Jobs and Internships
Jobs
Turn your passion for the environment into a career!
For more than 40 years, we have planted trees, strengthened communities, educated children and worked with local agencies to solve the environmental challenges that threaten LA.
If you share our vision for a green city, consider applying for a job with us. The rewards are plentiful: competitive pay and benefits, a beautiful work setting, and the deep satisfaction of knowing you're making a difference.
JOB TITLE:
Chief Philanthropy Officer
REPORTS TO:
Chief Executive Officer
TREEPEOPLE
TreePeople is a well-established, beloved and fast growing environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, one of the largest and most diverse philanthropic communities in the world. TreePeople is rapidly growing because of the tremendous global demand for our innovative solutions around fire resilience, urban forestry, water-security, environmental literacy, equity and climate change.
We need an executive-level, experienced, creative, hard-working and energetic Chief Philanthropy Officer who knows philanthropy in California, is passionate and wants to be part of a leadership team determined to increase TreePeople’s social and environmental impact, improve the organization’s long-term financial stability and expand TreePeople’s philanthropic strategies and outreach in support of our mission, fund development and growing impact.
A LITTLE ABOUT US
TreePeople believes it can make the world a better place. Our mission is to inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun, sustainable and resilient, and to share the process as a model for the world. TreePeople is a high-impact independent environmental organization in California with the potential for increased global impact on water, forestry, community organizing, environmental education, equity and climate resilience. Sustained by a talented team of thought-leaders, philanthropists, educators, foresters, community organizers, researchers and policy makers as well as thousands of trained community leaders, TreePeople has played, and will continue to play, a legacy role in mobilizing people, businesses and public agencies to create greener and more resilient communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change and water insecurity.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Chief Philanthropy Officer is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of TreePeople’s Development Team in addition to overseeing short term and long-term planning, implementing, and assessing TreePeople’s development strategies and fundraising goals needed to achieve and expand its mission-driven strategic vision and social impact. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer as a key member of the leadership team, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will effectively represent the organization’s fund development interests to constituencies, both internal and external, and will work in close collaboration with the CEO, Founder and the Board of Directors to achieve philanthropic goals and build a case for increased investments to propel TreePople’s social impact.
In addition to cultivating, establishing and maintaining a personal portfolio of current and prospective donors, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will oversee the development and communications teams in the general areas of: Major Donors; Grants (Foundation, Public Agencies and Corporate); Direct Mail; Tree Dedications; Special Events and the Legacy/Planned Giving Program; Marketing & Communications, as well as oversee technical support within the department, including prospect research and use of Salesforce. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will succeed and lead by example in a mission-driven work environment that balances the need and relevance of programs with the efficiency of best business practices, fiscal accountability, and institutional impact.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Include, but are not limited to:
- Participate with the CEO, the Founder and the Board to develop, lead, and implement TreePeople’s annual and long-term development strategies, continuing to chart the organization’s course in fund development while ensuring that efforts are carried out in keeping with the organization’s values, mission, vision, and plans.
- Develop and grow a balanced funding mix of donor sources and solicitation programs tailored to the needs of TreePeople that will enable it to attract, retain and motivate donors and fundraising volunteers.
- Independently identify current and new individual, foundation and corporate donors, while cultivating and soliciting a personal portfolio of current and prospective major donors.
- Provide strong fundraising leadership and support to the CEO, Founder and Board members, including helping to identify their resource cultivation goals and support needs, prospecting donors, and leading or participating in asks, as appropriate.
- Support the CEO in the identification, cultivation and recruitment of prospective Board members.
- Recruit, develop, coach, inspire, and motivate a strong development team.
- Provide general oversight to all of TreePeople’s development activities, overseeing operations of the development and functions, and coordinating with the marketing and communications team, the CEO, staff and appropriate board committees.
- Establish goals and metrics to evaluate implementation of strategy and tactics, and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the development program; assess the development team to ensure that the department/function is effectively structured and staffed; develop and oversee performance measures and monitor results.
- Collaborate with the Leadership and Marketing and Communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and outreach strategies to raise awareness and understanding of TreePeople’s vision and social impact through events at TreePeople and in the community.
- Team with the Board, the CEO and the Chief Financial Officer to assure sound multi-year fiscal operation of the development function including timely, accurate and comprehensive development of philanthropic contributions income and expense budgets and projections, reporting, monitoring and implementation.
- Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends and best practices in philanthropy relevant to TreePeople, the Southern California region, equity and global climate change and adapt fundraising strategies as necessary.
DESIRED TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS
A successful Chief Philanthropy Officer at TreePeople will be an innovative, hard-working, forward-thinking development professional with exceptional interpersonal skills, a genuine and infectious enthusiasm for TreePeople and its mission, a generous and collaborative spirit, and a high degree of professionalism and integrity. We seek a compelling, supportive leader who will work in mutually-respectful partnership with members of the Development department, with colleagues across the organization, and with the Board of Directors. Overseeing a self-motivated team, the successful CPO will be a team builder who will contribute to departmental and organizational-wide cohesiveness and strength and who has the ability to move a team forward with creativity, energy, respect and a sense of humor. As such, the Chief Philanthropy Officer should not only possess strong communication skills, but should also be able to create an environment that is conducive to open and direct communication with individuals of varying degrees of involvement with TreePeople and its work. Should be a resourceful, results-oriented leader with the ability to think strategically, generate new ideas, prioritize, plan, and set goals and objectives, as well as implement, follow-through, and track progress. A high degree of accountability, transparency and integrity is required. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated personal passion and commitment to the mission of TreePeople and will be able to speak credibly and persuasively about its vision for the future.
EXPERIENCE: CAREER PATH LEADING TO THIS POSITION
The ideal candidate will have exceptional financial, organizational and administrative skills and a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible development experience, including a minimum of five years as a team manager. Experience must include: 1) a proven record of success in senior development leadership positions with major gift and campaign fundraising from individuals, corporations, and foundations; 2) broad-based knowledge of all functions of development, including the use of databases, knowledge of membership and volunteer-driven organizations, and of major giving techniques; 3) experience planning and executing department budgets and evaluating the Return on Investment of specific fundraising programs; 4) demonstrated ability to plan and operate strategically, to build public support, to strengthen infrastructure, to inspire staff and the Board of Directors, and to develop effective programs that garner major investment opportunities such as a capital campaign, endowment or other revenue-generating initiatives.
Although it is preferable that candidates come with a background working in and within the larger environmental community, it is possible that the successful candidate may come from another sector, but demonstrate a strong personal passion and commitment to environmental causes and equity.
WAGES AND BENEFITS:
This is a full time, exempt position, with benefits and an exciting work environment.
JOIN THE TREEPEOPLE TEAM, APPLY AT:
https://treepeople.bamboohr.com/jobs/
Chief Philanthropy Officer Position will be filled promptly upon identification of candidate.
* TreePeople is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
JOB TITLE:
Urban Forester Foreman
REPORTS TO:
Lead Foreman and Project Manager
A LITTLE ABOUT US
TreePeople believes it can make the world a better place. Our mission is to inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun, sustainable and resilient, and to share the process as a model for the world.
TreePeople is a well-established, beloved and fast-growing environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, one of the largest and most diverse communities in the world. TreePeople is rapidly growing because of the tremendous global demand for our innovative community-driven solutions around fire resilience, urban forestry, water-security, environmental literacy, equity, and climate change. Sustained by a talented team of thought-leaders, philanthropists, educators, foresters, community organizers, researchers and policymakers as well as thousands of trained community leaders, TreePeople has played, and will continue to play, a legacy role in mobilizing people, businesses and public agencies to create greener and more resilient communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change and water insecurity.
JOB SUMMARY:
TreePeople needs a highly-experienced and effective Urban Forester Foreman to be part of an extensive, multi-year Tree Planting Project in an area encompassing local mountain ranges and the Southeast LA County cities of Downey, Norwalk, Commerce, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada. The project involves planting and caring for over 10,000 trees in Southeast LA County.
The Urban Forester Foreman will be in charge of the the day to day tree planting and tree care process. This includes but not limited to creating and maintaining relationships with subcontractors and suppliers, developing and executing work plans and supervising employees and/or contractors. The project manager will also develop work plans that ensure that all work follows cost schedules, qualities, quantities and coordination requirements of the project. The project manager will be tasked with training, directing, supervising and evaluating workers engaged in tree planting activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Supervise day to day project activities to meet work plan, cost schedule, quality, quantities and contract requirements.
- Plan, organize, train, direct and evaluate the work of staff who are engaged in the tree planting work and related activities
- Collect, track and report data statistics on project deliverables including tree plantings, GPS tracking and tree care
- Responsible for upholding TreePeople high quality standards in tree planting and tree care including adherence to best management practices; and positive community relations.
- Preparation of work schedules.
- Develop and review site layouts, project schedules and performance predictions.
- Conduct technical assessment of sites, identify potential site issues, including underground and overhead utilities or substructures, and provide best solution/problem solving.
- Handle associated planning issues related with plantings, including working closely with public entities, partners and nurseries to ensure tree stock meets quality specifications and all project deliverables are met according to contract specification.
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with all project partners
- Proper planting of trees assuring that it meets project specifications and requirements
- Responsible for quality and quantity of production and for following safe practices and rules while conducting tree plantings.
- Promotes and maintains good customer and public relations through the effective accomplishment of assigned work and the appropriate behavior of employees on the crew.
- Safeguards employees and the public from hazards in and around work area
- Cooperates with the public, police, and fire departments when blocking street or driveways.
- Sets up barriers, warning signs, flags, markers, etc. to protect employees and public.
- Possesses working knowledge and be able to identify tree species.
- Performs other duties as required
ESSENTIAL JOB QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 2 years as a supervising construction projects and/or tree planting projects.
- 2 year experience of industry standards for tree selection, planting and care.
- Valid CA Driver’s License and proof of insurance.
- Due to the inherently dangerous nature of the industry and requirements to work with or around hazardous equipment, employees must be able to maintain attention and concentration for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to wear necessary PPE as necessary.
- 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.
- Must be able to read and comprehend written and verbal job instructions/information.
- Must be able to verbally communicate with other crew members and fully understand instructions and information.
- Work demands physical energy, twisting, safe heavy lifting ability,, and hand-to-eye coordination.
- Uses machines, tools, equipment, and work tools including but not limited too- shovels, breaker bars, root-chippers, rakes, brooms, general hand tools, lift gates, water tanks, blowers, augers, general 2-cycle and gas engine machiners.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS
- Understands, believes in and can effectively communicate TreePeople’s mission.
- Experience in civil design/construction, urban forestry and project management.
- Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, leadership abilities, management experience, nonprofit business acumen, and detail-oriented approach with the ability to establish credibility, trust and rapport with employees and other partners.
WAGES AND BENEFITS:
This is a full time, non-exempt position, with benefits and an exciting work environment.
JOIN THE TREEPEOPLE TEAM, APPLY AT:
https://treepeople.bamboohr.com/jobs/
* TreePeople is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Internships
Are you interested in learning about one of LA's premier environmental nonprofits?
TreePeople staff works with interns to give them a leg-up in the environmental field and specialized training across our departments' specialities. Come join us and help green our city!
