Volunteer Assistant Land Manager

Part-Time, approximately 5-10 hours per week (flexible)

Reports to: Land Manager

​About Howard EcoWorks

Howard EcoWorks is an environmental nonprofit in the greater Baltimore region dedicated to restoring local ecosystems and creating green career pathways. Our mission is to empower communities and diverse workforces to conserve and restore our natural systems for future generations. Our hands-on conservation crews install and maintain rain gardens, conservation landscapes, and stormwater management projects across Howard County and the region, and we train the next generation of green-industry workers while we do it. We are a growing, mission-driven team that cares about both our ecosystems and the people working to restore them.

Our values: Stewardship · Impact · Accountability · Growth · Inclusion · Safety

About the Role

The Assistant Land Manager supports the Land Manager in the development, operations, and stewardship of Holly Hills, Howard EcoWorks' 16-acre farm and native plant nursery in Glenwood, MD. Reporting to the Land Manager, this volunteer role provides on-the-ground leadership at the property - training and directing individuals and groups of volunteers in stewardship projects and helping advance the goals set by the Land Manager and Howard EcoWorks' senior leadership team.

Working alongside Howard EcoWorks staff and other volunteers, the Assistant Land Manager leads hands-on stewardship activities such as invasive plant management, tree planting, and native garden installation and maintenance; supports the upkeep of infrastructure, tools, and equipment; coordinates with and supports the Nursery Assistant(s); and helps monitor the property while engaging positively with visitors, neighbors, and the community.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong interest in conservation landscaping, native plants, and land stewardship who wants meaningful hands-on experience and volunteer leadership alongside a mission-driven team.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Train and lead volunteers in stewardship projects, including invasive plant management, tree planting, and native garden installation and maintenance.
• Provide direction, guidance, and a positive experience to individuals and groups of volunteers on-site.
• Support the maintenance of infrastructure, including fences, raised beds, and high tunnels.
• Support the maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Coordinate with and support the Nursery Assistant(s) in their activities.
• Support inventory management for the native plant nursery.
• Support property boundary monitoring and report observations to the Land Manager.
• Engage with visitors, neighbors, and the community in positive ways.
• Support a culture that reflects Howard EcoWorks' values of stewardship, impact, accountability, growth, inclusion, and safety.

Qualifications

Required

• Passion for environmental conservation and restoration
• Knowledge, identification skills, and experience with both native and invasive plants
• Experience managing or leading volunteer groups
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Self-starter who is independent, professional, motivated, dependable, and reliable
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions

Preferred

• Experience with native plant propagation, nursery operations, or greenhouse/high-tunnel work
• Knowledge of conservation landscaping, stormwater management, or ecological restoration
• Experience leading or teaching community members, students, or program participants in outdoor settings

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Performs outdoor fieldwork in varying weather conditions
• Positions self to install and maintain plantings and site features (e.g., bending, kneeling, crouching)
• Transports and moves materials and equipment weighing up to 30 lbs. as needed
• Remains in a stationary position and/or moves throughout the property as needed

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact the Administrative Services Manager.

Hours & Schedule

This is a part-time, volunteer position of approximately 5-10 hours per week. Hours are flexible, Monday through Friday, with evenings and weekends available if desired. The specific weekly schedule is arranged by agreement with the Land Manager.

Volunteer Benefits

While this is an unpaid position, Howard EcoWorks values the time and talent of our volunteers and offers:

• Public recognition in the Howard EcoWorks newsletter and on Howard EcoWorks social media
• Access to Howard EcoWorks-sponsored trainings and professional development opportunities
• Inclusion in the Howard EcoWorks Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
• Mileage reimbursement at the federal rate for approved travel on behalf of Howard EcoWorks
• Documentation of volunteer service hours for academic, professional certification, honor society, or reference purposes
• Letters of recommendation or reference for future employment, education, or service opportunities, based on demonstrated performance
• Hands-on skill-building in conservation landscaping, native plant nursery operations, invasive species management, and volunteer leadership
• Inclusion in team celebrations, staff events, and community gatherings
• A meaningful opportunity to contribute to local ecosystem restoration and community impact

Our Commitment to an Equitable, Diverse & Inclusive Workplace

Howard EcoWorks is committed to building a culturally diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and strongly encourages applications from candidates from underrepresented communities, including program alumni and those with non-traditional career pathways. We value lived experience alongside formal qualifications.

Howard EcoWorks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, occupation, personal appearance, political opinion, source of income, citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic status, prior justice involvement, or any other characteristic protected by law. In accordance with the Maryland CROWN Act, we prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles associated with race.

Consistent with fair-chance hiring practices, we do not ask about criminal history on our applications or during initial screening. Any inquiry into criminal background occurs no earlier than a first in-person interview and is followed by an individualized assessment.

This position involves direct contact with minor program participants and is subject to a mandatory background check under Maryland law and HEW policy.

Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and volunteer engagement process. To request an accommodation, contact the Administrative Services Manager.