Careers

Explore a career at the Schuylkill Center

Founded in 1965 as a pioneer in a then-new field called environmental education, the Schuylkill Center continues to innovate, teach, and grow. We are guided by our vision to create a world where all people play, learn, and grow with nature as part of their everyday lives. Our expert staff comes from a variety of backgrounds, fields, and experience.

We are a leader in land restoration and stewardship practices, using our 365 acres of open space, the largest privately protected open space in Philadelphia, as a living laboratory for balancing stewardship with active use. Our Nature Preschool, started in 2013, was the first such nature-based program in Pennsylvania. Since 2000, we have operated a cutting-edge environmental art program, the only one of its kind in an American nature center. Founded in 1987, our Wildlife Clinic is one of the few in the region, and the only one in the city of Philadelphia. Camp Schuylkill, after-school program, and day-off camps provide thousands of kids with immersive experiences in nature, which mounting evidence shows benefits children, and people, in innumerable ways.

Open Positions

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Land Coordinator

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, a leading environmental education provider for the Philadelphia region, seeks a passionate and energetic Land Coordinator to maintain the Center’s 365-acre campus.

The Land Coordinator supports our mission of connecting people to nature by serving as the organizational point person for land maintenance needs. The Land Coordinator oversees and performs maintenance throughout our expansive natural land holdings
the community gardens, the Wildlife Clinic, on our trail system, and in our special stewardship areas. This position will also support educational programming as well as stewardship activities, often leading volunteer efforts. Some weekend and evening work
is required.

  • Learn more and apply

    Duties and Responsibilities include:
    ● Schedule and perform routine mowing, land maintenance, and clearing of the center’s trail system, wildlife clinic grounds, and community gardens area.
    ● Perform routine maintenance of land care equipment including mowers, tractors, chainsaws, and trimmers.
    ● Assist with stewardship programs and project maintenance efforts by controlling invasive plants, maintaining special stewardship sites, engaging erosion concerns, and improving habitat.
    ● Assist Facilities Coordinator with regular maintenance of facility systems including drinking water, HVAC, electrical (lights), roof, and exterior/interior walls.
    ● Work with the Land Stewardship Coordinator to assist with the Native Plant Program and lead volunteers to assist in the care of the grounds.
    ● Work with the Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager to facilitate volunteer experiences and ensure land maintenance is occurring in a timely manner.
    ● Conduct snow removal, driveway repair, tree removal, and brush clearing as needed.
    ● Remove litter on the property and perform custodial work as needed.
    ● Help with event preparation as needed.
    ● Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Land and Facilities.

    Expected Competencies:
    ● Familiarity with equipment operation and maintenance (tractor, chainsaw, mower, small engine equipment, etc.).
    ● Experience in landscaping, tree work, land maintenance, and/or farming.
    ● Basic familiarity with a wide range of hand tools plus experience in basic woodworking, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, and/or electrical skills.
    ● Team-orientation with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and communicate in a timely and respectful manner.
    ● Ability to independently perform assigned tasks.
    ● Good organizational and writing skills to coordinate volunteer groups as well as design and record maintenance procedures.

    Physical Demands/Work Environment:
    The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. During most of the year, Land & Facilities staff spend the better part of their day outdoors.

    The employee must be able to:
    ● Spend multiple hours outdoors in all weather (heat, cold, rain, snow)
    ● Hike 2-5 miles a day on rough terrain
    ● Engage in sustained physical activity throughout the day
    ● Lift up to 50 pounds (size of large container plant)

    The employee is also regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands and arms to operate pruners, chainsaws, clippers, shovels, and other outdoor tools and equipment; must be able to operate general office equipment like PC, telephone, copier, fax machine, and printer. The noise level in the work environment can range from low to high.

    Education, Experience, and Qualifications:
    A degree or experience working in one or more of the following fields is preferred: natural resource management, forestry, horticulture, farming, environmental studies and/or a facilities maintenance trade. Must have a driver’s license, pass background checks, and complete all requirements mandated by the state.

    Compensation:
    This position is full-time with a generous benefits package including vacation, health, dental, vision and retirement; salary is commensurate with experience.

    To Apply:
    Please submit your resume and cover letter to Stephen Goin, Director of Land and Facilities, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Email Steve at [email protected].

    The Schuylkill Center values a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse work community, and we strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. E.O.E.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law and our core values.