Chicago Region Trees Initiative Community Manager

Location: Hybrid (The Morton Arboretum Lisle IL)

Position Summary: Responsible for managing developing implementing and communicating the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) Community Program providing education outreach and training to public landowners and managers and governmental entities to improve the health of the urban forest and quality of life in the Chicago region. Work closely with the CRTI team to support and implement programs and opportunities including the CRTI Master Plan. Represent CRTI to partners and constituents to foster and facilitate improved health and sustainability of the urban and community forest and advance the mission of The Morton Arboretum.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and manage outreach education activities and events for public landowners and managers to improve community policy advocacy and skills including resources and training programs for residents to support and advocate for urban forestry with government entities. Represent CRTI in regional public land focused organizations.

• Manage and implement the public land goals and objectives of the CRTI Master Plan through coordination of internal and external groups. Develop and implement the Operational Capacity Survey and integrate with the CRTI datasets to assess plan progress.

• Solicit develop and manage urban forestry grants and special funding including special project funding and manage CRTIs relationship with the IDNR. Lead CRTIs government and public land-related subgrant programs.

• Lead the development of CRTIs tree ordinance policy and plan recommendations and support creation and updates to applicable laws policies and plans at the local and state level.

• Implement and manage the Chicago Region Carbon Program.

• Manage the data collection related CRTI tracking and the IDNR Community Accomplishments Reporting System (CARS) contact database. Contribute to contact database resources and web content for designated constituents

• Conduct research for projects as needed. Compile organize and present information in print and verbal communication. Frequently work on projects and activities that take place outside of the seven-county region occasionally work on projects at the great lakes regional and national scales.

• Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretums employee core values.

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Serve in a supervisory capacity of one or more employees providing leadership guidance and communicating the organizations goals. This includes:

  • Hiring training coaching and developing team members by providing recognition and feedback and evaluating performance

  • Ensuring that team members adhere to the Arboretums policies and procedures and maintaining a safe and compliant work environment

  • Building and maintaining positive working relationships with team members colleagues and other stakeholders to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment

Qualifications: Bachelors degree required Masters degree preferred in the areas of forestry horticulture or natural resource management. 4 years related experience required such as urban forestry practice research or grant management. International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist preferred. UCFS Certified Urban Forest Professional or SAF Certified Urban and Community Forester preferred. Experience in organizing meetings and presenting events or educational sessions preferred. Experience with community and civic organizations and processes preferred. Familiarity with GIS mapping and analysis preferred. Good communication skills attention to detail organizational skills and customer service ethic required. Must possess a valid drivers license which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Constant Contact Salesforce social media web content development and Google applications beneficial.

Success Factors: Proactive self-motivated highly organized and detail oriented. Strong collaboration organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines. Effective time-management skills and a positive and flexible approach to the job. Ability to nimbly manage complex tasks and concurrent projects. Customer service oriented with the ability to relate effectively with persons internal and external to the Arboretum and genuine enthusiasm for working with the public.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 40 lbs.) walking over uneven terrain regular local travel by car truck or train.

• Work Environment: Office environment and various venues for community events. Occasional outside work is required including digging pruning and planting of trees.

• Equipment: General office equipment digital camera shovel wire cutters pruners Arboretum truck and trailer.

• Schedule: Work requires occasional evening and weekend hours.

The expected hiring range for this position is $67000-$77000 based on experience that will be evaluated during the candidate selection process. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of the final offer.

Our benefits include:

• Medical Dental and Vision insurance

• 401(k) with generous match

• Generous vacation floating holidays and sick days

And more! For a complete list of benefits please view our competitive benefits package.

For full consideration please include resume and cover letter with application.

The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts inspires and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race religion color national origin sex sexual orientation gender identity age disability or veteran status.The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.