Urban & Community Forestry Program Director - Oklahoma City, United States - Cayuse Holdings

Description

Overview

The Urban Forestry Program Director will lead GreenLatinos' efforts in managing the Urban and Community Forestry Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. With support from GreenLatinos' Justicia y Equidad Fund Director and Manager, the Program Director will oversee the distribution of $11.5M in funding to pre-selected municipalities in California and Illinois, as well as an additional $8.5M in reserve funding to community-based organizations (CBOs) seeking to implement urban and community forestry projects. Over the 5-year grant term, the Program Director will ensure compliance with grant terms, provide technical assistance to subawardees, facilitate communication with the USDA, and manage internal operations.

ABOUT GREENLATINOS

GreenLatinos convenes an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation. We envision a healthy and equitable society where communities of color are liberated from disproportionate environmental burdens, free to breathe fresh air, drink pure water, access clean transportation and enjoy our majestic public lands, ocean, and waters.

ABOUT GREENLATINOS' URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Urban and Community Forestry Program received and will disburse a historic $1.5 billion to support urban tree-planting, urban forest planning and management, and related activities, particularly in frontline communities. GreenLatinos was selected to manage awards for and support 20 municipalities in implementing proposed urban and community forestry projects over the next 5 years, disbursing $11.5M in funding to pre-selected municipalities in California and Illinois through its Justicia y Equidad Fund (JyE Fund). GreenLatinos' Justicia y Equidad Fund is an intermediary fund whose purpose is to provide grants to help grow the capacity and programmatic capabilities of Latino/a/e serving frontline environmental justice organizations and campaigns. GreenLatinos will also disburse an additional $8.5M in reserve funding to community-based organizations seeking to implement urban and community forestry projects, facilitating outreach to target communities, running a competitive sub-award process, and providing technical assistance and oversight to support project implementation for all subawardees.

Responsibilities

The Urban & Community Forestry Program Director must be a well-organized individual with experience working with diverse constituencies (communities of color, foundations, corporations, governments, and legacy environmental groups). The role requires a methodical, detail-oriented, but pragmatic approach to policies, timelines, and reporting requirements.

The ideal candidate is self-driven, a team player, and comfortable working remotely. The ideal candidate will be able to communicate their working needs clearly (verbally and in writing) and report accordingly to their supervisors and other staff to ensure success. The ideal candidate understands that it is critical to uphold professional practices as a representative of GreenLatinos and its network during all work-related functions including travel, receptions, and events.

The Urban & Community Forestry Director will report directly to the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Operations (10%)

• Develop and implement processes and programming to support subawardees through development, implementation, and close-out phases of proposed projects, with monitoring and technical assistance

Compliance & Reporting (25%)

• Serve as GreenLatinos' point person with the USDA, ensuring all aspects of GreenLatinos' regrant and technical assistance program comply with grant terms, and sharing feedback and updates between subawardees and the USDA. Develop internal operations and finalize internal compliance and reporting procedures
• Draft and negotiate MOUs with municipalities and CBOs selected for subawards
• Work with GreenLatinos' Justicia y Equidad Fund staff to manage an efficient performance and financial reporting system, having ultimate oversight and responsibility for semi-annual grant performance and financial reporting to the USDA

Project Management (20%)

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, budgets, and deliverables specific to GreenLatinos' cooperative agreement with the USDA
• Monitor project progress against established milestones, proactively identifying deviations and deploying technical assistance and support to keep projects on track

Supervision & Relationship Management (15%)

• Supervise 2 Urban & Community Forestry Project Managers, and all contractors related to the Urban & Community Forestry program
• Build and maintain relationships with sub-awardees and applicants, ensuring open communication and trust
• Liaise with legal teams to execute contracts and resolve any compliance issues

Facilitation & Capacity Building (20%)

• Plan and supervise subawardee convenings, technical assistance, and peer learning offerings, to be implemented with support from Urban & Community Forestry Case Managers (2). Develop calendar and provide technical assistance on federal urban & community forestry program goals, project development, reporting, compliance, equity in access, workforce development, outreach, etc. to support project implementation
• Support subawardees in aligning projects with the needs of underserved communities in their geographic area, ensuring projects are accessible and equitable to those most impacted by urban forest degradation, development, and climate change
• Continually improve the Urban & Community Forestry program by seeking feedback and implementing best practices

Procurement (10%)

• Procure, supervise, and work with communications, community engagement, and translation and interpretation contractors to support subawardees in facilitating culturally-responsive, in-language communications and outreach events, and sharing news of project updates and accomplishments broadly
• Work with GreenLatinos' Justicia y Equidad Fund staff to announce and disseminate the funding opportunity for reserve funds. Participate in review process and drafting and execution of subaward MOUs

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in finance, public administration, social sciences, forestry, environmental science, or a related field
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in program management, preferably with experience in administering sub-grants or related funding mechanisms
• Strong understanding of federal grants and procurement processes
• Significant experience with procurement, contract drafting, and compliance, preferably within the context of city, state, or federal government. Comfort structuring and executing complex legal agreements
• Proficiency in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting methods, including federal grant reporting and use of
• Facilitation experience, particularly in culturally-responsive and inclusive settings
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice and centering frontline communities
• Must be able to provide own personal computer and mobile phone for work (financial assistance can be requested)

NICE TO HAVE

• Advanced degrees or certifications in nonprofit management or related fields
• Spanish speaking and writing capabilities

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list 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.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement: Cayuse embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Cayuse, and all of its subsidiaries, are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are an affirmative action employer.

Pay Range

USD $110, USD $125,000.00 /Yr.

Submit a Referral (https://careers-)

Location US-N/A

ID 102190

Category Management

Position Type Full-Time Salary Exempt

Remote Yes