Forest Health Engagement Associate
- Posted
- 5 days ago
- Employment type
- Full-Time
- Location
- Los Angeles County
- Closing date
About this organization
TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable, and to share the process as a model for the world. TreePeople is among the largest independent environmental organizations in California. Sustained by a team of educators, foresters, organizers, and administrators as well as thousands of trained “Community Foresters,” TreePeople plays a leading role in mobilizing individuals, private businesses, and government agencies to work together to create resilient communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change. For 50 years, TreePeople has partnered with community volunteers to plant and care for millions of trees throughout the cities and mountains of Southern California.
About this job
TreePeople seeks a full-time Forest Health Engagement Associate to support our Mountain Forestry team. This role will engage with community members during community restoration, tree plantings, tree care, and tree distribution events by working closely with forestry staff to facilitate and supervise community volunteers. This position will oversee tree surveys to identify the Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB) with members of the Conservation Corps group. Through these efforts, the Associate will uphold TreePeople’s mission to inspire and empower individuals to take meaningful action for the environment.
Roles & responsibilities
-Lead Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) tree surveys in various locations, including the Angeles National Forest and the Santa Monica Mountains.
-Ensure that Conservation Corps members and volunteers follow safety protocols.
-Maintain the inventory of supplies used for the oak surveys.
-Ensure the accuracy of all gathered data using applications such as ArcGIS, Survey123, FieldMaps, Salesforce, and related tools.
-Serve as a community liaison, sharing information and educational resources on GSOB, survey work, and the “buy it where you burn it” initiative.
-Report weekly on the number of trees surveyed and individuals reached through engagement efforts.
-Assist with gathering information and updating educational materials as needed.
-Participate in community educational workshops related to GSOB by assisting in the setup and clean up, presenting, and sharing personal experiences gained in the field.
-Attend public-facing events such as town hall meetings, fundraisers, community workshops, and community educational events, and assist in community engagement outreach efforts to recruit diverse stakeholders.
-Assist the regional team in coordinating special projects.
Qualifications
-BA/BS Degree or 1-3 years of experience in Forestry, Environmental Science, Conservation, or related field.
-Community-oriented individual who understands forestry health issues, particularly combating GSOB in California.
-Knowledge and experience using ArcGIS, Survey123, FieldMaps, Salesforce preferred.
-Possess a valid California driver's license and proof of insurance.
-Must be comfortable driving on rugged unpaved roads and fire roads.
-Able to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds.
-Able to stand and walk for long periods of time.
-Able to work outside for hours at a time at tree planting and care events, which includes physically digging holes, lifting equipment and planting trees, among other activities.