Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper is hiring two new positions: Assistant Director & Vernal School Supervisor

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (MSRKA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Sunbury, PA, tasked with protecting and promoting the health and vibrancy of the Susquehanna River, its tributaries and clean water resources across an 11,000-square-mile watershed is looking for applicants for two new full-time positions.

One will be an assistant director/deputy riverkeeper to work directly with current Executive Director/Riverkeeper John Zaktansky in expanding the association's efforts to better protect clean water resources and engage/educate/empower individuals, groups and communities across the greater watershed to make realistic, long-standing improvements.

The other will be to help oversee and coordinate environmental education programs via the new Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership connected to the Montour Preserve in coordination with the MSRKA and more than 20 other local community partners. 

It is recommended that anyone who considers applying for either position, or for any volunteer opportunity, first fill out the association's online Susquehanna Survey if he/she hasn't already done so at some point in the past. It is available via a Google Form at this link: ​https://forms.gle/uXFQnPZM2bqupTRU9

Beyond open new hire opportunities, the MSRKA is looking for volunteer Sentinels to help report on various geographic regions of the greater watershed. If this is something you would like to consider, learn more here: www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org/sentinels.html

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Assistant Director & Deputy Riverkeeper

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (MSRKA) is hiring a fulltime Assistant Director and Deputy Riverkeeper to work directly with our Executive Director and Riverkeeper and Association Board of Directors.

Summary: In this role, the Assistant Director will help the MSRKA better achieve our mission of engaging, educating and empowering people to passionately protect and promote the health and vibrancy of the Susquehanna River, its tributaries and those that depend on these resources across an 11,000-square-mile watershed in central, northcentral and northeast Pennsylvania. This includes all areas that drain into the North and West branches of the Susquehanna River.

Location: Applicant must live within the watershed and engage regularly with the local waterways. Special consideration will be given to those who live within geographic regions of the river basin in which the association seeks to expand its reach.  

Qualifications: We are seeking someone who is plugged into their local communities, willing to help us engage new audiences and loves the outdoors, especially the river and the aquatic resources that depend on the river, understanding the delicate balance in which we all live within that ecosystem. Ideally, this person will be a creative problem solver who values networking and empowering others. A bachelors degree in environmental or legal fields is preferred. Experience in fundraising and grant-writing is preferred. Most importantly, we need someone who is enthusiastic, driven and willing to learn.

Responsibilities: Assist the Executive Director/Riverkeeper in each area of the nonprofit’s daily/monthly responsibilities including the following items:

• Work with MSRKA’s Riverkeeper/Executive Director to develop and implement goals, strategies, timelines and workplans for specific issues, campaigns, and projects.
• Coordinate the volunteer Susquehanna Sentinels program by communicating with geographic volunteers, having them complete monthly online surveys and collecting data from those surveys to develop a report for monthly board meetings. Implement items from these reports as instructed.
• Work with ALLARM Stream Team program to expand volunteer monthly water sampling in other parts of our watershed, working with existing water sampling groups where possible. 
• Work with local watershed groups, Trout Unlimited and other water-related entities to build partnerships and promote opportunities for local residents to get involved in helping improve local waterways via our website and social media presence.
• Help update and overhaul our website and social media presence as necessary.
• Regularly monitor local stretches of river and tributaries. Collect water samples as needed, meeting required collection frequency and testing requirements.
• Plan, promote and conduct programs for kids and families that connect them to waterways such as MSRKA’s HERYN, OTTERS, WET, Floating Classroom programs already in operation. Expand these programs into new areas of the watershed as resources allow.
• Participate in area shows and fairs with educational booths and presentations to share information about the river and our association.
• Develop contacts with trusted people in the community and local agencies. Partner with these contacts to share information with the public regarding river health through podcasts and educational stories. 
• Participate in Raise the Region and other fundraising opportunities throughout the year. Help develop other opportunities for fundraising that are unique to the applicant’s local community’s strengths and resources.
• Assist with bookkeeping, budgeting and monthly board meetings.
• Identify and help secure interns, as well as funding income sources for interns as available.
• Help monitor local building projects and other permits to ensure that developers follow proper regulatory guidelines.
• Assist the Riverkeeper in following up on reports of pollution, including follow-up with polluters.
• Assist with other responsibilities as needed by the association.

How to apply: Submit a cover letter, resume and at least three references to Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected]. Questions can also be sent to this email or to 570-768-6300. 

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Vernal School Program Supervisor & Educator

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is hiring a fulltime Program Supervisor and Educator to work with our Partnership Coordinator/association Executive Director to oversee and operate the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership in coordination with a variety of different groups and partners throughout the region.

Location: Riverkeeper office in Sunbury, PA, coordinating main programming at Montour Preserve in upper Montour County, PA, near Washingtonville.

Qualifications: We are seeking someone with a strong desire to creatively enhance environmental education for all ages and abilities while supporting growth and sustainability of the Montour Preserve through collaboration with multiple partners. This requires the ability to be a creative, out-of-the-box problem solver, a strong communicator and strategic leader who can assess resources, identify strengths in others and empower them to productively contribute to the greater project. We are looking for someone who can help incorporate new statewide science standards into programming that focuses on STEM principles and inspires young people to become independent, creative problem solvers. We also need someone who will be actively pursuing local, state and federal environmental education grant cycles, writing and applying for them on deadline. 

Partner relationships: This partnership includes working with a wide variety of different entities. This includes working closely with the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC), helping support MARC and its efforts to maintain the preserve. Other partners already connected to the effort in which the candidate will be working closely include the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, Susquehanna University Freshwater Research Institute, Bucknell University, Master Naturalists, Boy Scouts of America, local county conservation district offices, local chambers of commerce and others, including the potential of working with elected officials and other local leaders. 

Responsibilities: Working directly with the MSRKA’s Riverkeeper/executive director/partnership coordinator, you will oversee each element of the development of the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership under the direction of the MSRKA board of directors and main members of the partnership. 

• Working with partnering groups, develop and implement a working schedule of environmental education programs for all ages and experience levels. Make sure this schedule of events is universal with (MARC) programming.
• Help develop classes and curriculum for environmental programming that incorporates new statewide science standards and utilizes tools and other resources provided by partnering groups.
• Where necessary and possible, lead environmental education classes with a wide variety of individuals with different skillsets, learning styles and needs. 
• Look for creative ways to build new partnerships and connections to add to the resources for long-term sustainability of the program.
• Proactively research, pursue and apply for local, state and national environmental education grants that will help strengthen the programming and long-term sustainability of the educational partnership and the preserve.
• Work closely with all partners, especially MSRKA and MARC, to help fill gaps and cover needs to help the preserve’s future blossom.
• Identify cost-effective opportunities to improve areas of the preserve to enhance environmental education.
• Other responsibilities as needed by the association.

How to apply: Send a cover letter, resume and at least three references to Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected]. Questions can also be sent to this email or to 570-768-6300.

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