Details
Date: June 7, 2021 – August 30, 2021 (some flexibility with start and end dates)
Hours per week: 30 – 35 hours/ week
Salary: $20 – $25 per hour
Application: Send a cover letter and resume to David Meshoulam at david@treeboston.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include “TUTC 2021 Program Coordinator” in the subject line.
Questions?: Call 617-398-7409 or email trees@sfttbos.org
Information about Speak for the Trees
Speak for the Trees (SFTT) is a non-profit organization committed to improving the size and health of the urban tree canopy in Boston, especially in areas with low canopy coverage. We aim to achieve our mission through community projects at the neighborhood level. We believe that change happens when residents have ownership over their urban spaces and feel empowered to take action. Through partnerships and shared best practices, we create customized programs according to the unique needs, geography, and structure of each neighborhood. SFTT envisions a city with a healthy tree canopy that takes into account issues of equity such as diversity, race, socioeconomic status, and geography. In addition, SFTT advocates for updated municipal policies governing tree planting, neighborhood prioritization, and length of care to ensure trees are efficiently planted and strategically placed in communities that need them most.
Program Description
The Teen Urban Tree Corps (TUTC) is a youth summer employment program for approximately 20 Boston teens (ages 15-18) through the City of Boston’s Department of Youth Engagement and Employment (YEE) and John Hancock’s MLK Scholars Program. For this summer’s program teens will engage in a hands-on active learning program in which they will receive invaluable job skills and connections in the world of urban forestry. Focus will be placed on providing teens with job training and skill development in issues related to urban forestry and arboriculture. TUTC participants will create urban forest plans for a small area in Boston and engage with workforce development workshops which will allow them to bring experience to future positions in urban forestry. Youth will be trained to assess tree health, identify species, consider site characteristics, log data, plant and maintain trees, and use iTree technology.
Program Coordinator Responsibilities
Working under the direction of SFTT’s staff, the TUTC Program Coordinator will have primary responsibility of managing the TUTC program. For approximately 25 hours per week, the Program Coordinator will supervise TUTC youth in the field or at events. An additional 5-10 hours per week will be spent assisting SFTT staff program development, curriculum planning, program evaluation, and/ or networking opportunities. The Coordinator will be required to complete 2-3 weeks of training in June in advance of TUTC launch in early July.
The Program Coordinator will:
- Attend trainings and program development in June
- Assist with orientation and training of other TUTC staff members and the youth team
- Lead weekly TUTC team meetings
- Supervise the TUTC team in the field 5 hours per day, Monday through Friday
- Establish daily objectives and day-to-day area plans for TUTC Teams
- Mobilize, monitor, and track TUTC team progress
- Supervise TUTC sign-in requirements and submit timesheets weekly
- Meet with SFTT staff weekly to provide updates on program progress
- Attend and participate in educational activities, workshops, and networking events as needed
- Collaborate with SFTT staff to assist with program evaluation
Qualifications
Requirements
- Knowledge of arboriculture and/or tree care.
- Experience supervising and/or teaching youth
- Strong organization and project management skills
- Experience working in diverse communities
- Ability to work and solve problems independently
- Strong verbal and written skills
- Willingness to engage with residents and neighborhood representatives
- Interest and experience in environmental justice, urban forestry, and/ or tree care.
- Commitment to issues of public health and environmental justice
- Ability to walk 1-2 miles per day
Helpful Experiences:
- ISA Certification or past work as a tree care professional.
- Work or course experience in environmental issues or sustainability
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
Please Note: In order to be eligible to for a program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, applicants will be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.
Diversity, equity, and equal opportunity are at the core of our work.
We are committed to building a team that represents diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Underrepresented groups encouraged to apply.
