Colorado Nonprofit Association

Urban Forestry Field Crew Supervisor

The Park People works throughout Denver with communities to plant trees and improve parks for a healthy, resilient future. Join a team working at the intersection of some of today’s most pressing issues – climate change, equity, health, urban sustainability. Help us grow our impact and make a difference for the future, our communities, and the planet. 

Position Description:

The Field Crew Supervisor (Supervisor) plays an important role in The Park People’s TreeForce program. The Supervisor will work closely with the other TreeForce staff members to fulfill the purpose of the program: to provide career readiness and tree industry skills training to connect individuals facing barriers to employment with meaningful career exploration opportunities in urban forestry. The Supervisor will help plan and co-facilitate the program (anticipated schedule: planning November–February; active facilitation March–October). As such, the position requires a knowledge of tree basics, effective group facilitation skills, and operational/logistics know-how.  

Fieldwork will take place mostly in climate change-vulnerable Denver neighborhoods with low tree canopy cover. The pre-apprentices (Participants) will primarily be formerly incarcerated individuals; experience and openness to working with people facing barriers to employment and across lines of diversity is required for this role. The Supervisor must be able to work independently and with a team. As a TreeForce staff member, they will report to the Workforce Development Manager (Manager) and work closely with their co-Supervisor on all program elements.  

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversee, instruct, and perform the day-to-day classroom and field components of the program, in the following activities: tree planting, selection, health assessments, basic pruning, and identification 
• Co-lead crews of up to 15 participants 
• Coordinate logistics, from shed organization to scheduling tree planting with residents 
• Provide support for Participants 
• Oversee crews on extension work-experience opportunities 
• Supervise and facilitate classroom days and site visits with partners and/or other instructors 
• Maintain and keep equipment clean and organized 
• Serve as a role model by demonstrating punctuality, professionalism, and high standards 
• Foster safe working conditions for crew 
• Drive vehicles with Participants and equipment 
• Document details of fieldwork and Participant activities and report back to the Manager regularly 
• Work with the co-Supervisor and Manager to coordinate program activities and engage with stakeholders and partners 
• Keep vehicles, shed, tools, and equipment clean and in good working order 
• Communicate consistently and effectively with the Participants, program partners, and other Park People staff 
• The Supervisor will also assist with other team duties supporting TreeForce and other Park People activities as needed 

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation, and 6 months minimum clean driving record. 
• Ability to lift 50+ pounds throughout the day, stand, crouch, and perform other movements associated with manual labor activities 
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn the basics of Microsoft Office and Google Suite programs 
• Experience facilitating small to medium groups of any age 
• Urban forestry skills/experience: Tree planting and care; ability to identify common Colorado Front Range and urban tree species and familiarity with typical problems, including pests, diseases, and environmental factors 
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate and adopt new knowledge on the job