Are you interested in launching a career in environmental stewardship, including community resilience, community engagement, and regional land management? The LRWP is hiring for a Community Resilience Fellow to help us shepherd the high profile NJDEP-funded #ResilientNJ Project for the Lower Raritan and Middlesex County Communities. The LRWP Community Resilience Fellow will work with us in our communities to advance environmental restoration, create a clear vision and roadmap for flood risk reduction and resilience approaches, and help affected Lower Raritan communities survive and thrive given current conditions and climate-related changes to come.

ABOUT THE LRWP COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FELLOWSHIP: Through this part time (20 hours/week) position, the LRWP Community Resilience Fellow will work closely with the LRWP board, state and local partners, and municipalities to advance resilience and reduce flooding impacts in areas that face increasing threats related to sea level rise, coastal inundation and stormwater runoff.

The Fellowship is partially supported with funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the high profile “Resilient Raritan River and Bay for Middlesex County Communities” #ResilientNJ Project. #ResilientNJ will lead to environmental restoration, create a clear vision and roadmap for flood risk reduction and resilience approaches developed through collaboration with numerous stakeholders, and will help affected Lower Raritan communities survive and thrive given current conditions and climate-related changes to come. The LRWP Community Resilience Fellow will coordinate significant aspects of #ResilientNJ for the Lower Raritan, building knowledge and collaborative relationships among state, County, and local officials and staff, practitioners, scientists, NGOs and outreach specialists to reduce flooding impacts in the Lower Raritan Watershed. The LRWP Community Resilience Fellow will also help conceive, develop and deliver technical assistance to Lower Raritan communities working to implement federally-mandated stormwater management plans.

This competitive one-year part time fellowship is open to highly motivated individuals with, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s from a degree program in environmental science or related subjects. Individuals with advanced degrees will be prioritized in hiring processes. This fellowship will provide a well-rounded learning experience and help prepare the Fellow for careers in resilience, community engagement, and regional land management. The LRWP especially welcomes applications from individuals who would consider possible full time employment with us at the end of their fellowship year.

The expected hourly compensation for this role is $25/hour. Given current conditions we expect much of the work to be conducted remotely. However, the Fellow will be expected to be able to travel throughout the Lower Raritan Watershed, connecting most specifically with the Sayreville, South River, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy and Old Bridge communities. We are looking to fill this position immediately.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Lower Raritan Watershed Resilience Fellow will work closely with the LRWP Board, Middlesex County Planning Office, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Resilience Team, partner municipalities, and natural resources professionals.

Tasks will include, but are not limited to: 

• Frequently meet and work with #ResilientNJ partners.
• Support development of a Community of Practice for the Lower Raritan Watershed to share knowledge and build collaborative relationships to develop watershed-based solutions collectively with a resiliency focus.
• Assist with needs assessment with partners to help identify the primary resilience issues that local communities are facing and their desired goals.
• Work with municipal partners and others to complete assessments to help identify hazards and opportunities to increase community resilience.
• Aid in articulating the vision, goals, and near-term actions for building community capacity and resilience to address flooding and water quality issues within the Lower Raritan Watershed.
• Support partners and communities as they develop scientific tools necessary to inform decision-making around climate change, flooding and resilience issues.

ABOUT THE LRWP COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FELLOW: The LRWP seeks a Fellow who shares our commitment to inclusive and equitable engagement to create social, environmental, and economic benefits and bring value to all who will share in the region’s future. We seek a Fellow who brings big picture “watershed” thinking to advance solutions created in the context of the entire Raritan River watershed. We expect the LRWP Community Resilience Fellow to be:

• A motivated self-starter able to work independently and exercise independent judgment to guide program development, communicating as needed with the LRWP Board President.
• Able to make day-to-day decisions within the scope of work assignments.
• A good record keeper, able to keep meeting records, including records of stakeholder involvement, in an organized manner.
• A team player, willing to engage in a wide variety of additional programs or tasks related to the LRWP’s mission, possibly including general environmental education and community outreach.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental policy or an environmental science-related field and 1-year experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience building relationships utilizing interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience working with common software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, web browsers)
• Ability to work independently and exercise independent judgment
• Excellent verbal and communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Valid driver’s license

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public or environmental policy and or environmental and sustainability studies, water resources management, coastal and marine science, social sciences, or a related discipline.
• Experience working in group settings with colleagues, stakeholders, and partners.
• Experience coordinating a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Experience with GIS software and data to create maps.
• Ability to work independently and exercise independent judgment.
• Knowledge of various ecosystem services.

Please submit cover letter and resume addressed to the LRWP Board and email to: hfenyk@lowerraritanwatershed.org

ABOUT THE LOWER RARITAN WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP: Founded in 2015, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP) is a central New Jersey based watershed management non-profit dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring the lands and waters of the Lower Raritan Watershed. Guided by science, and in active partnership with residents of our watershed community, we create on-the-ground solutions to local environmental challenges. Current challenges include restoring significantly degraded lands and waters, protecting lands and waters at risk of degradation, addressing climate change impacts to our communities, ensuring equitable access to our natural spaces, and improving the health and resilience of our watershed while reducing energy and natural resource consumption.  Core values include: social equity and building an equal and inclusive movement for our environmental policies; a commitment to collaboration and the connections, creativity and contributions of our entire community; and a belief that all social-ecological systems are interconnected, requiring a “big picture” view of relationships and interactions to address environmental problems. We strive for a diverse and culturally competent team of board, staff, volunteers, and interns. The LRWP offers competitive compensation, flexible work policies, and a collaborative work environment.

The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.