Manager, Education and Engagement

Salary Range: $55,000 – $85,000

Reports to: Director, Research and Engagement

Location: National Capital Region or Toronto region preferred, open to remote applicants

Language requirement: English with French being an asset

Application deadline: Until a qualified successful applicant is found

About Tree Canada

Tree Canada is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments, in every province across the country. We help to grow Canada’s tree canopy through our programs, research, and engagement efforts and by offering grants to communities and schools. We are thought-leaders and capacity-builders, collaborating with a network of industry experts, academics, and other non-profits to deepen community knowledge and help municipalities plan and sustain local canopy.

Job Summary

The Education and Engagement Manager supports and enhances Tree Canada’s research partnerships, professional engagement objectives, education goals, and knowledge transfer related to urban forestry. They will help bring together urban forestry research and practice and facilitate knowledge mobilization; help municipalities grow their urban forests by developing urban forestry capacity-building resources; and support other research, education, and engagement-related activities as needed.

They will work to enhance urban forest capacity across Canadian municipalities by developing subject-specific content to support municipal urban forest management capacity needs in the form of technical, planning, and educational resources. This will also include stewarding positive and efficient working relationships with both internal staff, and external collaborators such as researchers, graduate student interns, volunteer steering committee members and others who align and intersect with the work of the Research and Engagement unit.

The Education and Engagement Manager is a valued member of Tree Canada’s urban forestry team. They will take part in developing new initiatives to meet the department’s goals and KPIs regarding thought leadership, social equity, education, and professional engagement, while also improving organizational systems and efficiencies by streamlining administration, logistics, and relationship management.

Areas of Responsibility:

Municipal urban forest capacity building

• Research and develop content for urban forestry capacity-building tools and technical resources for municipalities.
• Maintain and strengthen productive, solutions-focussed relationships with all partner organizations, and partners of strategic importance.
• Adapt education and engagement efforts to different capacities of urban forestry knowledge nationwide.
• Provide guidance and coordination to external partners and internal staff regarding urban forestry discourses, dialogues, and operational best practices.
• Collect materials and coordinate online research for existing urban forestry resources that may be applied in a Canadian context.
• Develop charter, scope, resources, and schedule for municipal learning, urban forestry enhancement and capacity project(s).
• Advise on cost, feasibility and impact of different capacity implementation solutions and monitor project accounts.
• Liaise with Communications unit and implement learning and capacity building-specific communication plans that support outreach goals and objectives, including collecting and sharing project-specific stories to Tree Canada audiences through various listservs, social media, website, and newsletter.
• Ensure all project-related updates are communicated clearly to senior leadership and external partners where appropriate.

Other activities as required

• Participate in meetings with Tree Canada partners such as the Canadian Urban Forest Network national steering committee and the Canadian Urban Forest Conference program committee.
• Participate in urban forestry subject-specific evaluation review committees for various Tree Canada programs.
• Liaise with Development unit to provide urban forest expertise for grant applications for Tree Canada-led studies.
• Coordinate series of articles on timely urban forestry topics, or special series that relate to the next Canadian Urban Forest Conference theme.
• Research and support coordination of speakers for the national e-lecture series.
• Present research results, collaborations, and project impacts at selected conferences.
• Represent Tree Canada at selected conferences, round tables, workshops, and meetings.
• Manage internal research projects for Tree Canada’s program and operational improvement.
• Develop, revise, and operationalize business processes that support Research and Engagement unit activities and objectives.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent knowledge and subject expertise, and demonstrated understanding of urban forestry, arboriculture, and environmental science and studies issues (ecological, social, and political).
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining positive trust relationships with diverse stakeholders and rights holders including municipalities, schools, universities, environmental interest groups, corporations, and Indigenous governments and organizations.
• Market research and analysis, and a proven track-record of success in designing and developing complex administrative structure and processes. Team management experience preferred.
• Must have experience applying the concepts of experiential learning to existing programs and activities.
• Expertise with a variety of project management and process improvement methodologies. Including proven experience developing project plans, Gantt charts, strategic plans, or other project coordination documents.
• Excellent budgeting, financial reporting, and forecasting.
• Advanced computer skills including proficiency with videoconferencing tools, Dropbox, MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, OneDrive, PowerPoint). Knowledge of research software (e.g., NVivo) an asset.
• An active listener who communicates clearly, respectfully, and effectively, and who inspires collaborative work among colleagues, students, volunteers, and collaborators.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills to facilitate consultations, presentations, workshops and build stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and tact.
• Strong problem-solving ability with creative, innovative, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work both independently and with a collaborative team in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to the work and values of Tree Canada, in particular a passion for the environment and a belief that organizations and individuals can and do improve lives by planting trees and addressing climate change.

Education and Experience

Post-secondary education in urban forestry, arboriculture, environmental science, environmental studies, land use planning, geography, or a closely related field of study.

Minimum five to seven years’ experience working in research, education and/or project management in urban forestry, and/or in a not-for-profit organization with diverse stakeholders including municipalities, universities, and corporations. Equivalencies in education and experience will be considered. Graduate degree preferred.

Accreditation by International Society of Arboriculture, or RPF (Ontario), and membership with the Urban Community Forestry Society (formerly SMA), or other relevant (urban) forestry bodies is an asset.

Tree Canada Work Environment and Culture

Tree Canada values its passionate and skilled team. We truly believe that each employee, contractor and volunteer contribute directly to the growth and success of our organization. We put trust in our talented team and are pleased to offer a hybrid work environment. Together, our team is intentionally creating a work culture that is collaborative, respectful, caring, impactful and productive. We aim to create a culture of care so that each team member may thrive, contribute and grow professionally at Tree Canada.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Tree Canada is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe in equality and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and disability. Tree Canada encourages and welcomes applications from members of racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and with the skills/knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is barrier free. If you need any accommodations or adjustments throughout the interview process and beyond, please indicate this in your application.

You don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Tree Canada!

We sincerely thank all those who express interest and apply, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.