The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) is hiring! Be part of a phenomenal team dedicated to developing and implementing citywide environmental policies and programs propelling the City of Seattle toward a sustainable, equitable, and carbon neutral future. Our mission is to ensure a clean and healthy environment for every Seattle resident. We prioritize those currently and historically harmed by racial, economic and environmental injustice and serve as cross-departmental and community partners, innovators, and drivers of groundbreaking city policy. If you are looking to support opportunities to further justice throughout Seattle’s environmental work, look no further!

The Job

Are you passionate about environmental and climate justice and ready to make a lasting impact on Seattle’s urban landscape? Join us as the Urban Forestry Advisor and play a pivotal role in shaping citywide urban forestry programs and policies.

In this exciting position, you will lead inclusive and collaborative initiatives across departments, drive innovative solutions, and ensure that racial equity is at the forefront of every decision. You will coordinate teams to take collective action on pressing urban forestry challenges, develop strategies for citywide urban forestry data collection and reporting, and provide expert insights on key policies and long-term planning. As a vital link between the City and the Urban Forestry Commission, you will facilitate communication and understanding of Seattle’s urban forest management and priorities among diverse external communities and partners.
 
We are seeking a proactive, analytical individual with exceptional critical thinking and communication skills, a solid foundation in urban forestry and arboriculture, and an unwavering commitment to equity. If you thrive in a political and dynamic environment and can balance multiple viewpoints while working toward a common goal, we invite you to apply.

What you will do:

• Update data systems for transparency, equity, and accountability. Modify and update citywide systems for urban forestry data collection and reporting to support robust and informed management decisions. Track metrics and conduct analyses to support adaptive management of urban forestry policies and programs, with attention to how these initiatives advance environmental justice goals. Initiate and carry out mapping analyses and build dashboards, reports, and presentations to illustrate trends and findings to City leadership and the public.
• Develop equitable policies and programs. Advise leadership on how urban forestry intersects with environmental and climate justice, land use, and urban planning. Use tools and frameworks to assess policies, programs, and practices for their impacts on racial equity. Influence policy and programmatic changes in favor of equitable outcomes. 
• Advance planning and implementation efforts. Coordinate updates and manage implementation of the Urban Forest Management Plan and Tree Canopy Assessment. Influence other relevant plans to achieve a coordinated citywide urban forestry vision and approach, ensuring these plans are aligned with our commitment to racial and environmental justice.
• Facilitate collaboration. Lead and coordinate the City’s interdepartmental urban forestry team and working groups, ensuring that environmental justice, climate resilience, and urban forestry best management practices guide decision-making. Coordinate between the City and community partners as liaison for the Urban Forestry Commission. 

• Centering racial equity, environmental justice, and climate justice in your interactions and work products.
• Employing detailed project management and organization to develop work plans, maintain workflows, and meet project outcomes.
• Staying current on innovations and industry trends, with a particular focus on data systems, tracking, and climate adaptation.
• Working collaboratively and leading by influence to create strategies and plans with partners toward shared goals, motivating and aligning diverse stakeholders, building consensus, and driving projects forward. 
• Relationship-building, active listening, visibility, and ensuring diverse viewpoints are heard and understood. 

A successful applicant is a strategic project manager with a professional career that reflects a commitment to building inclusive, collaborative, and respectful relationships among diverse internal and external partners. This career orientation will be complemented by demonstrated knowledge and expertise in:

• Applying a racial equity and environmental justice lens to enhance work impact and outcomes.
• Managing projects and organizational efforts effectively and efficiently.
• Leading teams and fostering buy-in through influential communication, creating a shared vision, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Driving innovation and leading meaningful change initiatives.
• Using software common in urban forest management, data analysis, and graphic visualization; proficiency in remote sensing and mapping tools (e.g. ArcGIS) is a plus.
• Understanding urban forestry policy issues and related urban planning processes.
• Demonstrating expertise in urban forestry and arboriculture; ISA Certification and/or other recognized credentials in urban forestry is a plus.
• Exhibiting strong communication, listening, writing, and presentation abilities.

This civil service (Download PDF reader) position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 2, General Government, and is exempt from FLSA (not eligible for overtime). The full pay range for this discretionary pay title is $52.50 – $78.78 hourly. The salary range for this individual position has been identified as $62.00 – $66.00 hourly ($129,456 – $137,808.00 annually, based on 2088 hours per year).

Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package includes vacation, holiday, and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on our website: City of Seattle Employee Benefits.

Why Work at the City of Seattle? We recognize that every employee plays a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture results from our behavior, personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Hybrid work: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule, with arrangements based on an agreement between the employee and their supervisor. Some local travel and regional travel will be required, along with occasional evening and weekend in-person meetings.

Application process:

Here is a resource for Application and Interviewing tips (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) with the City of Seattle.
Please submit your application at City of Seattle Jobs Website no later than 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. To be considered for this position, in addition to completing your application fully, please attach:

• A PDF of your current resume that illustrates your related skills, experience, and abilities.
• A cover letter explaining your interest in this opportunity with OSE and your ability to perform in this role.