Trees of Life Community Forester

Canopy is a community forestry non-profit partnering with the communities of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park, unincorporated North Fair Oaks of San Mateo County, Palo Alto, and Mountain View. Our mission is to collaborate with communities to grow and sustain equitable urban forests for all. We prioritize tree planting and stewardship, education, and advocacy in communities where people do not have a thriving urban forest due to limited resources, competing priorities, historical development, and urbanization patterns. Canopy staff and volunteers strive toward excellence, equity, collaboration, and gratitude in the work we do, and welcome candidates that share these values. We are seeking a dedicated individual to join our team and grow with us as we work towards our vision: connected communities thriving within a vibrant urban forest.

position Summary

The objective of the Trees of Life project at Canopy is to bridge faith and forestry in East Palo Alto. In Trees of Life, Canopy and community faith leaders will collaborate to design a multistep engagement and tree stewardship plan that centers a community responsive forestry program.

Under the direction of the Community Forestry Manager, the Trees of Life Community Forester will be responsible for partnering with East Palo Alto’s faith-based community to grow the urban canopy on congregation property and the residences of congregation members through fruit tree distribution events and community tree plantings. The ideal
candidate will be able to call upon lived experiences to organically connect with East Palo Alto’s faith-based community, manage effective communication with the community, balance community engagement and fieldwork, and collaborate on shared goals with teammates. This position is an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of urban forestry and its intersection with faith-based communities, to work collaboratively with others, and to affect meaningful change in our communities and the environment.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Trees of Life Community Forester will spend approximately:

• 45-50% of time on faith community engagement, collaborating with community partners, and project planning
• 45-50% of time on tree distributions, planting events, and other fieldwork for the East Palo Alto faith community
• 5% of time on general program support

The Trees of Life Community Forester’s duties and responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that 1,150 native and climate-adapted trees are added to East Palo Alto’s urban canopy through community tree planting and distribution events.
• Collaborating with faith community partners on community engagement, co-creating engagement plans and internally tracking the work with community partners
• Engage over 25 faith congregations located in East Palo Alto to foster engagement of individuals, groups, and organizations in tree planting and tree stewardship
• Collaborating with community faith leaders to determine their capacity and preferences for trees, coordinate schedules and logistics, develop appropriate educational collateral, and conduct post-event follow-ups to further expand community planting opportunities
• Working to grow a healthy urban forest that addresses community needs and promotes community mental and health through increased access to trees and nature
• Forging strong connections between local environmental non-profits and faith-based groups while nurturing a more diverse and inclusive network of urban tree stewards and champions
• Coordinating community tree distribution and planting events from start to finish, from connecting with a congregation member interested in a tree, to conducting a site assessment, to ensuring that the tree is properly planted and cared for
• Completing regular fieldwork such as site assessments, tree tagging and purchasing, site and tool prep, tree drop offs, tree planting, tree maintenance, etc. as needed
• Supporting community forestry team colleagues with their fieldwork and events as feasible and necessary
• Partner with the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager and Education team to coordinate volunteers and support staff and logistics related to hosting tree planting and distribution events
• Assist with special events, education, and tablings/outreach, especially that relates to work with faith-based communities in East Palo Alto
• Track work in Salesforce, Tree Plotter, and other means as needed, managing the data and reporting with the Community Forestry Manager
• Collaborate with colleagues in other cities (ex. Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks) as needed

Preferred Qualifications and experience

• Lived experience or experience working with untapped communities
• Lived experience working with faith-based communities
• Bilingual in Spanish, Tongan, Samoan, or Mandarin
• Passion for trees, equity, and access to urban nature; willingness to memorize tree-specific information
• Knowledge and/or experience in arboriculture, horticulture, urban forestry, landscape management or design, or related fields
• Experience performing fieldwork outdoors with trees and/or plants
• Experience with community organizing and volunteer engagement
• Experience using an online database, such as Salesforce and GIS. Experience with online tree mapping software like TreePlotter is a plus
• Expertise in Google Suite
• Several years of driving experience. Experience driving a trailer is a plus
• Being an ISA Certified Arborist is a plus but not required, though we ask that you study for and plan to take the exam during your position at Canopy if you are hired and are not yet a certified arborist. Training and/or study materials for the exam will be provided, and Canopy will cover the cost of the certification exam registration. Studying for the exam will take place during working hours.

Requirements

• CA Drivers License
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently
• Ability to bend, squat, stoop, and stand for long periods of time frequently
• Ability to sit and type frequently

Schedule, Compensation and Benefits

This is a temporary, full-time position of 40 hours a week ending on December 31, 2027. Employment is contingent on federal grant funding availability. The work week is Tuesday through Saturday, with occasional early mornings, evenings, Sundays and a commitment to engaging with the community at suitable times for them.

Annual Salary: $60,000 per year

• Health Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance is available
• Retirement: 401k, with the hope of offering employer matching contributions in the future.
• Sick leave: 12 days (96 hours) sick leave per year with a maximum accrual of 12 days per year.
• Vacation time: 12 days (96 hours) per year with a maximum accrual of 18 days per year. Accrual rates increase after two years with Canopy.
• Paid holidays: The following are official holidays for all Canopy employees:
  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
  • President’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veteran’s Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve Day
  • Christmas Day
  • The work days falling between Christmas and New Year’s Day
  • One floating holiday to be used for work anniversary, birthday, or a cultural holiday