Project Manager, Urban Forestry Workforce Development

102897BR

Campus: Tempe

Project Manager

Job Description

ASU’s Walton Sustainability Solutions Service was recently awarded a three-year, $5 million USDA Forest Service grant to grow the tree and shade canopy in metro Phoenix while also growing an urban forestry industry through cross-stakeholder partnerships. The Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator is a Justice-40 initiative to be implemented in collaboration with 5 community-based organizations, 4 municipalities, 4 industry partners, 3 national organizations, and 3 ASU departments.

The project manager will work closely and collaboratively with co-PIs and implementing partners to plan, direct, organize, and execute against project requirements, in accordance with the USDA’s expectations. This includes:

• Supporting the co-design of urban forestry workforce development curricula with community and industry partners
• Supporting workforce development efforts across partners to develop pipelines and pathways across the urban forestry value chain to support the full life cycle of a tree (from tree propagation to landscape and irrigation design, implementation and maintenance, to arboriculture, and tree removal and soil building)
• Supporting partners’ development of practices and processes for workforce development recruitment, selection, enrollment, assessment, and placement
• Supporting partners’ workforce development documentation for local, regional, national and international credentialing bodies (i.e., International Society of Arboriculture)
• Collaborating with industry partners to document specific employment/education opportunities and needs for entry-level positions and for advancement within and across the urban forestry industry
• Collaborating with partners and workforce development participants to document participant needs for learning and working in urban forestry
• Working with industry partners to identify and promote paid (by the grant) urban forestry internship opportunities for workforce development participants
• Providing support and guidance to interns throughout their 8-week internships
• Developing local pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in urban forestry, where possible
• Collaborating with co-PIs and all partners to document and track the impact of the program and services offered

Job Family

Project Management

Department Name

R&M Walton Sust Solutions Svc

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time

VP Code

KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE DEV

Grant Funded Position

This is a grant funded position. Continuation is contingent on future grant funding.

Salary Range

$55,510 - $70,000 per year, DOE

Essential Duties

• Works closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders to define and execute project scope, strategy, budget, and outcomes; identifies critical resource expertise and targets appropriate internal and/or external sources to ensure optimal outcome(s).
• Establishes and continually monitors/manages project expectations with team; assigns tasks and identifies issues for resolution to ensure optimal team effectiveness
• Prepares and maintains project status reports and schedules; tracks milestones/deliverables, critical paths and dependencies; re-sets expectations as needed in consideration of project progress/outcomes.
• Responds to all inquiries regarding project status; prepares and responds to all regulatory reporting/filings to ensure compliance
• Works collaboratively with stakeholders, leadership, and other related staff to define and identify all required project infrastructure

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and 5 years related experience; 1 of which are in project management, or any equivalent combination of experience and /or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Experience working in a higher education environment
• Experience working collaboratively in community settings with community partners
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) desirable, but not necessary
• Interest in or familiarity with urban forestry field work (i.e., nursery work, landscape design, urban planning, irrigation design and implementation, green stormwater infrastructure, tree and plant propagation, arboriculture, composting, etc.,)

Working Environment

Activities are primarily performed in a regular, climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, standing, walking. Visual acuity and manual dexterity associated with daily use of desktop computer; bending, stooping, reaching and lifting up to 20 pounds. Ability to clearly communicate to perform essential duties. Regular review of completed tasks. 

Some activities may be off-campus and may require periods of exposure to external elements indigenous to a desert urban environment, including weather and heat, as part of supporting workforce development participants and partners.

Department Statement

This position is grant-funded for 2.5 years and is contingent on future funding.

This position is made possible through a Justice-40 grant from the USDA Forest Service. The Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.

The USDA and Arizona State University are equal opportunity providers. 

ASU Statement

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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Employment Verification Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Instructions to Apply

Application deadline is 3:00PM Arizona time on the date indicated.

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.

Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.

ASU does not pay for travel expenses associated with interviews, unless otherwise indicated.

Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

IMPORTANT NOTE: What is the meaning of “equivalent combination” in the minimum qualifications? It means one year of higher education or 24 credit hours, is equal to one year of experience. For example, a four year Bachelor’s degree is equal to four years of experience.