Canopy: Youth Leadership Program Manager

Thrive Alliance; United States; Remote; USD 69,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A community forestry nonprofit is seeking a Youth Leadership Program Manager to lead the Teen Urban Forester program aimed at high school students. This role involves designing educational curricula, mentoring participants, and managing community partnerships. The ideal candidate will have experience in youth engagement, a commitment to equity, and strong organizational skills. Competitive annual salary ranges from $69,000 to $72,000, with additional health and retirement benefits.

Benefits

Health insurance

401k retirement plan

Sick leave

Vacation time

Paid holidays

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience leading groups of high school youth.
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License is required.
• Commitment to equity in education.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Teen Urban Forester program for local high school students.
• Design and implement a curriculum focused on urban forestry and leadership.
• Manage and mentor youth cohorts during sessions.

Skills

Public speaking

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competency

Collaboration

Job description

Canopy is looking for a Youth Leadership Program Manager to oversee the Teen Urban Forester (TUF) program, which provides paid internships to local high school students engaged in tree planting and care initiatives. Under the guidance of the Education Director, the manager will coordinate training experiences that foster environmental stewardship and leadership skills, while students participate in practical fieldwork, including leading community volunteers and caring for trees. This role combines urban forestry with youth development, requiring a collaborative and culturally competent individual passionate about empowering young people and supporting community-oriented programming.

About Canopy:

Canopy is a community forestry non-profit that partners with the communities of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven in Menlo Park, unincorporated North Fair Oaks in San Mateo County, Palo Alto, and Mountain View. Their mission is to collaborate with these communities to grow and sustain equitable urban forests for all. They prioritize tree planting and stewardship, education, and advocacy in areas where residents do not benefit from a thriving urban forest due to limited resources, competing priorities, historical development, and urbanization patterns. The staff and volunteers at Canopy strive for excellence, equity, collaboration, and gratitude in their work, welcoming candidates who share these values. They are seeking a dedicated individual to join their team and grow alongside them as they work towards their vision of connected communities thriving within a vibrant urban forest.

Responsibilities

Lead strategy, vision, and implementation of Canopy’s Teen Urban Forester (TUF) program, engaging high school students in paid internships focused on urban forestry, climate resilience, and community leadership.

Design and implement a robust curriculum, combining technical training, fieldwork, college and career readiness, and 21st-century skill development across three session cohorts

Manage, mentor, and inspire youth cohorts during three sessions in field-based and classroom environments.

Manage communication with the TUFs via calendars, emails, texts, timesheets

Manage TUF paperwork and ensure it is completed on time

Ensure a safe, inclusive, and empowering program culture

Develop systems for youth accountability, growth, and feedback.

Cultivate and manage partnerships with local schools, city agencies, and community organizations to support recruitment and project collaboration.

Oversee logistics including site scheduling, transportation licensing and requirements (driving a 15-passenger van), safety protocols, and documentation.

Collaboratively develop and manage program budget, deliverables, and evaluation metrics; contribute to grant reporting and storytelling.

Work with Communications and Development teams to elevate youth voices and program visibility.

Collaborate with Canopy colleagues to complement the Teen Urban Forester program with Canopy’s Tree Planting, Tree Care, Education, and other programmatic goals.

Organizational Leadership and Collaboration – ~10%

Serve as a thought partner to the Education Director and contribute to strategic planning across youth and community engagement initiatives.

Collaborate with Canopy’s program and development teams to integrate youth and community stories into communications, fundraising, and advocacy work.

Represent Canopy at community meetings, conferences, and in regional coalitions related to workforce development, green jobs, urban forestry, and environmental equity.

Actively contribute to Canopy’s inclusive and mission-driven culture, with a commitment to continuous learning and community accountability.

Qualifications

Must have a valid U.S. Driver’s License

Live Scan background check is required upon hire for all staff that work with youth under age 18.

At least 1-3 years of experience leading groups of 15+ high school youth.

Demonstrated commitment to equity in education and cultural competency.

Ability to adapt teaching style and content to meet the diverse needs of high school students.

Strong public speaking skills; ability to present in a confident, engaging manner that draws in the audience.

Organizational skills and ability to follow through with assigned tasks.

Detail-oriented, organized, with outstanding interpersonal skills.

Able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with diverse groups.

Ability to work collaboratively and openly communicate with coworkers and subject matter experts

Ability to create a positive, psychologically safe environment for high school youth of all backgrounds.

Experience providing mentorship to high school youth.

Positive, flexible, and friendly.

Independently driven team player.

Having a Commercial Driver’s License with Passenger Endorsement is preferred but not required, though if you do not currently have this license, you will be required to obtain. Costs associated with obtaining the license will be covered by Canopy, and studying for written exam can take place during working hours.

Knowledge and/or experience in workforce development

Knowledge and/or experience in urban forestry, community forestry, or other environmental fields

Experience working in a nonprofit environment

Experience managing teams of people

Physical Activity Requirements

Ability to sit and type, frequently

Ability to bend, squat, stoop, and stand for long periods of time, regularly

Preferred: ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally

Driving to and around neighborhoods where work is being performed

Compensation

Annual salary: $69,000 to $72,000

Health Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance is available

Retirement: 401k, with the hope of offering employer matching contributions in the future.

Sick leave: 12 days (96 hours) sick leave per year with a maximum accrual of 12 days per year.

Vacation time: 12 days (96 hours) per year with a maximum accrual of 18 days per year. Accrual rates increase after two years with Canopy.

Paid holidays: The following are official holidays for all Canopy employees:

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

President's Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve Day

Christmas Day

The work days falling between Christmas and New Year's Day

One floating holiday to be used for work anniversary, birthday, or a cultural holiday

To Apply

Please email your responses (and how you found out about this job) to the following questions (1 to 2 paragraphs per question) to [e-mail] :

What drew you to this position?

What are your top two values and how do you see them relating to this position?

At Canopy, we prioritize working with untapped communities . What does community mean to you and what would your approach be to working with untapped communities? (You may share a specific example or a general approach).

Emailing your resume (list of applicable experience) is optional. If you don’t have a resume and would like one, there is free resume creation available through JobTrain. Please email [e-mail] .