What are the responsibilities and job description for the Urban Forestry Education Coordinator (Coordinator III) position at City of Portland?
Job Appointment: Regular, Full Time
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. 7am - 3:30pm
Work Location: The Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave. Portland, OR. Beginning April 2025 all manager and supervisor positions will be expected to report to their worksites full time. Alternate schedules may be available, but the typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, with occasional after-hours work required to support critical projects or address system issues. Remote workdays remain an option, to accommodate travel, or occasionally focus on major work projects.
Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.
Position Summary:
The Urban Forestry Education Coordinator will play an important role in educating Portland residents about trees, the urban forest, and Urban Forestry services. This position is responsible for leading the development and implementation of community education plans that inform the public about City requirements and the roles of community members and property owners in managing urban forest infrastructure. The coordinator will supervise one associated position and oversee contracted services to ensure effective education outreach.
The ideal candidate will have experience in leading community education initiatives related to urban forestry, supervising staff, and overseeing contractors. A strong understanding of the benefits, care, and management of urban trees, as well as the ability to translate complex information into accessible and engaging content for a diverse audience, is essential. The coordinator should be capable of working both independently and collaboratively with individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
What you'll get to do:
- Lead development of community education plans, strategies, content and materials about trees, urban forestry and related City requirements, e.g., develop annual public education plan including identifying content needs, budget, prioritization, audiences, messaging, schedule, information sources, implementation roles, etc.
- Guide implementation of community education plans and content, for example develop and maintain educational content, develop and maintain web pages, develop and ensure distribution of information about tree regulations, benefits of trees, tree care and tree care resources to property owners, community members and bureaus, provide information and content to partner organizations.
- Coordinate and liaise with City Public Relations, e.g., initiate communications and marketing projects and requests, research and provide content for press releases and media inquiry responses, respond to media inquiries and provide subject matter expert interviews.
- Supervise one position and oversee contractors.
Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland’s urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Portland’s urban forest is valued at over $9.2 billion and comprised of over 1.2 million park trees, 333,000 street trees and 2.9 million private property trees. The Urban Forestry team is responsible for the overall management, stewardship, and improvement of this essential infrastructure system. Urban Forestry’s work includes delivery of sustainable and equitable forest services to all Portlanders; establishing and enacting best management practices, plans, policies, and technical standards for tree care and protection and urban forest expansion; implementing, enforcing, and proposing improvements to the City’s tree regulations; providing tree maintenance services including 24/7 response to tree emergencies on City properties and public streets; tree planting and expansion of urban forest services; measurement and assessment of urban forest coverage, health, and services; offering community education and stewardship programs; and oversight and support of the City’s volunteer advisory tree board. Portland is a Tree City USA for 48 years; a Tree City of the World and the Urban Forestry program is accredited by the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists).
About the Bureau:
Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity
Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.
4:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85998344579
Meeting ID: 859 9834 4579
*Please note: AI Notetaking apps will not be allowed into virtual sessions hosted by the Bureau of Human Resources Recruitment Team. If you need accommodations as defined by the American Disabilities Act, then please contact the Recruiter for assistance.
Have a question?
Contact Information:
TroyLynn Craft
Senior Recruiter
troylynn.craft@portlandoregon.govThe following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
- Experience leading development of community education plans, strategies, content and materials about trees, urban forestry and related City requirements, e.g., develop annual public education plan including identifying content needs, budget, prioritization, audiences, messaging, schedule, information sources, implementation roles, etc.
- Experience leading implementation of these community education plans and content, for example develop and maintain educational content, develop and maintain web pages, develop and ensure distribution of information about tree regulations, benefits of trees, tree care and tree care resources to property owners, community members and bureaus, provide information and content to partner organizations.
- Ability to coordinate with and serve as liaison and representative with organization Public Relations leadership, e.g., initiate communications and marketing projects and requests, research and provide content for press releases and media inquiry responses, respond to media inquiries and provide subject matter expert interviews.
- Experience leading staff and overseeing contractors.
- Knowledge of urban tree benefits, care, management, programs, public policies, and ability to translate these into accessible, accurate and appealing educational content for a diverse municipal audience of property owners, residents, stakeholders and municipal, commercial and non-profit partners.
- Ability to work independently and in a team with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and lived experiences.
STEP 1: Apply online between April 7 - 21, 2025
Required Application Materials:
- Resume
- Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials:
- If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
- We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025, if you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.
- If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
Application Tips:
- Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
- How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
- Do not attach any additional documents.
- Please note all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
- You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
- All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
- E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of April 21, 2025
- An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
- Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01for complete information.
- Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 28, 2025
- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late May
- Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.
Step 5: Offer of Employment:
Step 6: Start Date:
- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
- City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
Salary : $97,510 - $126,693