For more information, please follow this link: https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/academic-and-community-centers/claytor-nature-center/

Salary- DOE

Interested in an innovative leadership opportunity at the intersection of nature, landscape, conservation, culture, and higher education? The University of Lynchburg, a private regional university, located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia is seeking a full-time director of the Claytor Nature Center to join our team. We seek someone to help us grow and tell our story; advocate for our mission-centered programming; and collaborate with University experts, community leaders and donors in building one of the best nature centers in the United States.

Located in one of Virginia’s most beautiful and ecologically significant regions, the University of Lynchburg seeks an inspirational and imaginative leader for the Claytor Nature Center who can craft a common vision for the future of the Center, build partnerships among diverse audiences and resources, and execute collaborative processes to empower and deliver a unique mission.

Originally an 18th century farm and plantation house, the Claytor Nature Center is a majestic, 491-acre nature preserve, natural landscape and education facility located in the upper piedmont region of Central Virginia. Positioned near Bedford at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, the Claytor Nature Center encompasses freshwater streams, woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, rare plants, wildlife, and a portion of the Big Otter River. Proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Southern Appalachian region puts the Center in the midst of a region noted for its landscape beauty, biological and cultural diversity, outdoor recreation and emerging creative economy.

The Claytor Nature Center was founded in 1998 when A. Boyd Claytor, III donated 470 acres of woods and fields, the historic Cloverlea Farmhouse, and a substantial endowment to the University of Lynchburg (formerly Lynchburg College) for the purpose of “nature study and appreciation.” The Center has expanded over the years to include the Boyd Claytor Education and Research Facility, the Belk Astronomical Observatory, the Chandler Ecolodge, and a campground and picnic pavilion. The Big Otter River runs through the heart of Claytor, and the entire property is conserved under an easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Careful land stewardship has resulted in a diversity of healthy habitats, many of which are accessible via a gravel farm road that crosses the property and an 8-mile network of hiking trails.

The Center has traditionally served multiple audiences, from local school groups and families to University research faculty and students focused on environmental studies. The Cloverlea Farmhouse has become a popular site for family events, especially weddings staged with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, and the Belk Observatory hosts research experiences for University faculty and students, monthly public open houses, and other community outreach opportunities. The current staff includes a full-time facilities manager, a full-time education coordinator and several part-time support staff.

In order to guide the Center’s strategic development, Claytor’s next director will need to have strong leadership skills in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development, entrepreneurship, and revenue generation. The next leader will help craft a strategic vision for this unique Center by building on its strong commitment to conservation and education, while expanding future opportunities in landscape development and management, ecological research and other partnerships, audience growth and diversity, and building public and private support.

Essential duties include:

  • Regularly engaging in a strategic planning process with the Center’s Board of Conservators and relevant stakeholders in order to promote the mission and vision of the Center.
  • Supervising and supporting the Center’s staff in the development and implementation of programs and facilities/land management which fulfill the mission of the Center.
  • Promoting the Center as a field research station, a site for environmental education, and a nature preserve for public enjoyment.
  • Expanding landscape and facility development in order to exhibit best practices in sustainable design and development.
  • Attracting a larger and more diverse constituency of users and stakeholders in order to expand the revenue necessary for mission delivery and growth.
  • Crafting communication and outreach initiatives to maintain and grow an engaged, well-informed community of supporters and advisors.
  • Maintaining the Center’s budget and endowment, securing external private and grant funding, and collaborating with the University’s Office of Advancement to engage potential donors.

Candidates must have experience in program coordination, leadership and management, budgeting, fiscal oversight, and presentation. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills will be paramount, as will strong interest in such areas as land conservation, landscape architecture, horticulture, environmental education, and ecological research. A Master’s degree in a field related to these qualifications, or equivalent experience in relevant disciplines, is required. Other preferred skills and abilities would include familiarity with development and fundraising, grant writing, business planning, and resource generation.

How to Apply

Submit the following:

  • Formal letter of application.
  • Résumé.
  • Copies of graduate transcripts.
  • Names and contact information of three references.

All information must be submitted electronically as a single pdf file to:

Jennifer Monroe

 lynchburgsciencepositions@lynchburg.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. References will be checked prior to on-campus interviews. The selected candidate must successfully pass a background check that is satisfactory to the University. The anticipated start date for this position is May 1, 2022.

The University of Lynchburg is committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from persons of color, women, Indigenous/aboriginal people of North America, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University of Lynchburg community.

The University of Lynchburg is an equal opportunity employer.