work schedule is flexible and adjusts to the season, but the work week is generally five days in a row from  9:00 am – 5:00 pm. 
• Weekend Work is sometimes required, especially during the spring through fall growing season, and as assigned by the Supervisor 
• Pay Type: hourly, overtime-eligible
• Benefits: Sick Time, Vacation & Holidays, per Employee Policy Manual.
• Designated Office: Office work is usually from one’s home. Equipment is usually stored and at the Quiverheart Maintenance Building in Adams County.
• Housing: housing may be offered at Fort Hill Preserve, a preserve on the Adams County line that is managed by the Arc of Appalachia. This can be discussed during the interview.
• The hourly range for this position is $21.00 to $24.00/hour.  Beginning pay may be above or below the range based on various factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and training.
• Primary residence must be in or close to the Scioto-Adams County region.
• Transportation: a company vehicle is provided for most but not all purposes. When it is not provided, mileage is reimbursed at IRS rates.
• Supervisor: Director of Land Stewardship, Brent Charette, brent.arcofappalachia@gmail.com

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee Groundskeeping for Adams & Scioto County Preserves. Includes, but is not limited to trail and trailhead mowing, trimming, woody plant/tree care & removal when necessary, landscaping, and driveway/parking lot maintenance.
• Land Stewardship. Performs conservation tasks with the Land Stewardship Team that preserves or restores the native biodiversity and ecosystem balance on Arc preserve lands, especially on those in the Quiverheart region; with a special concentration on invasive plant/insect control or removal.
• Assist Outreach Coordinator in planning & implementing Stewardship Volunteer programs. Recruits, trains, promotes and oversees volunteers including trail stewards and trail builders (Trailblazers), invasive plant removal volunteers (Forest Keepers), and deer management hunters.
• Assume oversight of herbicide storage areas within the region’s maintenance building, following all Arc policies and government regulations that apply to herbicide use. Purchase, organize, and stock invasive plant tools and supplies, Keep stocks neat, maintained, and orderly.
• Coordinates maintenance, security, and storage in the Quiverheart Gorge maintenance barn. Works with operations staff to help maintain orderly, secure, and clean workspaces in Quiverheart Gorge maintenance barn
• Coordinates equipment repair and maintenance helping to ensure timely routine maintenance for Arc mechanical equipment. Maintain accurate records to track care, maintenance, and repair of equipment.
• Oversees trail development projects as assigned by the Director of Land Stewardship.  Includes scouting to establish an acceptable route, facilitating and executing trail construction, erecting signage, and performing trail maintenance.
• Education. Helps prepare facilities and grounds for educational programs. Leads hikes and makes public presentations as assigned.
• Assist Facility Manager: Assists the Arc’s Facility manager with labor and expertise on Arc-owned facilities as assigned, collaborating on projects when extra hands are needed.
• Assist Other Land Managers: Assists other Land Managers with labor and expertise, and collaborates on regional Arc-prioritized projects when extra hands are needed.
• Special Projects and other duties as assigned, including readying facilities for education programs or providing leadership for special hikes and other educational programs.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicant must:

• is willing to permit a background/DMV check before being hired 
• possesses a driver’s License in good standing without recent violations
• owns and/or has access to a vehicle to report to work
• Has a personal cell phone, computer,  and email address 

Job Qualifications Preferred. Applicants do not need to possess every one of these qualifications to apply, but the skills referred to below are all engaged in this job. Training is provided to new employees as needed.

• Bachelor’s or Advanced Degree preferred but not required
• Strong background in natural history, preferably in the Eastern North American region, and in Land Stewardship practices
• Strong background in non-native invasive species recognition and removal or control 
• Experienced in organizing networks of people face to face and through social media, and a genuine interest in people
• Experienced in the operation and maintenance of tractors, UTVs, and mowers
• Possesses experience using chainsaws and other potentially dangerous outdoor tools
• Experienced in outdoor safety practices
• Familiar with the most common social media platforms, and willing to engage them frequently for volunteer cultivation and  staff & volunteer organization
• Excellent communication skills and a true caring of others in order to achieve effective relationship-building with fellow staff members, volunteers, and the general public
• Excellent skills in time management, problem-solving, and handling and organizing the details of complex projects
• Experience with the following Microsoft programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and Google Drive

Physical Requirements 

• Auditory and visual acuity to interact with people and operate equipment
• Can work independently without assistance in the out-of-doors
• Able to lift at least 50 lbs unassisted when the need arises
• Able to work outside year-round in varying weather conditions
• Able to successfully manage multiple, high-priority tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Arc of Appalachia is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We prohibit discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. The Arc of Appalachia provides reasonable workplace accommodations whenever possible.