Community Forester, The Greening of Detroit
Posted: 3/4/08
POSITION: Community Forester
START DATE: TBD
SALARY: $28,800 per year with full benefits, negotiable
CONTACT: Paul Bairley, Director of Urban Forestry
Organizational Description: The Greening of Detroit is a 501c(3) non-profit organization working with neighborhoods, community groups, schools, churches and businesses to grow a greener Detroit through planting and educational programs, environmental leadership, advocacy and by building community capacity. For the past 19 years we have been working to improve environmental quality and green the City of Detroit. We work closely with the City of Detroit’s General Services, Planning and Recreation Departments as well as neighborhood block clubs from throughout the city to complete this work.
Position Summary: The Community Foresters implement the tree planning and maintenance operations of The Greening of Detroit. Community Foresters work closely with diverse groups of people throughout the city of Detroit to plant and maintain trees along streets, in parks and in schoolyards. Community Foresters report to the Director of Forestry.
Work Environment: Community Foresters will have workspace at the headquarters of The Greening of Detroit. Their work will be conducted in the field a majority of the time. Community Foresters maintain flexible hours and are required to supervise Saturday plantings and attend evening meetings with community groups.
Required Skills: The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Horticulture, Environmental Science or a related field. Candidates will be considered who have not achieved a bachelor’s degree but who have significant experience in the field and have completed specific class work or continuing education in forestry or horticulture. Staff-dynamics are of utmost importance at The Greening of Detroit and candidates must display professionalism, independent judgment and decision-making ability, self-motivation and a team mentality. We are looking for a demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of people, excellent communication and organizational skills, computer literacy, and a genuine appreciation for the urban environment. Previous work with volunteers and community groups desirable.
Duties and Responsibilities in Rank Order:
- Plan and implement volunteer staffed tree planting projects in the city of Detroit as directed by the Urban Forester
1) Coordinate planting logistics between all Departments
2) Manage planting activities on site at all tree planting projects
3) Recruit and train volunteer planting coordinators
4) Manage tree planting volunteers on site at plantings
5) Act as the Greening’s Community Liaison for Species Selection
6) Distribute plant material
7) Tree Age: ensure necessary maintenance of planting projects - Maintains Greening Planting Database
1) Conduct survivability survey of Greening plantings
2) Implement a community driven inventory project
3) Inputs data into organizational database - Manages fruit and orchard programs
1) Coordinates planting, pruning and maintenance of orchards
2) Coordinate harvest
3) Implement pest control using IPM strategies - Implements/Staffs annual tree sale
- Coordinate plant donation and salvage operations
- Provides instruction at Greening educational programs
- Works with Greening Trees Committee
- Assists in all other tasks involved with the promotion, operation and support of The Greening of Detroit as directed by the President of The Greening of Detroit
The Greening of Detroit provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, political or union affiliation or handicap not related to job. In recruiting new staff members, we seek people who are passionate about the city of Detroit and the southeastern Michigan region that it anchors, the environment and the people who live and work here. We welcome referrals of diverse candidates who meet these criteria.
Contact:
Web: www.greeningofdetroit.com
Email: karen[at]greeningofdetroit.com
Phone: 313-237-8733
Cover letters and resume information accepted electronically at the email address listed above or via US mail to The Greening of Detroit, 1418 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48216.