Contact Name: Alex Stigliano
Company/Organization/Agency: Florida Trail Association
Address: 5415 SW 13 Street, Gainesville, Florida 32608 United States
Email Address: alexs@floridatrail.org
Contact Phone: (828) 333-1529
Job Title: Panhandle Regional Representative
Job Description: Panhandle Regional Representative
Position: Panhandle Regional Representative
Organization: Florida Trail Association
Reports to: Florida National Scenic Trail Program Director
Position Summary – The Panhandle Regional Representative’s primary responsibility is to coordinate successful trail management, protection, and volunteer work on the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) within the Panhandle Florida region (between the FT in Suwannee River State Park, and the FNST Northern Terminus in Gulf Island National Seashore). He or she will cultivate collaborative partnerships with a diverse group of landowners, business and community leaders, government officials and the public to achieve the following outcomes:
• Build sustainable trail stewardship programs;
• Increase regional and state-wide awareness of the FNST’s natural, cultural, recreational, and historical resources and how these resources benefit the public;
• Enhance public and private support for maintaining, permanently protecting and enhancing the recreational quality of the FNST in accordance with the values outlined in the 1968 National Trails System Act and the FNST Comprehensive Management Plan.
Position Responsibilities
• Coordinate all aspects of management for the FNST in the Panhandle region in order to achieve the outcomes outlined above;
• Serve as a positive, highly visible, and effective representative of the Florida Trail Association (FTA), conveying our messages of conservation, volunteerism, and outdoor education to the public;
• Effectively prioritize and follow through on the implementation of regional projects, which may span over multiple years;
• Identify, plan and implement a variety of trail maintenance events that engage the public in hands-on stewardship;
• Recruit, train, and coordinate a volunteer base to meet the goals of trail stewardship programs;
• Expand upon established partnerships with key organizations and leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors to further program goals;
• Connect the public to the FNST with regular contributions to a robust social media presence, our nationally distributed quarterly periodical, and the FTA website;
• Gather information on the physical trail, and work to ensure optimal routing of the FNST in perpetuity;
• Identify and respond to external planning efforts within the region that could have an impact on the trail corridor;
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned in support of the FTA’s FNST program.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• A genuine interest and commitment to outdoor recreation in Florida;
• Working knowledge of (or willingness to learn) the natural, cultural, and historical resources of Panhandle Florida;
• Experience Building and Maintaining wilderness trails;
• Excellent communication skills working with a wide range of private sector, public sector and not-for-profit partners and volunteers;
• Superior ability to build collaborative partnerships;
• Ability to make public presentations to diverse audiences in support of the FTA’s Florida National Scenic Trail program;
• Ability to be self-directed, work independently, prioritize workload, meet deadlines, handle multiple projects simultaneously, solve problems and be resourceful;
• Strong writing and editing abilities;
• Experience working with social media applications and website maintenance;
• Excellent writing, speaking, organizational and diplomacy skills;
• Capable of operating in a Microsoft Office environment;
• Reliable personal transportation.
Additional Qualifications
• Advanced understanding of government agency policies, procedures, and land management practices;
• Proficiency in using GIS hardware, software and databases;
• Ability to maintain and repair small engines;
• Wilderness First Responder, chainsaw class “B” operator or willing to become certified in both.
Minimum Training and Experience ̶ Bachelor’s degree. Professional work experience in communications, land management, ecology, trail construction or related field. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of these areas is preferred.
Additional information
Work Environment: Willing to work from a home office based in the Panama City to Blountstown area. Regular travel—reimbursed at the current federal rate—throughout the Panhandle along the Florida Trail corridor including intermittent weekend and overnight travel. The FTA fosters a collegial work atmosphere.
Salary and Benefits: 35-45K Depending on experience. Holiday, vacation, and sick leave. Medical and retirement benefits. Opportunities for professional development.
Deadline: Applications accepted until position filled. Desired start date is the January of 2017.
For additional information, please contact the FNST Program Director at alexs@floridatrail.org
How to apply ̶ Please email all of the following information in PDF format to alexs@floridatrail.org:
1. A cover letter explaining your interest and salary requirements
2. Resume
3. Three professional references
Job Start Date: 1/1/2017
Application Deadline: 11/15/2017