Community Engagement Associate Manager (Inland Empire)

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.

TreePeople seeks a full-time, bilingual (Spanish/English) Community Engagement Associate Manager to grow our regional presence and further our regional programmatic goals in the Inland Empire. This position will help guide our regional team in developing and implementing research-based, creative, and lasting strategies to engage community members in our project areas across Riverside and San Bernardino County. Aimed to increase our regional support base of community involvement, volunteerism, and dissemination of program resources. 

Furthermore, the Community Engagement Associate Manager will participate, represent, and lead public-facing events such as town hall meetings, fundraisers, community-focused programming, community workshops, community educational events, canvassing, door-to-door knocking, etc. In addition, this role will support our Urban Forestry team in engaging community members during community tree plantings, tree care events, and tree distribution events, by working closely with forestry staff to facilitate and supervise community volunteers. Other tasks may include supporting our regional team in developing, implementing, and coordinating regional special projects. 

Responsibilities

Community Engagement (70%): 

• Assist senior staff in developing regional community outreach and engagement strategies to increase community knowledge and participation in our regional projects. 
• Serve as a community liaison by participating and representing TreePeople at public-facing events such as town hall meetings, fundraisers, community-focused programming, community workshops, community educational events, canvassing, door-to-door knocking, etc.
• Lead community engagement outreach efforts and recruit a diverse group of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, neighborhood associations, advocacy groups, businesses, and public officials, to support regional programmatic goals and deliverables. 
• Lead in developing, implementing, and evaluating bilingual community outreach materials, printed media, and social media content in collaboration with other TreePeople Departments (Education, Marketing, Forestry, Policy, etc.,) to increase community participation in regional projects. Additionally, communicate directly with TreePeople’s Marketing and Communications department to coordinate event photography, social media posts, branding, outreach materials, and press releases.
• Support our community volunteer tree plantings, tree care events, or tree distributions to further foster relationships with volunteers. This may also include event preparation, assisting volunteers and attendees, supervising volunteers during tree installations, and post-event clean-up.
• Cultivate regional relationships to identify and develop community champions that can leverage TreePeople’s work as community champions. 
• Cultivate and manage volunteer and supporter contact information within TreePeople’s internal Databases.
• Assist in promoting foundational support for TreePeople, including TreePeople Membership through The Canopy monthly giving program and one-time support through our donation portal. 
• Assist and contribute to cultivating an organizational culture of philanthropy.
• Communicate and elevate all donation inquiries that involve interest in a Major or Legacy Gift to the Development Team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Community Education (30%): 

• Lead in developing, implementing, and evaluating regional community engagement events, including but not limited to leading community workshops, leading community educational programming, leading field trips, providing environmental presentations, etc., in collaboration with other TreePeople Departments (Education, Marketing, Forestry, Policy, etc.) to increase community knowledge and participation. 
• Lead in developing, implementing, and evaluating regional educational  printed and digital materials in collaboration with other TreePeople Departments (Education, Marketing, Forestry, Policy, etc.) containing but not limited to educational printed media, educational social media content, educational audio and video recordings, etc., 
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 2 years of experience in project management.
• Experience with computer applications and database management. 
• Interest in local climate resilience and environmental issues impacting underserved communities.
• Strong leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills, highly organized, strong work ethic, proactive, and a quick learner.
• Available to work flexible schedules, including weekends.
• A driver’s license and proof of insurance are required. 
• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience in project management, political science or related field. 
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• Strong public speaking and interpersonal skills. 
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills: listening, negotiating, public speaking, and writing.
• Detail-oriented precision and demonstrated ability to concentrate on tasks that deliver accurate results.

Physical Job Requirements

• Work demands physical energy, twisting, safe heavy lifting ability, and hand-to-eye coordination.
• Uses machines, equipment, and work tools including but not limited to shovels, breaker bars, rakes, brooms, general hand tools, lift gates, water tanks, blowers, augers.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds overhead.
• Must be able to load and unload 15-gallon trees from a stakebed truck.
• Must be able to enter and exit a vehicle numerous times a day.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to all kinds of weather while completing work assignments, i.e., rain, heat, sun, cold.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.