Join the CORE team at Long Branch

Long Branch Environmental Education Center is growing. We are working to cultivate and hire our residential core team here and build upon the 50+ year legacy and foundation that has been laid. Please review the positions below and send a resume and cover letter detailing your interest and how you would be a good fit here at our education center to the following email addresses:

Paula paula@longbrancheec.org

Pat pat@longbrancheec.org

Allie allie@longbrancheec.org

 Executive Director

- Open until filled

  • This is a rare opportunity to lead the re-emergence of a deeply rooted environmental education center. The incoming Executive Director will serve as a visionary and practical leader through a time of transition, reconnection, and renewal. Because the role is not currently funded, a central responsibility of the Executive Director will be to secure grants and other funding to sustain both their own position and broader organizational needs.

    The initial time commitment is approximately 10 hours per week, with significant flexibility and potential for growth. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of strategic thinking, development skills, ecological literacy, and a deep respect for land-based, community-rooted work.

  • Strategic Leadership & Visioning

    • Shepherd the organization into its next chapter while honoring its 50-year legacy

    • Collaborate with the board to shape strategic direction and define organizational priorities

    • Support planning for long-term land stewardship, infrastructure, and programming

    Fundraising & Resource Development

    • Identify and apply for grants to fund the Executive Director role and future programming

    • Develop and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, and funding partners

    • Explore additional revenue streams (e.g., programs, events, facility use, partnerships)

    Program & Land-Based Education (with support)

    • Support the current Education Director to co-develop educational offerings aligned with Long Branch’s mission

    • Engage with local schools, educators, and community partners

    • Help steward and protect the land as a living classroom and sanctuary

    Organizational Operations

    • Rebuild organizational systems (financial tracking, communications, volunteer coordination)

    • Ensure compliance with nonprofit governance and reporting requirements

    • Help recruit and support volunteers, interns, and potential staff as capacity grows

    Community Engagement & Relationship-Building

    • Reconnect with Long Branch’s extended community of supporters and past participants

    • Develop new partnerships with aligned organizations, schools, and networks

    • Act as a visible, thoughtful representative of Long Branch’s mission and values

    • Deep commitment to environmental education, sustainability, and land-based learning

    • Strong self-direction, initiative, and ability to work with limited structure or supervision

    • Demonstrated success in fundraising, especially grant writing

    • Experience in nonprofit leadership, project management, or organizational development

    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

    • A collaborative spirit and ability to navigate complex transitions with humility and care

    • Familiarity with Western North Carolina’s ecological and cultural landscape (preferred)

    • Time: Approx. 5-10 hours per week to start, with potential for expanded hours as funding allows

    • Location: Some on-site presence strongly preferred; must live within one hour’s drive of the center; flexible/hybrid options possible depending on circumstances to begin. Housing is NOT currently available for this position.

    • Compensation: This is currently an unpaid position pending successful grant funding. Applicant must be committed to developing operational resources for compensation.

 FARM Manager(s) & volunteer coordinator(s)

- May 2026 / option to start october 2025

  • The Farm Manager & Volunteer Coordinator is a part-time, residential position responsible for overseeing food and land-based systems at Long Branch Environmental Education Center (LBEEC) and coordinating community involvement through volunteer engagement. This role bridges permaculture practice with community participation, ensuring the land remains productive, beautiful, and educationally vibrant.

    This position is open to either one individual, a couple, or two individuals with complementary skills and shared interest in land stewardship, regenerative agriculture, and community engagement. As live-in residents, those in this role will also share in the responsibility of caring for communal spaces and contributing to the long-term vision of Long Branch. The position works closely with the Education Program Director to ensure alignment between farm projects and educational programming.

  • Farm & Land Stewardship (8–14 hrs/week):

    • Manage the orchard, greenhouse, annual and perennial gardens, and general food systems

    • Implement and maintain regenerative, permaculture-aligned practices

    • Coordinate planting, harvesting, composting, and general land care

    • Maintain tool and supply organization

    • Plan seasonal work projects in coordination with the Executive Director, Education Director, and other residents

    Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement (3–6 hrs/week):

    • Develop and implement volunteer opportunities (weekly workdays, seasonal projects, events)

    • Recruit, welcome, and orient volunteers and visiting work groups

    • Create systems of task delegation and support volunteers to engage meaningfully with the land

    • Maintain volunteer records and communication (e.g., email lists, sign-in logs, follow-ups)

    • Collaborate regularly with the Education Director to align volunteer efforts with educational goals and programs

    Residential Participation & Shared Stewardship (2–3 hrs/week, included in total):

    • Participate in shared responsibilities for the care of communal spaces (e.g., outdoor classroom, gardens, gathering areas)

    • Attend occasional team meetings and contribute to community life on the land

    • Help support a culture of communication, mutual aid, and respect among residents

    • Experience in small-scale, ecological farming or land-based systems

    • Familiarity with permaculture principles and regenerative practices

    • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

    • Experience working with or coordinating volunteers

    • Comfort living in a rural, residential community

    • Self-motivated, flexible, and collaborative

    • Basic maintenance, carpentry, or infrastructure skills a plus

    • Experience with nonprofit fundraising or grant writing a plus (if interested in optional role)

    • Housing includes a private room in a shared residence or a private cabin, with kitchen, bath, and laundry access

    • 10–20 hours/week depending on experience and seasonal needs

    • Compensation includes housing and $500–$1,000/month stipend depending on experience and seasonal needs

    • Schedule is flexible but may include some weekends for workdays or events

    • Opportunities for additional compensation or hours may arise as programs expand

    • Option to start before May 2026 (as soon as October 2025) if open to living in a rustic cabin until one of the houses becomes available on the property; position would be work-trade 20hrs/week in exchange for free accommodation

 OPERATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATOR

- OPEN UNTIL FILLED

  • The Operations & Infrastructure Coordinator is a part-time position—either residential or local—dedicated to supporting the ongoing functionality, safety, and sustainability of Long Branch Environmental Education Center’s buildings, utilities, and land-based infrastructure. This role is essential to ensure that the physical foundation of the organization supports its broader educational and community-based mission.

    Long Branch is in a time of transition and renewal. This role is ideal for someone with experience in land-based infrastructure, regenerative systems, rural facilities management, or ecological construction—someone who loves working with their hands and their head and wants to make a lasting impact on a small but powerful nonprofit community.

    This position will work closely with the Executive Director, Education Director, and other residents to prioritize and implement infrastructure improvements, coordinate workdays, and contribute to Long Branch’s evolution toward resilient, regenerative living systems.

  • Infrastructure Management & Maintenance (6–8 hrs/week):

    • Oversee and maintain essential infrastructure (buildings, water systems, solar, roads, etc.)

    • Coordinate seasonal and emergency maintenance priorities

    • Identify needs for repairs, improvements, or replacements

    • Monitor safety, code compliance, and permitting for all operational systems

    • Develop systems and schedules for preventative maintenance

    Project Coordination (2–4 hrs/week):

    • Support grant-funded construction or renovation projects

    • Interface with contractors, engineers, inspectors, and suppliers

    • Maintain documentation related to contracts, permits, and timelines

    • Serve as on-site liaison for infrastructure-related vendors and teams

    Workday & Volunteer Coordination (2–3 hrs/week):

    • Organize and lead infrastructure-focused volunteer workdays and service events

    • Support resident and community member involvement in hands-on land care

    • Collaborate with Farm Manager and Education Director on overlapping needs (e.g., tool access, classroom maintenance, storage and supplies)

    • Background in facilities management, land stewardship, construction, or ecological systems

    • Experience with basic plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or carpentry tasks

    • Strong organizational skills and self-direction

    • Familiarity with natural building or off-grid/rural infrastructure a plus

    • Permaculture design certification or principles knowledge strongly encouraged

    • Comfort working in a collaborative environment and with minimal supervision

    • Ability to lift and carry tools and materials (with accommodations as needed)

    • This position can be structured in several ways depending on the applicant’s interest and funding:

    • Residential Option: Private cabin or room in shared residence, including utilities and communal access (approx. $600–$800 in-kind value per month)

    • Stipend Option: $500–$800/month starting stipend for 10–15 hours/week (dependent on experience and available funding)

    • Volunteer-to-Paid Pathway: Start as a work-trade or volunteer position while collaboratively seeking grant or donor funding for long-term employment

    • Flexible schedule, with some weekend workdays or seasonal deadlines

    • Ideal for individuals or couples interested in long-term rural land-based living

    • Opportunity to collaborate on the long-range vision and ecological design of Long Branch infrastructure

    • Potential for role expansion and increased compensation as capacity grows