Job Opportunity: Trails Director

Schuylkill River Greenways is looking for someone who is passionate about trails and rivers to serve as the Schuylkill River Greenways Trails Director.  This is a management level position which requires skills-based expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and proven management skills.

This position provides professional services in multiple areas of expertise to oversee and manage all aspects of land and water trail development and management from planning to property acquisition to project implementation, including:

  • Creation of a variety of trail-related feasibility studies and master planning
  • Outreach to partners, local governments, community groups
  • Grant writing, administration and reporting
  • Design and engineering
  • Graphic and cartography work
  • Construction project hiring and oversight
  • Maintenance and safety oversight of trails
  • Providing technical support to partners, local governments and community groups
  • Assisting with Schuylkill River Greenways programming
  • Launching catalytic projects that promote public and private investment in trails as crucial public spaces.

 

The Trails Director reports to the Executive Director and oversees the Trails Department, currently consisting of a Trails Program Manager and AmeriCorps Vista employee.  The Trails Director will work from Schuylkill River Greenways offices located at 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA, with some remote capability depending on the season. Work will be indoors 85% of the time and outside 15% of the time, and will sometimes be around heavy equipment at construction sites.

SRG is seeking to fill this position with a trail professional with a minimum of seven years’ experience.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Planning: Activities such as working with numerous government and private partners and staff, research, writing, gathering consensus, and reviewing plans.
  • Public outreach: Activities that include public meetings, information gathering, and public input integration.
  • Grant writing and administration: Creating cost estimates, submitting grants, coordinating contracts, grant administration, reporting and closing grants.
  • Property negotiations: Coordination with persons and entities that desire to use Greenway real estate and acquisition of fee simple properties and easements for trail purposes.
  • Site design: land design and engineering, preparing drawings and specifications, plan reviews, agency approvals, project meetings and presentations.
  • Consultant Requests for Proposals: Writing and distributing letters of interest and requests for proposals, consultant procurement negotiations, pre-proposal meetings, processing approvals, coordination with other agencies, and contracting.
  • Consultant contract management: Includes invoice reviews, addendum processing, scheduling, plan reviews and approvals, design meetings, and coordination.
  • Construction project management: Includes land surveys, project budgeting, bidding, invoice processing, change order negotiations and approvals, shop drawing review, plans and specification reviews, value engineering, inspections, invoicing, and job meetings.
  • Cartography: GIS systems (ArcMap or Arc GIS Pro), including map making and updating, and cartography expertise.
  • Administration: staff meetings, routine reporting, filing systems, report creation, and other administrative duties, as assigned.
  • Perform other duties or special projects, as assigned.

 

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related program; or seven years of job-related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Three years of project management experience.
  • Two years of experience with governmental entities and their permitting and code requirements.
  • Two years of experience in planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or architectural design fields.
  • Two years of experience in grant writing and administration.
  • Trail construction, management, and maintenance experience.
  • Computing experience including GIS, CAD, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and the Adobe Creative Suite (AI, ID, Photoshop).
  • Property acquisition experience including negotiation, appraisal procurement, title work, and other similar tasks.
  • Recreation or educational programming experience.
  • Ability to pass a background check.
  • Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

  • Ability to work and negotiate with property owners, municipal officials, and approval agencies to reach common goals.
  • Excellent and effective listening, verbal, drawing, and strong writing communication skills.
  • Ability to be flexible.
  • Technical knowledge of facility and trail development and its components such as; design, surfaces, drainage, and other similar facilities.
  • Strong project management and work prioritization skills, including the ability to establish priorities and anticipate next actions and deadlines.
  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently.

SRG is a collaborative team of 8-10 professionals. The Trails Director will occasionally work with the SRG team to promote and develop the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and support SRG events including:

  • Schuylkill River 7-day kayak sojourn
  • 40-mile bicycle Ride for the River
  • Pedal and Paddle outings

SRG is committed to building a staff that matches the diversity of the communities we serve. We are dedicated to celebrating and preserving a heritage area that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. We value the different experiences, knowledge and unique capabilities applicants will be able to share because of varying social, cultural, and racial backgrounds. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time position. The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $78,000. We value work-life balance and provide the following benefits to help our staff manage their mental, emotional, and physical health:

  • Paid time off including vacation days, holidays and personal leave
  • Group health insurance
  • Retirement Savings Plan with matching contributions
  • Compensation time for extra hours worked during after-hour meetings and events
  • Remote hours based on seasonal programming, job duties and work-load
  • Team building outings
  • Opportunities for hiking, kayaking other recreational activities

How to Apply

 

Please send cover letter and resume via e-mail with the subject line “Trails Director Position” to: Elaine Schaefer, Executive Director, eschaefer@schuylkillriver.org. The position will remain open until it is filled.

 

About Schuylkill River Greenways

 

Encompassing 1.2 million acres over 1,700 square miles, Schuylkill River Greenways NHA links 3.2 million people across five Pennsylvania counties – Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia – to the unparalleled opportunities afforded by the Schuylkill River, the Schuylkill River Trail and the surrounding watershed.

The mission of Schuylkill River Greenways (SRG) is to connect residents, visitors and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development to foster stewardship of the watershed and its heritage.

The mission is realized by leveraging the Schuylkill River and the award-winning Schuylkill River Trail – both the land and the water trails – as platforms for revitalization of surrounding communities, for stewardship of natural resources, for improved public health through recreation, and for greater appreciation of the region’s cultural heritage. The Schuylkill River Trail is SRG’s signature project. Today, there are 80 completed miles of the planned 120-mile land trail between Frackville and Philadelphia.

The Trail also connects three National Parks within the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

SRG works with over 140 partners to achieve its vision of the Schuylkill River Watershed as a thriving and economically revitalized region, whose residents and visitors understand, value and are fully committed to the stewardship of the river and its heritage.

Founded in 1974 as the Schuylkill River Greenway Association, the organization focused on the preservation of the riverfront in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. SRG has grown in its mission and geographic scope over the years, and today is a non-profit organization guided by a Board of Directors and supported by a staff of nine. SRG is supported in executing its work through federal (NPS) and state

 

(DCNR) budget appropriations and through grants and donations from foundations, corporations and individuals committed to advancing SRG’s mission.

The regional economic benefits from SRG’s work are real and significant. The findings of a recent comprehensive economic impact study conducted by Tripp Umbach were impressive: the natural and historical features of SRG generate $589.9 million in economic impact, support over 6,000 jobs, and generate $37.7 million in tax revenue.

Learn more about SRG, its programs, leadership, and history by visiting www.schuylkillriver.org.