RiverLink is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed through conservation, collaboration, education, and community engagement. This project supports RiverLink's commitment to restoring native ecosystems while building regional partnerships that strengthen watershed resilience and biodiversity. The creation of this grant funded position is in direct response to Tropical Storm Helene’s impact on our waterways and the recognition of the stabilization qualities of river cane.

Position Type: Independent Contractor (Grant-Funded)
Contract Term: 18 Months
Compensation: $4,000 per month ($72,000 total), no benefits as this is a contract position
Time Commitment: 30 hours  estimated per week (hours will vary based on seasonal project needs, events, and project milestones)

Position Summary

RiverLink seeks an experienced, self-motivated contractor to coordinate an innovative regional river cane propagation initiative focused on expanding the availability of native river cane for restoration projects throughout Western North Carolina. This grant-funded position will manage project implementation,support participating growers,  cultivate partnerships, coordinate educational events, and document best practices that will help establish commercial propagation standards for river cane.

The Project Manager will serve as the central point of contact among growers, restoration practitioners, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and public agencies while promoting river cane restoration and building long-term regional capacity. The Project Manager will report directly to RiverLink’s Director of Programs, Renee Fortner.

Desired QualificationsRequired Experience

• 3–5 years of experience in project management and/or creating and operating a small-business.  
• Experience coordinating events, workshops, or educational programming.
• Experience building partnerships across multiple organizations and stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of native plant propagation, nursery production, horticulture, forestry, restoration ecology, or botany.
• Familiarity with river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) or southeastern native plant restoration.
• Experience with grant-funded projects and reporting.
• Experience developing web content and managing social media communications.

Desired Skills

The successful contractor will demonstrate:

• Strong project management and organizational abilities
• Self-starter who takes initiative, identifies opportunities, develops creative solutions, and confidently moves projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently while coordinating multiple partners
• Technical understanding of plant propagation practices
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Event planning and facilitation experience
• Data collection and documentation skills
• Marketing and public outreach experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace and basic website content management systems

Working Conditions

• Flexible work schedule, 30 hours per week although hours will vary based on seasonal project needs, events, project milestones, and expected outcomes.
• Combination of remote work, office meetings, field visits, workshops, and grower site visits.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for events.
• Reliable transportation for travel throughout Western North Carolina is required.

More information can be found at riverlink.org/about/employment/