Founded in 2013 Perfect Earth Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, engaging, and inspiring individuals, land care professionals, and decision-makers to adopt toxic-free, nature-based, and climate-responsible landscaping practices necessary for a healthier, more sustainable—and beautiful—environment for all.

Perfect Earth is seeking a dynamic Regional Program Manager to manage their new Living Lands program on Eastern Long Island, which will provide individualized coaching and education for landowners, landscape designers, and maintenance professionals to ensure successful transitions from conventional, toxic landscaping to nature-based practices. The Program Manager will function as a facilitator, engaging  landowners, decision-makers, and the gardening and landscaping community, to develop and provide hands-on training programs.  

The Living Lands Regional Program Manager will collaborate with Peconic Land Trust, the program’s first major partner, to focus primarily on the vital Georgica and Sagg Pond watersheds on Eastern Long Island and work with local homeowners and their landscape teams to create individualized land care plans and engage their full interest and long-term commitment to nature-based practices.  Our shared goal is to address the impact of land care practices on water quality and the environment.  

Position Summary

The Living Lands Regional Program Manager position requires a creative and organized self-starter with experience in horticulture, landscape management, environmental science, conservation biology, and/or restoration ecology. The Program Manager must be passionate and knowledgeable about topics such as plant/wildlife interactions, soil biology, and water usage; have a commitment to toxic-free and nature-based practices; have land-based project management experience; and possess exceptional communication skills.

The Living Lands Regional Program Manager is a remote, full-time position that reports to Perfect Earth’s Director of Programs. Regular visits to project sites on Eastern Long Island and occasional travel to New York City for meetings is required. 

Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Identify qualifying participants.
• Be the primary facilitator between landowners and their landscapers to create site-specific, environmentally sound land management plans.
• Provide site assessments, workshops and training for homeowners and professionals across the East End.  
• Play a key role in developing the Living Lands program in the Long Island region, including curriculum design, outreach, and  some fundraising activities .
• Keep a project management log to record project activities, impact metrics, and outcome
• Conduct quarterly evaluations and write reports on program progress.
• Meet routinely with collaborating researchers and other stakeholders supporting adjacent environmental projects to share data and report findings.

Education and Technical Assistance:

• Provide phone, online, and in-person technical assistance to landowners, decision-makers, municipalities, and landscapers.
• Create a comprehensive training program for landscapers transitioning chemically managed landscapes to toxic-free, nature-based practices.
• Help landscapers transform their conventional business models to nature-based practices that are healthier for people and the planet. 
• Support landscapers with persuasive talking points and homeowner education  to help them convert all their clients to nature-based land management plans.
• Collaborate with Perfect Earth staff, partners, and educational institutions to develop workforce development programs to transition students to nature-based land management careers. 
• Design educational materials and teach workshops for homeowners and landscapers.
• Conduct outreach and recruit landowners as participants. 

Desired Qualifications

• Preferred 3-5 years or more experience in horticultural landscape management, environmental science, conservation biology, or restoration ecology.
• Strong knowledge of plant health, plant/wildlife interactions, soil biology, clean water practices. 
• Excellent contacts in horticulture, environmental, and educational fields.
• Skilled in  Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and GIS software.
• Program development, project management, and reporting experience.
• Compelling and convincing problem-solver and consensus-builder. 
• Strong written/oral communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work well with a wide range of people with energy and enthusiasm, and adapt to changing situations.
• Ability to work remotely with travel to project sites as needed.
• A valid driver’s license and transportation is required.
• Spanish language skills strongly recommended.

Compensation

This is a full-time position with health and retirement benefits. The salary range for this position is $80,000 -100,000 depending on experience.

Working Conditions

This position requires the ability to:

• Work a standard week with the occasional weekend and evening assignments.
• Be exposed to various outdoor environments during site visits, including:
• Walking various distances on uneven ground;
• Exposure to animal, plant, and dust allergens, and insects (including bees, ticks, and mosquitos); 
• Working in unpredictable weather conditions with minimal shelter;
• Standing for long periods of time at program events.

Perfect Earth Project encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Perfect Earth Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer, a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.