Chicago Region Trees Initiative Community Manager

Job Description

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI), The Morton Arboretum’s urban forestry program, is building a healthier, more diverse, and more equitable tree canopy across the Chicago region—and beyond. We’re seeking a CRTI Community Manager to lead our Community Capacity Program, empowering public landowners and municipal leaders to manage their natural resources effectively. In this supervisory position, you’ll help implement the CRTI Master Plan, guide local governments on tree policy and ordinances, oversee regional subgrant programs, and supervise a dedicated team driving community forestry impact. We’re looking for a motivated, well-organized professional who thrives on collaboration, enjoys connecting with diverse communities, and is ready to make a real difference in the region’s urban forest.

Position Summary: Responsible for managing, developing, implementing, and communicating the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) Community Program, providing education, outreach, and training to public landowners and managers, and governmental entities to improve the health of the urban forest and quality of life in the Chicago region. Work closely with the CRTI team to support and implement programs, and opportunities including the CRTI Master Plan. Represent CRTI to partners and constituents to foster and facilitate improved health and sustainability of the urban and community forest and advance the mission of The Morton Arboretum.

About Us

The Morton Arboretum–a great outdoor museum and a magnificent garden of trees–is a
nonprofit organization with a vision for a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people
and trees thrive together. The Arboretum ranks among the leading arboreta of the world in size,
age, quality of specimens, and programs and initiatives for the conservation and planting of trees.

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Develop and manage outreach, education, activities, and events for public landowners and managers to improve community policy, advocacy, and skills, including resources and training programs for residents to support and advocate for urban forestry with government entities. Represent CRTI in regional public land focused organizations.

Manage and implement the public land goals and objectives of the CRTI Master Plan through coordination of internal and external groups. Develop and implement the Operational Capacity Survey and integrate with the CRTI datasets to assess plan progress.

Solicit, develop, and manage urban forestry grants and special funding, including special project funding, and manage CRTI’s relationship with the IDNR. Lead CRTI’s government and public land-related subgrant programs.

Lead the development of CRTI’s tree ordinance, policy, and plan recommendations and support creation and updates to applicable laws, policies, and plans at the local and state level.

Implement and manage the Chicago Region Carbon Program.

Manage the data collection, related CRTI tracking, and the IDNR Community Accomplishments Reporting System (CARS) contact database. Contribute to contact database, resources, and web content for designated constituents

Conduct research for projects as needed. Compile, organize, and present information in print and verbal communication. Frequently work on projects and activities that take place outside of the seven-county region, occasionally work on projects at the great lakes regional and national scales.

Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretum’s employee core values.

Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Serve in a supervisory capacity of one or more employees, providing leadership guidance and communicating the organization’s goals. This includes:

Hiring, training, coaching and developing team members, by providing recognition and feedback, and evaluating performance

Ensuring that team members adhere to the Arboretum’s policies and procedures, and maintaining a safe and compliant work environment

Building and maintaining positive working relationships with team members, colleagues, and other stakeholders to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment

Education and Experience

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred, in the areas of forestry, horticulture, or natural resource management. 4+ years related experience required, such as urban forestry practice, research or grant management. International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist preferred. UCFS Certified Urban Forest Professional or SAF Certified Urban and Community Forester preferred. Experience in organizing meetings and presenting events or educational sessions preferred. Experience with community and civic organizations and processes preferred. Familiarity with GIS mapping and analysis preferred. Good communication skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, and customer service ethic required. Must possess a valid driver’s license, which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Constant Contact, Salesforce, social media, web content development, and Google applications beneficial.

Success Factors: Proactive, self-motivated, highly organized, and detail oriented. Strong collaboration, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines. Effective time-management skills and a positive and flexible approach to the job. Ability to nimbly manage complex tasks and concurrent projects. Customer service oriented with the ability to relate effectively with persons internal and external to the Arboretum and genuine enthusiasm for working with the public.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 40 lbs.), walking over uneven terrain, regular local travel by car, truck, or train.

Work Environment: Office environment and various venues for community events. Occasional outside work is required including digging, pruning, and planting of trees.

Equipment: General office equipment, digital camera, shovel, wire cutters, pruners, Arboretum truck and trailer.

Schedule: Work requires occasional evening and weekend hours.

Additional Information

The expected hiring range for this position is $67,000-$77,000 based on experience that will be evaluated during the candidate selection process. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of the final offer. This position is also eligible for a competitive benefits package

The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.

The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.

Application Instructions

For full consideration, please include resume and cover letter with application.

To apply, visit: https://mortonarb.org/join-support/employment/