Green Space Program Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

 The Green Space Program Specialist will foster community stewardship through the successful design and implementation of natural area enhancement projects in urban green spaces in partnership with public agencies, non-profit partners, individual landowners, Friends groups, and community volunteers. Additionally, they will coordinate with schools and community partners to deliver environmental curriculum, facilitate conversations, and foster leadership development through our youth programming. Ideal candidates will be team-oriented, creative, and adaptable; have a background in native plant restoration and working with youth; and be able to juggle multiple priorities and timelines at once. This position will be a hybrid role that works in varied settings, including in the field, in the Portland office, and from home.

DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Cultivates effective, long-standing equitable partnerships to plan and implement enhancement projects
• Initiates and conducts site preparation, planting, and maintenance activities
• Implements educational programming with school aged children (K-12)
• Orients, trains, and guides volunteers to facilitate a positive, supportive, and safe volunteer experience
• Coordinates weekend volunteer tree and shrub planting and environmental stewardship events
• Maintains data for all enhancement projects, including planting, maintenance, and survival rates
• Coordinates and staffs outreach events to engage community members, recruit volunteers and share information with public on projects
• Loads/unloads and drives vehicles to project sites throughout the Portland metro and Salem region
• Adheres to FOT’S safety protocols, and upholds a safe working environment
• Curates species lists for planting events and procures plants from nurseries in the region
• Secures food donations and other materials to support events
• Performs summer maintenance using power tools and mulching for long hours in various weather conditions
• Conducts outreach to private property owners for project implementation and education on watershed health
• Participates in cross-program committees and subcommittees to fulfill FOT mission
• Participates in fundraising for Friends of Trees general funds, as needed
• Assists with grant writing, management, and reporting
• Contributes content for TreeMail and FOT social media channels, as needed
• Other duties as assigned 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Well organized with excellent time management and respectful communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively while also exercising initiative to lead on implementing projects with supportive supervision
•  Experience working alongside and/or engaging with a wide diversity of people from different backgrounds
• Familiarity with PNW native plants, restoration techniques, and/or ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest
• Experience creating and/or implementing educational programming and curriculum for grades K-12
• An understanding of equity and how systems of oppression continue to impact low resource communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, and a demonstrated ability to apply a racial equity lens to environmental stewardship and outdoor education programming
• Ability to do physical work including lifting large trees and tools in a repetitive motion for long hours outside in a variety of weather conditions
• First Aid certification or willingness to obtain one
• Must have a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experienced in implementing restoration projects and/or demonstrated background in natural resources
• Wilderness First Aid Certification 
• Familiarity with ArcGIS, Salesforce, or Adobe Illustrator
• Able to speak a language other than English
• Experienced in facilitating meetings and community conversations