CLOSED
Title:
Urban Forest Project Coordinator
Reports to: Executive Director
Hours & Salary: Full-time (40+ hours per week), Occasional evenings and weekends – paid, salary position
Position Description:
The Urban Forest Project Coordinator will lead Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ urban forest community engagement initiative. Key elements of the initiative include:
- An urban forest web resource center
- A crowd-sourced citizen inventory and tree map
- A wide array of tree-related activities, events, volunteer and partnership opportunities.
The Coordinator will work closely with the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Executive Director and Volunteer Coordinator, as well as the Grand Rapids City Forester and a variety of local organizations involved in urban forest activities.
Position Responsibilities:
Partnerships
- Build partnerships with community organizations to develop and promote urban forest engagement activities
- Establish ongoing relationships with educational institutions environmental organizations, arts and cultural, City government, the Grand Rapids Urban Forestry Committee, utility companies, neighborhood associations, local corporations, etc.
- Promote group and individual participation in the citizen inventory/tree map
- Oversee project mini-grant program
- Assist local organizations in accessing resources related to urban forestry (e.g., K-12 curriculum materials)
- Build partnerships with state and national urban forestry organizations
Event Support
- Support volunteer planting, inventorying and tree care events involving neighborhood groups, park volunteers, schools, employee groups, etc.
- Manage an annual tree sale and/or fundraising event
Website/Social Media Support
- Maintain the Urban Forest Project web resource center, providing ongoing updating of events, volunteer opportunities, resources, and other aspects of the website
- Provide support to maintain and enhance the Grand Rapids citizen tree inventory/map
- Assist Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in effective use of social media to promote urban forest involvement
Project Sustainability
- Support Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ activities focused on
- Grant research and writing activities related to the urban forest
- Sponsorship opportunities for tree-related events and programs
- Revenue-generating programs and contracted projects.
- Assist the Executive Director with additional fundraising activities
Required Skills:
- Experience in developing and maintaining organizational partnerships and collaborative projects
- Ability to establish priorities and work independently on assigned tasks
- Comfortable building relationships and networking with a diverse population and volunteers
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Can passionately represent the values and goals of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and the Urban Forest Project
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and web applications
Required Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree Required
- A minimum of 2 years relevant job experience in communications and/or project management
- Natural Resources background preferred, but not required
Please submit resume and cover letter by Friday, April 13, 2011 (no longer accepting applications)
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ mission is to protect, enhance and expand parks and public spaces.
Additional Information on the Urban Forest Project
Urban Forest Project Job Opening.pdf
