Hybrid Department of Forestry Conservation Project Assistant (Federal Work Study, Student Wage) presso University of Virginia

In partnership with Student Financial Services the Department of Forestry is recruiting for a Conservation Project Assistant. The Department of Forestry is located 900 Natural Resources Drive Charlottesville Virginia 22903. This position is open to both UVA undergraduate and graduate students. This position will mainly be hybrid but there will be a limited expectation of some in-person office

responsibilities.

Organizational Background:

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) Office of Working Lands (OWL) works to retain a landscape of farms and forests in the Commonwealth to support continued and sustainable management of working lands by, 1) developing conservation easements with landowners; 2) acquiring new DOF public state forests; 3) helping landowners access existing programs that incentivize forest and farm conservation; 4) advise localities on how to preserve their local farms and forestlands and by 4) always exploring new and innovative ways to help conserve Virginia’s farms and forests.

Job Description:

We are currently hiring a Conservation Project Assistant to help complete a large, complex forest land conservation project. The project represents the single largest private landowner conservation transaction ever proposed in Virginia, encompassing approximately 22,000 acres of forest land.  The cumulative conservation outcomes will achieve extraordinary public benefits by protecting 35 square miles of highly productive working forests from development which shall ensure continued sustainable timber management.

The goal is to provide the Conservation Project Assistant with real world, state agency experience to enhance their marketability as an employee post-graduation. Working on a state project on this immense scale and complexity will provide invaluable experience to the applicant. The conservation project functions as a complex real estate transaction between a willing private landowner and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The work includes but is not limited to:

• Help review real estate transaction related legal documents such as appraisals, boundary surveys, title searches (deeds and easements) and real estate closing documents
• Help develop and review Baseline Documentation Reports (BDR) for easement acquisitions related to project
• Help organize and manage all required documents related to project real estate transactions  
• Learn to review and produce basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps related to the project (if interested)

Desired Qualifications:

• Interest and/or experience in managing the legal aspects of real estate transactions
• Interest in learning about and helping with the state procurement of real
• estate services
• Familiarity with reviewing real estate legal documents such as appraisal reports, title insurance commitments, deeds, and real estate purchase contracts.
• Familiarity with GIS

This position may be best suited for:

• Graduate Law School Students
• Graduate Urban Planning Program Students
• Undergraduate Urban Planning Program Students

Student must be receiving Federal Work Study funding in order to apply for this position. Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter for further consideration from the hiring manager.

This position is a paid internship, the undergraduate hourly pay rate will be $18.00 per hour. Graduate student pay will be $21.00 hourly. 10-15 hours are the expectation with consideration for the students class schedule.

Position begins August 26, 2025 and ends May 8, 2026.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.