James River Association

James River Association - Seasonal Stewardship Assistant

Location: Rustburg, VA, Lexington, VA, and Charlottesville, VA

Telework: Hybrid

Experience: Entry Level

Number of Openings: 6

Job Status:  Seasonal Part Time, Non-Exempt 

Hourly Rate: $15/Hour

Reports to: Restoration Director

Timeframe: May 25-August 14, 2025 (2 week flexibility on start and end date)

The James River Association(JRA) is a non-profit organization on a mission to protect the James River and connect people to it. JRA is excited to announce job openings for six Seasonal Stewardship Assistants: two to be located near Lexington, VA, two to be located near Lynchburg, VA, and two to be located near Charlottesville, VA. The two near Lexington will work closely with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and work out of the Lexington Natural Resource Conservation (NRCS) office and cover Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Bath counties. The two near Lynchburg will work out of the Rustburg County NRCS office and cover Campbell, Appomattox, and Amherst counties. The two near Charlottesville will work out of the Louisa NRCS office and cover Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Nelson counties. Most of the work will be in the field with the option for office-related work to be telework from home and/or from a partner office in the respective areas.

The primary focus of this position will be to perform site assessments of riparian forest buffers as part of the James River Stewardship Program (JRSP), which was launched in 2022. This program was developed to assess and perform needed maintenance on riparian forest buffers installed 3-15 years ago through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program (VACS), and the James River Buffer Program (JRBP). Assessments include visual observation of invasive plant species and native tree establishment, and light tree shelter maintenance at the select project locations. The position will be employed by JRA, but will also be working closely with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff. JRA will provide each pair of Assistants access to one vehicle to share, laptops, and supplies needed for assessments. Housing is not provided.

This seasonal opportunity is a perfect match for students or individuals wanting to learn about natural resource management, work with private and public landowners, connect with a broad partnership of conservation professionals, and get their hands dirty while improving the landscape for water quality, wildlife habitat, and human communities. Note that it will include a lot of driving, possibly working in extreme weather conditions and traversing difficult terrain. This position will receive on the ground training in Wilderness First Aid, plant identification, and buffer maintenance and assessment by JRA and partner staff.

Responsibilities: 

• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to assess ~200 acres of riparian forest buffer projects installed 3-15 years ago on primarily agricultural lands
• Data management related to site assessments
• Work with one other Seasonal Stewardship Assistant to develop draft recommendation reports that include an invasive species management plan and replanting plan for ~200 acres of assessed riparian forest buffers
• Meet regularly with NRCS, CBF, DOF, SWCD, and JRA partners 
• Other duties as assigned such as buffer maintenance, blog writing, workshops with landowners, or other activities related to buffer stewardship

Qualifications: 

A successful candidate will possess the following:

• Some experience (education or lived) in restoration, agriculture, or forestry
• Interest in learning how to identify native and invasive plant types found in riparian habitats
• Comfort communicating with rural and agricultural landowners and comfortable in farm landscape
• Willing to participate in JRA’s random drug testing policy for vehicle operators and attendants
• Ability to perform physical work, navigate uneven terrain, and work in various weather conditions such as heat, rain, and cold
• A valid driver’s license
• Computer skills, particularly in word processing and record-keeping (Microsoft Word and Excel), and familiarity with internet communication and search tools. GIS experience is a plus, but not required.
• Excellent at problem-solving, meeting deadlines, following schedules, and overall time management
• Ability to coordinate with partners and collaborators via email and phone
• Strong communications, analytical skills, teamwork, integrity, and reliability

Compensation: JRA offers a dynamic and flexible work environment. Pay is set at $15/hour, 30-40 hours a week for 12 weeks. This position is part-time, non-exempt. JRA is an equal opportunity employer. 

Additional Benefits: Professional development and growth opportunities. Work-life balance and dynamic, flexible work environment.

APPLY by submitting your resume and cover letter through this link by 5pm on March 20th, 2026.

Why Work for the James River Association? 

We are OPTIMISTS.

We believe through individual and collective action, the James River can be

preserved and improved, enriching all communities in the watershed.

We are CATALYSTS.

We are proactive change-makers, not bystanders. We take initiative, bring creativity

and passion, and enlist the broader community to drive positive change for the

James River.

CREDIBILITY is our currency.

Our success depends on the trust we build. We operate with integrity and can be

relied on as a true, steady, dependable resource grounded in science.

COMMUNITY drives everything we do.

We believe in the power of community to achieve common goals, honoring a full

range of voices in the process. Our efforts consider the varied needs and interests of

our watershed communities.

We are proud to be an EEO employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace. At JRA, we believe in community, conservation, and driving change. We encourage applications from all backgrounds—if you're excited about working with us, we want to hear from you!