Environmental Stewardship Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of her people through intentional and sustained stewardship of over 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental, and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the City’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other, and to fun, physical, and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at  and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.   

Position Summary 

The Environmental Stewardship Manager is responsible for developing and managing Environmental Stewardship Programming to leverage and increase volunteerism to improve the natural areas of the Philadelphia Park system. The person in this position will lead a team and coordinate with other Parks and Recreation divisions to create a cohesive strategy to sustain natural resources through volunteer efforts, partnership building, and working with park stakeholders. The manager supervises full-time and seasonal staff to implement environmental stewardship programs and projects, track data, and fulfill reporting requirements.    

Essential Functions 

• Manage and direct full-time and part-time staff to support, develop, and expand volunteer engagement opportunities to support natural areas of the Philadelphia Park system. 

• Develop and implement Environmental Stewardship programs to advance Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s goals for Pennypack Park and Cobbs Creek Park.   

• Develop and implement Environmental Stewardship Programs and outreach plans for groups and individual volunteer opportunities that will support park maintenance and natural area restoration.   

• Establish and manage formal partnerships with corporations, academic institutions, and large-scale non-profits to coordinate city-wide volunteer Environmental Stewardship service initiatives.  

• Develop meaningful and strategic stewardship strategies and projects that align with the larger maintenance strategy for the natural areas of the parks, as well as improve park conditions for park users. 

• Work closely and collaborate with the Philadelphia Water Department, non-profit, and community partners to accomplish shared goals in the Philadelphia watershed parks.   

• Support and attract park usership through inclusive environmental stewardship programming.  

• Lead orientations, train, assign, and review the work of volunteers and staff; provide technical direction and instructions on park projects.    

• Develop trainings for increasing the capacity of watershed park volunteers and groups to build their knowledge, skills and abilities in environmental stewardship.  

• Plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate city-wide programs to build the capacity of community groups, partners, and volunteers, in support of natural resource stewardship.  

• Develop and implement procedures to track environmental stewardship programs for reporting purposes.  

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, departmental managers, private and nonprofit partners, community organizations, contractors, and consultants.  

• Prepare and manage work unit budgets.  

• Other duties as assigned 

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge and familiarity with Philadelphia’s Park System, watershed parks, and natural areas (preferred).  

• Strong understanding of native and invasive species of this region. 

• Knowledge of natural restoration practices as well as soft surface trail development and maintenance.  

• Extensive knowledge and training in land management practices.  

• Ability to supervise a diverse team of staff and effectively delegate assignments. 

• Ability to build and maintain long‑term partnerships with community groups and institutions. 

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.   

• Strong track record of working with volunteers and members of the public and familiarity with volunteer management best practices and retention methods.  

• Experience recruiting, training, engaging, and retaining volunteers. 

• Self-starter with ability to work independently and manage varied tasks. 

• Availability to work nights and weekends as needed.  

We value diverse experiences and are open to flexible qualifications. If you are passionate about this role and meet some of the key criteria, we encourage you to apply. 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies, ecology, horticulture, arboriculture, or a related field. 

• 5+ years of natural lands restoration experience.   

• 5 + years of volunteer management experience in natural settings.   

• 5 + years of experience working in local government or a non-profit environment (preferred).  

• Certified Arborist (preferred).   

• Registered herbicide technician (preferred).   

• 3- 5 years of soft surface trail design/ maintenance experience (preferred).   

• Strong oral and written communication skills.   

• Proficient in computer software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).  

• Competent in the safe use and maintenance of hand and power tools (e.g., chainsaw, weed whackers, leaf blowers, etc.)   

• Strong knowledge of plant identification skills and native and invasive species identification and management  

• Must have a valid PA driver's license  

TO APPLY:   Interested candidates must submit a resume.

Salary Range: $72,000 - $90,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at View phone number on ziprecruiter.com or send an email to View email address on ziprecruiter.com.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: