Community Project Manager
To work with communities to implement urban forestry grant programs
The busy work day of many community project managers demands
flexibility and a broad range of skills including writing,
organization, public speaking and people skills. Work often centers
around the office, attending meetings and working with volunteers and
other nonprofit professionals.
Working in a small office environment for the San Francisco-based
California ReLeaf, Stephanie Alting-Mees spends much of her time on the
phone and juggles several projects at once including mailings,
newsletters and providing referrals to the public and community
tree-planting groups.
"It can be someone calling about a tree in their yard to an
organization that is a tree-planting group to someone with the city
looking for information on urban forestry grants," Alting-Mees said.
"The only time I might get out of the office is for site visits for our
grant program and to attend tree planting events."
"It's entirely possible to come to it without a technical background,"
Alting-Mees said of her career. "Especially in working with volunteers,
it involves a lot more people management skills and just a willingness
to learn about trees."
Although project managers can work long hours including evenings and
weekends, many find great satisfaction in their careers. "I have a lot
of respect for people who get involved in what's going on in their
town, and it's very gratifying to know that I can help some of those
people through my job," Alting-Mees said. "We can help them see the
bigger picture and see how their efforts fit it, and I think that's
perhaps the value of our program."
Project managers may get involved with community and local government
and assist in tree selection and planting procedures and may also work
with contractors in carrying out urban forestry.
Some project managers, like Henry Garcia-Alvarez with the Sacramento
Tree Foundation, also work extensively with trees in the field.
Garcia-Alvarez puts his master's degree in science and international
agriculture development to use in the field monitoring and evaluating
the care and growth of trees in community planting organizations.
Garcia-Alvarez considers himself a Social Forester and much of his
work revolves around recruiting and training volunteers as well as
developing educational curriculum for urban forestry programs.
"Urban forestry is one of those growing industries," Garcia-Alvarez
said. "I enjoy having the luxury of offering resources to community
groups based around trees."
Requires: 4-Year college degree or equivalent
Salary: Starting at approximately $24,000 per year, peaking at about $40,000
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