Urban Greening Specialist; Program Specialist

Position

Reporting to the Sustainability Program Specialist, and under the general direction of the Sustainability Manager, the Urban Greening Field Specialist will provide operational and programmatic supervision and provide support both in the field and in the office. Tree planting and watering is the primary focus of the Office of Sustainability field work activities led by Urban Greening Specialists, who typically supervise between 2 and 5 urban greening crew members that assist with these duties.

Urban Greening Specialists will coordinate and share the responsibilities of planting an average of 8 trees, watering an average of 80 trees, and delivering an average of 6 truckloads of mulch per field workday. Individuals must this a hybrid position with two in office days.

• Administer and execute ongoing public-facing sustainability and urban greening programs such as Mulch Delivery, Tree Planting, Native Habitat Restoration, and Direct Install projects, through scheduling, responding to customer inquiries, and processing requests
• Assist in the coordination, monitoring, and reporting of Office of Climate Action and Sustainability initiatives
• Supervise interns, Fellows and trainees assigned to the Office supporting sustainability and climate action and adaptation activities, including supervision of fieldwork by leading participants of the Urban Greening Field Crew
• Lead by example in physical field work tasks
• Drive and safely operate a City pickup truck and attached watering trailer
• Assist in stakeholder engagement, including ongoing coordination with other departments, external agencies, community‑based organizations, and academia to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships
• Collect, evaluate, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform sustainability‑related decision‑making processes and resource alignments
• Support leadership in responding effectively to emerging, evolving and time‑sensitive issues through research, stakeholder engagement, and policy development
• Contribute programmatic information to staff reports, webpages, press releases, social media and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary
• Organize, produce and/or participate in public events, workshops, and other outreach events as needed
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of new sustainability initiatives by conducting basic research functions and data analysis
• Provide support for after‑hours and weekend special events and perform a combination of in‑office and field work
• Other duties as assigned

• Possess a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Geography, Biology, Environmental Sustainability, Urban Planning, Parks and Recreation, Community Services or a related field.
  • Individuals can substitute with an Associate's Degree in the aforementioned fields and 2 years of experience.
  • Individuals can substitute with a Certificate in the aforementioned fields and 2 years of experience.
  • Individuals can substitute with experience on a year‑for‑year basis

• Lifting and carrying trees weighing up to 40 lbs
• Valid Motor Vehicle Operators License

• Knowledge and experience managing similar environmental or sustainability programs serving the public and/or field operations focused on environmental sustainability and/or climate resilience, energy conservation, recycling, or similar programs or operations
• Ability to perform physical activities in the field including digging using shovels and rock bars, lifting trees and watering containers (averaging 40 lbs) to shoulder height, using a stake driver to install lodgepoles, filling and emptying mulch bins, and other similar activities as operations require
• Ability to manage and motivate teams of workers toward a mutual goal or outcome, holding individuals accountable for performance and high caliber customer service
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, work collaboratively and consultatively with employees at all levels of the organization and with outside groups, agencies,…