Remote Urban Forestry Program Lead (LA & CA)

American Forests Partnership; New York (NY); Remote; USD 73,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Travel opportunities (up to 15% of the

Travel opportunities

Job summary

American Forests seeks an Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager, California, to drive technical assistance and partner engagement across California, starting with Los Angeles County. You will manage relationships with tribes, cities, and non-profit partners, delivering canopy equity analyses, policy support, and tree-planting program design.

The role emphasizes field work, remote collaboration, and engagement with IRA-funded subgrantees, state agencies, and philanthropic partners to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in arboriculture, landscape architecture, forestry, urban planning, environmental science, or related field.
• 3–5 years in urban forestry, urban planning, or environmental program management.
• 3–5 years in California with municipal/state/community partners.
• ISA Certified Arborist or Urban Forest Professional preferred or ability to certify within 3 months.
• Experience managing government/nonprofit relationships and delivering outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication; credibility with city staff, CBOs, funders, and communities.
• Knowledge of federal/state funding programs for California urban forestry (IRA, CDBG, EPA EJ, CAL FIRE).
• Experience overseeing remote projects with deliverables and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Own and steward an active portfolio of Catalyst Fund grantees and city partners in California.
• Provide direct technical assistance on urban forestry planning, canopy equity analysis, policy development, community engagement, and tree planting design.
• Conduct needs assessments and brief the Director on gaps and opportunities.
• Design and lead peer learning events, workshops, and TA sessions for city staff, CBOs, and state partners.
• Train partners on AF’s tools and resources; develop case studies for TA library.
• Support Catalyst Fund subaward recipients and AF events in the region.
• Identify opportunities for deeper engagement and cultivate relationships with agencies and funders.
• Contribute to grant proposals, funder reports, and donor communications.
• Manage project information in Airtable and Office tools; track budgets and timelines.
• Support regional narratives and budgets for grants and subawards.
• Participate in team meetings and organization-wide activities.

Skills

Urban forestry

Policy development

Community engagement

Grant writing

GIS

Partnership management

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in arboriculture/forestry

Tools

Airtable

Microsoft Office

ArcGIS

Job description

American Forests seeks an Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager, California, to drive technical assistance and partner engagement across California, starting with Los Angeles County. You will manage relationships with tribes, cities, and non-profit partners, delivering canopy equity analyses, policy support, and tree-planting program design.

The role emphasizes field work, remote collaboration, and engagement with IRA-funded subgrantees, state agencies, and philanthropic partners to advance