Urban Tree Canopy Manager

JOB SUMMARY
The Urban Tree Canopy Manager provides Town-wide strategic leadership and coordination for preserving, enhancing, and expanding the Town’s tree canopy across public and private property. The position leads the development and implementation of the Town-wide Tree Planting Plan, supports the Community Forest Master Plan, coordinates tree-related initiatives across departments, and develops partnerships and funding opportunities to advance canopy goals.

The position establishes recommendations for canopy priorities, performance measures, and resource needs; coordinates public and private planting initiatives; and reports progress to Town leadership and the community. The position works through departmental leadership and respects the operational authority of departments responsible for their assigned assets, projects, and services.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Town-wide Canopy Planning and Leadership

Leads the development, and coordination, of the Town-wide Tree Planting Plan and supports implementation and periodic updates of the Community Forest Master Plan.
Recommends Town-wide tree canopy goals, priorities, strategies, and performance measures.
Identifies opportunities to integrate tree preservation, planting, and canopy enhancement into Town plans, new infrastructure projects, and resilience efforts.
Uses canopy data and the Public Tree Inventory to support Town-wide planning, analysis, and reporting.

Planting Programs and Departmental Coordination

Coordinates Town-wide tree planting and canopy enhancement initiatives on public and private property in partnership with responsible departments and property owners.
Works with Public Services and other departments to develop joint recommendations through departmental leadership regarding public planting priorities, resources, and implementation strategies.
Coordinates with the Urban Forestry Project Manager and other technical staff to incorporate operational and site-specific considerations into planting recommendations.
Identifies opportunities for private-property programs, partnerships, sponsorships, and community participation.
Works with residents and homeowners’ associations to identify and implement tree planting opportunities on non-Town properties

Funding and Resource Development

Develops and recommends program budgets and resource needs in coordination with Town leadership and responsible departments.
Identifies and pursues grants, appropriations, sponsorships, partnerships, and other funding opportunities.
Coordinates grant applications, funding proposals, and related program documentation.

Performance, Engagement, and Reporting

Tracks and evaluates progress toward established canopy goals, planting objectives, and program outcomes.
Prepares reports and presentations for Town leadership, Town Council, advisory committees, and the community.
Develops public education and engagement initiatives related to tree preservation, planting, and stewardship.
Builds relationships with residents, businesses, community organizations, regional partners, and other stakeholders.

Other Responsibilities

Coordinates Town-wide tree canopy initiatives while supporting the operational authority of the responsible departments.
Represents the Town at relevant meetings, events, and professional organizations.
Performs other related duties and special projects, as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban forestry, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture, environmental science, or a related field; and
Five (5) years of progressively responsible related experience; or
an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid South Carolina Driver’s License
ISA Certified Arborist certification.
ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional certification or obtain it within six months of date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience coordinating programs or projects involving multiple departments, agencies, organizations, or community stakeholders.
Experience developing or implementing an urban forestry, community forest, tree canopy, sustainability, or natural resource management plan.
Experience with grant development, grant administration, sponsorship development, or other external funding programs.
Experience with GIS, tree inventory, canopy assessment, asset-management, or related data systems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge

Knowledge of urban forestry, community forestry, tree canopy planning, tree planting, and canopy preservation principles and practices.
Knowledge of strategic planning, program development, project management, performance measurement, and program evaluation.
Knowledge of environmental planning, sustainability, resilience, green infrastructure, and related municipal initiatives.
Knowledge of grant development and administration, budgeting, sponsorships, partnerships, and other program-funding strategies.
Knowledge of community engagement, public education, and partnership-development practices.
Knowledge of GIS, tree inventory, canopy assessment, and related data-management concepts.
Knowledge of municipal government operations and the coordination required to implement initiatives involving multiple departments and stakeholders.

Skills

Skill in developing strategic plans, implementation strategies, goals, performance measures, work plans, and program recommendations.
Skill in coordinating complex programs and projects involving multiple departments and external stakeholders.
Skill in analyzing tree canopy, inventory, GIS, program, and other relevant data and translating findings into recommendations and priorities.
Skill in developing budgets and preparing grant applications, reports, presentations, and other technical and administrative documents.
Skill in communicating complex information clearly to elected officials, Town staff, community organizations, partners, and the public.
Skill in developing productive partnerships and facilitating collaboration among individuals and organizations with differing responsibilities and interests.

Abilities

Ability to provide leadership for Town-wide programs and initiatives without direct supervisory authority.
Ability to develop and coordinate long-range strategies for preserving, enhancing, and expanding the Town’s tree canopy.
Ability to manage multiple programs, projects, priorities, deadlines, budgets, and funding requirements.
Ability to establish meaningful performance measures and evaluate progress toward established canopy goals.
Ability to identify funding opportunities and develop strategies for obtaining and effectively using available resources.
Ability to coordinate implementation activities across organizational and departmental boundaries.
Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and develop recommendations based on data, adopted plans, Town priorities, available resources, and community needs.
Ability to communicate effectively and maintain professional working relationships with elected officials, Town staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the public.
Ability to present information, recommendations, and program results effectively to Town leadership, elected officials, boards, committees, and community groups.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The work requires a combination of office and field activities. The position requires the ability to communicate effectively; operate a computer and standard office equipment; review plans, maps, data, and electronic records; drive to project and meeting locations; and conduct site observations.

Field activities require standing and walking, including occasional travel over uneven terrain, landscaped areas, parks, rights-of-way, and other outdoor locations. The employee may occasionally be required to bend, stoop, reach, and lift, carry, push, or pull materials or equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS:
The position requires the ability to:

Analyze tree canopy, inventory, GIS, environmental, demographic, program, and other relevant information and identify trends, needs, priorities, and opportunities.
Develop long-range strategies, implementation plans, performance measures, and recommendations related to Town-wide tree canopy goals.
Interpret and apply adopted plans, policies, program requirements, grant requirements, and applicable technical information.
Evaluate competing priorities and recommend effective use of available funding and resources.
Coordinate complex initiatives involving multiple departments, agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
Exercise sound professional judgment when addressing program, funding, implementation, and community issues.
Prepare clear reports, presentations, funding requests, grant applications, and recommendations for technical and nontechnical audiences.
Organize and manage multiple programs, projects, deadlines, reporting requirements, and community initiatives.
Communicate effectively with elected officials, Town leadership, employees, community partners, and the public.
Adapt to changing Town priorities, funding opportunities, community needs, project conditions, and environmental circumstances.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed primarily in a professional office environment with periodic work in outdoor settings, including parks, landscaped areas, neighborhoods, rights-of-way, project sites, and other locations associated with tree canopy programs and initiatives. Outdoor activities may involve exposure to traffic, vegetation, insects, pollen, heat, cold, rain, and other weather conditions.

The position requires frequent interaction and coordination with Town employees, elected officials, governmental agencies, community organizations, neighborhoods, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, consultants, and members of the public. Local travel to meetings, project sites, community events, and other locations is required. Attendance at meetings, presentations, community events, and other activities outside normal business hours may occasionally be required.