State of Hawaii
Kauaʻi Citizen Forester Program Coordinator - Job Announcement
We are growing! We are seeking a project consultant to serve as the Program Coordinator for our Citizen Forester Program on the Island of Kauaʻi.
About Smart Trees Pacific:
Smart Trees Pacific (STP) is a non-profit urban forestry organization with 40 years of collective experience serving Hawaiʻi & the Pacific Region in developing sustainable and healthy community forests. STP partners with the US Forest Service and the Hawaiʻi State Division of Forestry and Wildlife to deliver the Urban and Community Forestry, Kaulunani, Program. In the Kauai Citizen Forester Program, STP is working with the Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation to bring the award-winning Citizen Forester program to Kauai.
About the Citizen Forester Program:
As part of the State Forest Action Plan, the Citizen Forester Program is a citizen science-based urban tree inventory initiative. This collaborative project educates, certifies, and supports community members as volunteer citizen scientists to map urban trees and add to the area's tree inventory, while raising awareness on the importance of caring for trees in their own communities. Teams of Citizen Foresters are led in weekly meet ups and walk the neighborhood to inventory public trees and engage communities. Since 2016 the Citizen Forester Program has trained more than 200 volunteers, and mapped more than 13,000 public trees on Oʻahu. This year at the request of the County of Kauai, the program received funding to expand its programming to the Island of Kauaʻi.
Position Summary:
This consultancy position will be responsible for helping to establish the Citizen Forester Program in new communities on the Island of Kauaʻi. Under the supervision of the Citizen Forester Program Manager (based on Oʻahu), the Kauaʻi Program Coordinator will be responsible for identifying new communities and partners on Kauaʻi, leading citizen forester trainings, and working with/engaging volunteers in urban forestry.
Status and Compensation:
This is a part-time, consultancy position (requiring a private business license) with flexible hours (~10 hours/wk). Most of the work will be done remotely from home, however, this is a Kauaʻi based position, an office space is provided at the Department of Parks and Recreation, located in Lihue. The candidate is expected to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve shared goals. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications ($20-25 an hour).
Primary Responsibilities:
Project level
Lead the delivery of Kauai’s Citizen Forester (CF) Program under the direction of Kauaʻi UCF Program with organizational support from Smart Trees Pacific.
Provide volunteer operational oversight and coordination of the CF Program process and procedures.
Oversee Kauai’s CF volunteers including recruitment, training, operational communication, and support.
Manage Kauai’s CF tree inventory system ensuring data is accurate and complete.
Provide CF volunteer tracking information to UCF coordinator for the semi-annual report.
Individual-level
Implement volunteer recruitment plan, oversee communications with new volunteers.
Coordinate and deliver training series and schedule/lead follow-up mapping sessions.
Supervise team leader volunteers and regularly interface with the public.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with State and County government agencies, non-governmental organizations, media houses, and community partners.
Work with Kauaʻi’s Citizen Forester Program’s Steering Committee to expand and enhance Kauaʻi’s Citizen Forester Program.
Seek opportunities to develop outreach and present at local venues.
Serve as liaison for the larger CF Program and advocate of Hawaii’s urban forest.
Minimum Qualifications:
Four-year degree (or four years of work experience) in an environmentally-related field (i.e., natural resource management or urban planning), education, or equivalent field.
At least one-year minimum relevant work experience in the area of environmental management, environmental science, or a related field of study AND direct experience working with volunteers. Work with a non-profit entity is highly desirable.
Experience in working with a variety of community groups, stakeholders, and/or providing customer service.
Proficient in verbal communication, organization, and interpersonal skills
Access to reliable transportation, as in-the-field work is required
Desired Skills
Demonstrated experience initiating, developing and/or executing programs between multiple organizations.
Experience or training in arboriculture, urban forestry, landscape management, horticulture, design, community engagement, or related fields.
Experience with tree inventory software and/or GIS software highly desirable
Familiarity with benefits of and issues relating to growing, planting, and maintaining trees in Hawaiʻi across a variety of landownerships.
Familiarity with environmental and social issues facing local communities.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks independently and as part of a team.
Professional, highly organized and committed to producing quality results
Flexible, creative, and attentive to details
Self-starter who can proactively and independently solve problems.
Comfortable with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
To apply to this position, please submit your resume and cover letter via email to Wai Lee, Executive Director, at wlee@smarttreespacific.org.
Smart Trees Pacific is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law., This position is funded by the Region V of the US Forest Service, an equal opportunity employer.
Description of Opportunity
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