Since 1981, Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF), a premier San Francisco environmental nonprofit, has brought together communities throughout the city to plant more than 60,000 trees -- half of San Francisco’s street tree canopy. FUF has a long history of integrating urban greening with civic engagement as a way to increase community health and resilience, combat the effects of the climate crisis, and promote environmental equity and social justice. FUF recognizes and celebrates San Francisco’s many communities and cultures and the diverse ways in which they connect with nature and each other.
Position Summary
Friends of the Urban Forest aims to plant over 1,700 trees and 10,000 square feet of sidewalk gardens annually in San Francisco using a community planting model involving neighborhood residents, community organizations, drop-in and trained volunteers, and FUF staff. The Community Engagement Manager serves as a liaison between FUF and communities we work with, with the goal of increasing demand for new trees and gardens while building community connections in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. This position also creates and manages opportunities for community members to engage in our work through volunteering to help plant and maintain San Francisco’s trees and gardens, and is responsible for the recruitment, training, and supervision of FUF volunteers. The position currently operates in a hybrid model with approximately 40% time working on tasks that may be performed remotely, and 60% time in-person work in communities throughout San Francisco and/or in the office, which is located in the beautiful Presidio of San Francisco.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Details and Responsibilities
Program Outreach and Community Organizing
- Increases awareness among SF residents about FUF’s urban forestry work, upcoming planting events, StreetTreeSF, and the benefits of urban greening
- Recruits potential tree and garden recipients via door-to-door canvassing campaigns, mailings, hosting virtual or in-person community meetings, and social media posting
- Manages outreach campaigns for neighborhood plantings including resident communication, participant and organizational partner recruitment, and updating and maintaining Salesforce database
- Regularly liaises with and occasionally co-manages special projects in partnership with place-based community groups and other organizational partners
- Researches opportunities, schedules, develops messaging for, and staffs tabling events at community events such as street fairs
- Represents FUF at neighborhood association and other community meetings
- Produces and distributes promotional and educational materials such as fliers, postcards, and social media