Job Opportunities

Friends of the Urban Forest is hiring the following positions:

Marketing and Communications Director
Planting Coordinator

Marketing and Communications Director

About Friends of the Urban Forest

Friends of the Urban Forest is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and neighborhood groups to plant and care for street trees and sidewalk gardens in San Francisco. By making San Francisco greener, Friends of the Urban Forest supports the health and livability of the urban environment. Since 1981, Friends of the Urban Forest has planted almost half of the city’s street tree canopy.

Position Summary

The Marketing and Communications Director will work closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to craft strategic messaging, build a comprehensive communications and marketing plan, oversee media strategy, and develop and strengthen the organization’s constituent engagement ladder. This position will manage a motivated and talented part-time public relations professional.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will serve in a leadership capacity to build new audiences and constituencies for Friends of the Urban Forest’s work, increase our voice and influence in the community, and manage all aspects of the organization’s brand.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) people are strongly encouraged to apply, and so are candidates dedicated to anti-racism, gender inclusivity, and inclusion.

Primary Responsibilities

As a key member of the organization’s leadership team, help set organizational priorities, measure and evaluate progress, and respond to emerging opportunities;
Monitor and safeguard the organization’s brand, voice, and influence;
Develop and deploy organizational high-level messaging as well as topical messaging and talking points;
Manage overhaul of organization’s website, https://www.fuf.net;
Manage all incoming media inquiries, develop and sustain relationships with media contacts, and proactively increase organizational visibility in the media, highlighting programmatic accomplishments;
Oversee design and production of print and digital collateral, newsletters, and other marketing/communications assets;
Direct social media strategy and implementation across key platforms including (but not limited to) Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, growing followers and engagement;
Manage and coordinate organization’s multi-channel communications calendar;
In partnership with the development team, create and implement donor communications plan to include production of donor newsletters, appeals, and other donor communications;
Support other staff and departments with their communications needs, contributing to the success of their events and presentations;
Manage and support an experienced, part-time communications and marketing/public relations staff member;
Coach and provide constructive feedback to organizational staff to improve writing, communications, public speaking, and media interview skills.

Candidates must possess the following key qualifications:

Superlative written and verbal communications skills, with a focus on writing for nonprofit/donor audiences;
Be highly collaborative across teams and disciplines;
Experience building strategic communications plans;
Be adaptable and quick-thinking under pressure;
Strong understanding of brand development and maintenance;
High level of comfort with web/digital media analytics and experience evaluating performance and adapting planning/projects accordingly;
Experience in effectively managing and growing teams, with an emphasis on professional development support for junior staff.

Strong candidates will also possess the following preferred qualifications:

A commitment to and passion for the Friends of the Urban Forest’s mission;
Demonstrated track record of list and social media follower growth;
Experience crafting fundraising/membership communications;
Working knowledge of the local media landscape;
Experience acting as an on-the-record spokesperson for an organization, as well as experience fielding media requests, developing internal media capacity, developing relationships with media contacts, and handling crisis communications;
Advanced knowledge of Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, and Google Apps suite;
Familiarity with WordPress, HTML, Google Ads, and analytics;
Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite;
Experience creating and/or overhauling websites;
Basic skill in and understanding of graphic design, photography, photo editing/optimization;
Experience with marketing and communications related to environmental justice and/or cause-based organizations;
Fluency in languages other than English, especially Spanish, Cantonese, and Tagalog.

Salary and Benefits: The annual salary for this exempt position is $80,000-$100,000 depending on depth of experience. Full-time benefits include excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance per FUF Employee Handbook.

Hours: Full-time, exempt

Reports To: Executive Director

Date Posted: October 7, 2021

Friends of the Urban Forest is dedicated to anti-racism, gender inclusivity, and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, Friends of the Urban Forest does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of any status or characteristic protected by applicable laws or ordinances.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records.

Please note that job descriptions on this page are not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employees for these jobs. Activities, duties, or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Office workspace and cubicle assignments change from time-to-time and employees should not have any expectation that any assignment is permanent.

To Apply

If you’re interested and qualified, please email a cover letter and your resume to executivedirector@fuf.net and include your name and the job title you’re applying for in the subject line.

Planting Coordinator

Classification and Time: Full-time, Non-exempt

Hourly Rate: $24

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday, fluctuating, including evenings as needed

Benefits: Full health, dental, and vision per Friends of the Urban Forest Employee Handbook

Reports To: Lead Community Planting Manager

Date Posted: October 4, 2021

About Friends of the Urban Forest

Position Summary

As an integral member of Friends of the Urban Forest’s Tree Planting Program Team, the Planting Coordinator executes and assists field duties necessary to plan and implement community tree planting projects. The Tree Planting Program aims to plant over 1,500 trees annually in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco using a community planting model involving tree recipients, neighborhood and corporate volunteers, and Friends of the Urban Forest staff.

This position requires a background in arboriculture or horticulture and strong organizational and communication skills. The Planting Coordinator works closely with the Tree Planting Managers, other planting managers, community engagement staff, community members, community groups, government departments or agencies, outside vendors, and Friends of the Urban Forest volunteers. Saturday and occasional evening availability is required.

Tree Planting Duties and Responsibilities

Survey neighborhoods to create and maintain detailed records in database regarding survey sites visited and report information to Tree Planting Managers.
Assist planting managers in determining tree planting site suitability, above and underground utility locations, and tree species for potential planting locations.
Notify Underground Service Alert and approve tree locations and mark sidewalks for cutting as needed, observing USA markings and all city guidelines.
Inspect and select healthy nursery stock as needed by Tree Planting Team.
Update and maintain the Friends of the Urban Forest database with each planting site and tree planted.
Respond to correspondence related to general tree planting, and support planting managers in remediating unresolved tasks.
Lead work days, ensuring a safe work environment; educate and support Friends of the Urban Forest Planting Leaders, volunteers, interns, and Workforce Development Staff as needed for planting events; and provide feedback on planting and leadership skills.
Assist Lead Planting Manager in coordinating post-planting surveys including importing, exporting, organizing, and reviewing survey data as it is generated and tracked.
Conduct post-planting surveys on all trees planted, and perform necessary tree care including re-tying, re-staking, and sometimes replanting.
Maintain and track materials and trees in inventory and provide accurate records as needed.
Maintain tree yard including regularly inspecting & repairing irrigation, weeding, sheet mulching, and waste removal as needed.
Assist planting managers in planning and implementing volunteer tree planting events.
Support tree delivery and inventory operations.
Plant trees and install protective hardware surrounding newly established trees.
Support data recording and database management of trees planted.
Mulch, compost, and/or water trees during planting with our Replacement and Community Planting programs.
Participate in and moderate regular seminars and field workshops organized through Friends of the Urban Forest to learn more about tree care and planting.
Maintain tools, tool inventory, tool shed, and Friends of the Urban Forest vehicles in clean working order.

Other Duties

Vehicle Fleet and Equipment Inspection:

Conduct regular vehicle inspections and equipment maintenance.
Report vehicle issues to Lead Planting Manager and/or Urban Forestry Program Manager to schedule repairs.
Regularly check tools and equipment; remove dangerous and/or damaged equipment from circulation; and report information to relevant program managers for repair or replacement.

Provide general support and assistance for all Friends of the Urban Forest programs and staff, including:

Candidates should expect to spend 30% of their time doing administrative work and 70% of their time in the field completing Tree Planting tasks.
Participate in office culture of Environmental Stewardship through cultural activities including but not limited to: limiting waste, properly disposing of waste in sorted bins, and picking up trash in the field and at Friends of the Urban Forest headquarters.
Support for Green Crew Program and Intern Program as it relates to Tree Planting work days.
Drive Friends of the Urban Forest trucks respectfully and safely to job sites throughout San Francisco.
Work with other staff on special projects and day-to-day operations.
Assist in the planning of, attend, and participate in Friends of the Urban Forest special events.

Requirements

Experience with customer service or conflict resolution with members of the public.
Preferred experience in the field of arboriculture or horticulture.
Maintain a valid CA driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Ability to speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese is a plus.
Preferred experience with landscaping or irrigation systems.
Provide a Department of Justice record check and fingerprinting per California Penal Code section 11105.3 to be able to work with minors in the Green Teens Youth Tree Care Program.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Office workspace and cubicle assignments change from time to time, and employees should not have any expectation that any assignment is permanent. While performing the duties of jobs that involve field work, employees are regularly exposed to outdoor weather and working conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of the jobs.

Job positions posted here may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling and climbing throughout the workday. Employees in jobs that involve field work may be required to frequently lift and move items over 40 pounds; load tools and planting materials into and out of truck beds; and ascend/descend a ladder.

While performing the duties of the jobs, employees are regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

To Apply

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) people are strongly encouraged to apply, and so are candidates dedicated to anti-racism, gender inclusivity, and inclusion.

If you’re interested and qualified, please email a cover letter and your resume to resume@fuf.net and include your name and the job title you’re applying for in the subject line.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records.

We announce job opportunities in our e-newsletter and on social media, so please subscribe to our e-news, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Also, consider other ways of getting involved with Friends of the Urban Forest!