Urban Community Forestry Program Manager

ABOUT GREENLATINOS

GreenLatinos convenes an active comunidad of Latine leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation. We envision a healthy and equitable society where communities of color are liberated from disproportionate environmental burdens, free to breathe fresh air, drink pure water, access clean transportation and enjoy our majestic public lands, ocean, and waters.

ABOUT GREENLATINOS’ URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM (USDA)

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Program received and will disburse a historic $1.5 billion to support urban tree-planting, urban forest planning and management, and related activities, particularly in frontline communities. GreenLatinos was selected to manage awards for and support 18 municipalities in implementing proposed urban and community forestry projects over the next 4 years, disbursing $11.5M in funding to pre-selected municipalities in California and Illinois through its Justicia y Equidad Fund (JyE Fund). GreenLatinos’ Justicia y Equidad Fund is an intermediary fund whose purpose is to provide grants to help grow the capacity and programmatic capabilities of Latino/a/e serving frontline environmental justice organizations and campaigns. GreenLatinos will also disburse an additional $8.5M in reserve funding to community-based organizations seeking to implement urban and community forestry projects, facilitating outreach to target communities, running a competitive sub-award process, and providing technical assistance and oversight to support project implementation for all subawardees.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The USDA Program Manager will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of GreenLatinos' Urban and Community Forestry Program and Justicia Y Equidad Fund. They will be responsible for managing a portfolio of municipality and community based organization sub awardees. Their primary responsibilities will include supporting sub awardees with project development, providing direct technical assistance, monitoring, and auditing projects through development, implementation, and close-out. They will work closely with subawardees and contractors to ensure projects comply with grant requirements and support the Justicia Y Equidad Fund Director with the implementation of planned technical assistance and peer learning offerings. Additionally, they will support subawardees in aligning projects with underserved communities most impacted by urban forest degradation, development, and climate change.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Strategy and Capacity Building (20%)

• Support the JyE Fund Director with implementation of technical assistance and peer learning offerings, to include webinars, calls, and a yearly in-person convening among subawardees on topics spanning federal urban & community forestry program goals, match waiver compliance, scaling, project development, reporting, compliance, equity in access, workforce development, outreach, etc.

• Oversee the management of a contract with an urban forestry firm that is leading communications with subawardees on their impact in underserved communities
• Develop a calendar and provide technical assistance on federal urban & community forestry program goals, project development, reporting, compliance, equity in access, workforce development, outreach, etc. to support project implementation
• Support subawardees in aligning projects with the needs of underserved communities in their geographic area, ensuring projects are accessible and equitable to those most impacted by urban forest degradation, development, and climate change
• Support subawardees in scaling projects to meet the budget requirements of the grant, ensuring projects meet all federal government regulations
• Continually improve the Urban & Community Forestry program by seeking feedback and implementing best practices

Project Coordination & Management (40%)

• Serve as the main point of contact for a portfolio of municipality and community based organization subawardees facilitating urban & community forestry projects, providing guidance on project adjustments, implementation, and monitoring projects through development, implementation, and close-out

• • Support portfolio of subawardees in adhering to project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring a clear understanding of project expectations and responsibilities, and monitoring progress

• Help identify deviations from project goals and provide tailored assistance and content expertise to maintain project momentum and/or amend project scopes of work and deliverables as needed

Compliance & Reporting (20%)

• Serve as GreenLatinos’ point person with the USDA, ensuring all aspects of GreenLatinos’ regrant and technical assistance program comply with grant terms, and sharing feedback and updates between subawardees, the USDA, and GreenLatinos. 
• Support subawardees in adhering with and completing reporting requirements in accordance to GreenLatinos' cooperative agreement with the USDA, and MOUs executed by subawardees with GreenLatinos
• Assist in maintaining and collecting subawardee project documentation for semi-annual reporting to the USDA, and ensuring compliance with project requirements

Relationship Management (20%)

• Build and maintain relationships with sub-awardees and contractors, ensuring open communication and trust

• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure smooth program administration and effective resource utilization
• Coordinate and ensure transparent communication with all technical assistance providers, contractors, GreenLatinos staff and USDA staff

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & TRAITS

• Bachelor’s degree  
• A minimum of 5 years of project management experience, preferably with municipal or community experience; or experience in urban forestry, grantmaking, or philanthropy, or related field
• Experience administering sub-grants or related funding mechanisms
• Strong understanding of federal grants 
• Strong understanding of project development and project management frameworks
• Significant experience providing tailored technical assistance and liaising between diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency in program budgets, project reporting, defining scopes of work, and project management and grantmaking
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice and centering frontline communities
• Must be able to provide own personal computer and mobile phone for work

NICE TO HAVE

• Advanced degree 
• Experience working with or for federal, state, or city governments 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking and writing capabilities

COMPENSATION

This is a four-year grant-funded position. The annual salary range for this role is $70,000- $80,000 and is dependent on experience. GreenLatinos also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer paid dental, health and vision benefits, retirement plan with employer contribution (up to 6% match), all federal holidays off, up to four weeks of paid vacation per year and up to four weeks of sick and family leave, on an as-needed basis.

DEADLINE: Applicants must submit all information by February 5th, 2024. We will be reaching out to applicants as they come in on a rolling basis. 

HIRING STATEMENT

GreenLatinos embraces a belief that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are important in building a healthy comunidad based on the recognition of the dignity of each individual. We believe that people are our greatest strength. GreenLatinos is therefore proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of an individual’s race, creed, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation (including transgender status), color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status, genetic information (including family medical history), or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination.

Salary : $70,000 - $80,000