Director, Urban Forestry, Northeast & Midwest

Department: Urban Forestry 

Reports To: Senior Director, Urban Forestry Strategy 

Location: Remote (Preference for Newark, NJ; Boston, MA; or New York Based Candidates) 

FLSA Category: Exempt 

Posted On: November 19, 2024 
Application Deadline: December 3, 2024 
Applicant Notification Begin: December 4, 2024 

ABOUT US 

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to wilderness, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restoring urban forests and forested landscapes for nearly 150 years.  

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible (DEIA) workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.  

POSITION SUMMARY 

Since 2018, American Forests (AF) has been supporting communities by using the power of trees to address environmental injustices faced by the country’s most disadvantaged communities. With this, American Forests created a bold goal of delivering the needed technical expertise, workforce and funding opportunities, and policy guidance to help U.S. cities commit to and make progress towards Tree Equity across the country, with over 150 and counting.  

Our new Director, Northeast Urban Forestry (the “Director”) will report to the Senior Director of Urban Forestry Strategy (the “Senior Director”) and will play a vital role in AF’s goals to deliver the benefits of Tree Equity to disadvantaged and historically under-resourced cities across the Northeast to Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, DC).  

The Director will lead AF’s Field Delivery strategy across the Northeast and collaborate across a team of Field Delivery professionals who work together to support cities in committing to and advancing Tree Equity using best-in-class urban forestry tools and resources provided by American Forests and its partners. The Director will help cities in the planning and advancement of Tree Equity within their urban forestry programs, with a focus on Newark, NJ and surrounding cities; Boston, MA and surrounding cities; and New York state. The Director will:  

• Develop city and state partnerships and coalitions to garner commitments to Tree Equity 
• Support stakeholders in adopting our tools and resources to advance their Tree Equity programs via learning opportunities, hands-on technical assistance, and regional and statewide Tree Equity coalitions, including launching a new coalition in the Northeast. 
• Identify and pursue public and private funding opportunities to advance regional Tree Equity strategies 
• Maintain awareness of urban forestry issues and relationships with regional and national leaders apply knowledge and direct resources within the Northeast region. 
• Serve as American Forests’ expert on all aspects of urban forestry, tree species, cultural dynamics, and other related topics across the Northeast. 

The Director will additionally ensure seamless internal coordination and accountability, as needed, among AF’s diverse Tree Equity program teams, including youth and workforce development, community engagement, grantmaking, research, GIS, and Federal Policy staff as they support our larger program goals. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

Regional Strategy and Implementation (65%)  

• Develop & Implement Regional Strategy – Develop and implement a regional strategy that directly supports the Field Delivery national strategy in garnering city-level Tree Equity commitments and supporting urban forestry departments in advancing Tree Equity. This includes developing and sustaining relationships to foster strategic partnerships; providing learning opportunities and hands-on technical assistance; and launching and supporting coalitions of partners – all in alignment with American Forests urban forestry program model utilizing our science-based tools and resources. 
• Foster Strategic Partnerships – Conduct outreach to cultivate new and steward existing relationships with urban forestry practitioners; state urban & community forestry coordinators; state environmental and natural resources departments; state urban forestry councils; and regional US Forest Service urban & community forestry program managers. Attend and present at key meetings to support their city networks in adopting our tools and resources to advance their Tree Equity programs and identify new funding opportunities. 
• Provide Learning Opportunities – support and at times co-lead national educational strategies, while also leading regional and local educational strategies to support cities in committing to and advancing Tree Equity. This will include developing and delivering presentations and trainings at conferences, meetings, and events, as well as maintaining a portfolio of cities to provide recurring 1:1 coaching. 
• Provide Hands-On Technical Assistance – Develop partnerships, scope opportunities, and identify funding sources to provide direct, hands-on support to cities in advancing their Tree Equity programs, utilizing American Forests’ tools and resources. The Director will manage relationships and provide leadership on American Forests’ projects and initiatives in the region, including an active community engagement project in Boston, MA; assisting with American Forests’ events and corporate tree plantings; and providing on-going technical assistance to American Forests’ Catalyst Fund & Initiative subawards in the Northeast region. Lastly, the Director will provide Ad-hoc technical assistance to the following cities in both the Northeast and Midwest in utilizing Tree Equity Score Analyzer tools for decision-making and impact communications (Boston, MA; Columbus & Franklin County, OH; DC Region; Detroit, MI; Indianapolis & Marion County, IN; Rhode Island; Richmond, VA; and Toronto, ON). 
• Launch a Statewide Tree Equity Coalition – Through strategic partnerships, support local leaders in launching a new statewide Tree Equity coalition in the Northeast region. Provide on-going support in coordinating meetings, workgroups and in-person events; conducting outreach to engage new cities; and providing thought leadership to ensure coalition partners have the tools and resources needed to commit to and advance Tree Equity. Collaborate with coalition partners on developing and implementing local and national fundraising strategies to sustain partnership goals. 

National Program Support (20%)  

• National Program Support – where opportunities arise outside of the Northeast region, support efforts to establish partnerships and programs in new cities and geographies. 

Administration (15%)  

• Marketing & Communications - Serve as a key resource for prepping both internal and public communications related to American Forests’ urban forestry impact across the Northeast region, including participating in interviews and other media requests as American Forests’ regional expert. 
• Budgeting – Support Tree Equity Operations team in developing and managing budgets for grant proposals, contracts, and subawards to secure and manage revenue in support of the regional strategy. · Fundraising - Alongside the Senior Director and Tree Equity Operations and Leadership, collaborate with the Philanthropy on submitting proposals, assisting with donor communications, and generating reports and invoices to advance Field Delivery fundraising needs and operations in the Northeast. 
• Operations - Manage and report regional project information, including developing regional project budgets and project narratives upon request. Provide additional support on other duties as assigned to collaborate across the team and ensure the successful delivery and administration of team strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS 

While we do not expect any one candidate to possess all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal skills and qualities: 

• 7+ears of professional urban forestry experience in the Northeast, with established relationships with cities, state urban and community forestry councils and regional coordinators, USFS regional foresters, community-based organizations, and funders. 
• ISA Certified Arborist with a degree in landscape architecture, urban planning, forestry or related field and significant technical knowledge in arboriculture and urban forestry 

• Advanced knowledge of American Forests’ tools and resources, with a preference for candidates who can translate technical knowledge into actionable information for diverse audiences. 
• Experience in forming and leading partnerships, particularly in the context of regional or statewide cross-sector coalitions. 
• Experience growing and managing complex projects in a remote environment, including developing and driving forward KPIs. 
• Commitment to proactively pursue technical assistance and revenue generation opportunities and results around Tree Equity at multiple scales. 
• Experience either directly managing or being accountable for diverse and complex budgets and grants, including both private and public funding; strong acumen in research and grant writing; ease of working with Marketing and Communications and Philanthropy. 
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, to confidently and persuasively sustain productive partnerships. 
• Quick learner with exceptional attention to detail, with ability to work in a fast-paced environment and take initiative to develop systems and resources that enhance team efficiency.

AMERICAN FORESTS’ CORE COMPETENCIES: 

• Attitude: Brings a positive outlook to the work and helps inspires others to achieve excellence. 
• Communication: Produces strong written documents, edits documents effectively, engages in effective verbal communication—1-on-1 and small group—and conducts effective large group presentations. 
• Organization: Prioritizes tasks effectively, accomplishes tasks efficiently, follows through on all commitments, breaks down large projects to make them manageable, and effectively manages complex projects involving multiple actors. 
• Problem-Solving & Creativity: Identifies issues, effectively structures problems, analyzes data to produce insights, and generates wise, actionable recommendations. Understands the limited resources available and produces creative solutions. 
• Representing the Organization: Serves as an effective ambassador, builds connections, and maintains relationships with outside partners, vendors and donors. Brings credibility to the organization in how they present themselves. 

LOCATION & WORKING CONDITIONS 

This is a remote position with preference given to candidates in Boston, MA, Newark, NJ, or New York. Up to 55% of travel to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. or throughout the U.S. for key stakeholder meetings, events and projects may be required.  

Subject to applicable laws, American Forests requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. We will consider requests for accommodation to this vaccination requirement during the recruiting process. Any requested accommodation(s) must be reviewed and approved (if applicable) in advance of your start date.