UCF Practitioner Coordinator

Job Summary:
The UCF Practitioner Coordinator will help connect urban forest stakeholders and build constituencies for community forests in order to leverage statewide initiatives, funding, and other opportunities. State initiatives around urban and community forestry such as 25 Million Trees and the state Arbor Day Poster Contest, and national programs such as the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City, Tree Campus, and Tree Line USA programs, all aim to celebrate and elevate urban forestry best practices. This position will coordinate these programs, assisting with education/outreach, storytelling, grants and other program activities as needed. This position involves working with regional staff, other UCF coordination staff in Albany, applicant organizations, and the Arbor Day Foundation. As the Urban and Community Forestry Program expands to address extreme heat, air pollution, and climate carbon sequestration goals and provide leadership and funding to deliver necessary levels of new statewide tree planting, this position is critical to connect practitioners across the state including municipalities, public and private educational entities, non-profit organizations, and others in order to share practices, find solutions to challenges, and identify and leverage opportunities.

Duties:

• Create a communications network of statewide urban forestry activities, stewards, and practitioners.
• Share tools, resources, and platforms that support urban forestry.
• Update 25 Million Trees Events Calendar.
• Support ReLeaf workshops – Act as backup for the ReLeaf Coordinator when needed, hosting and supporting regional events.
• Assist with developing program-wide outreach and education materials as needed.
• Assist in the development and review of Urban and Community Forestry Grants as needed.
• Communicate and work with the coordination team, regional staff, other DEC programs, municipalities, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Coordinate the Tree City USA and related Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) programs for New York State, supporting regional DEC staff, applicants, and ADF staff with regular communication, updates, and helpful materials.
• Prepare ADF participation reports for program, agency, state and federal audiences.
• Develop and implement plans to increase participation in these programs.
• Follow up with lapsed participants.
• Coordinate quarterly Tree City focused webinars for current participants and those striving to become certified.
• Storytelling – reach out to Tree City USA communities and other ADF program participants to get community highlights for monthly newsletter, photos, interviews for more in-depth story telling.
• Provide newsletter content for and about tree cities and the Arbor Day Poster Contest.
• Participate in local Arbor Day events.
• Increase Tree City attendance at the annual conference.
• Increase participation in the Tree Campus Higher Education program.
• Increase participation in Tree Campus K-12 and connect it with Project Learning Tree
• Coordinate the statewide Arbor Day artwork contest that results in a statewide Arbor Day Poster and other materials.
• Facilitate program planning for following year’s poster.
• Develop and revise multi-media promotional and submission materials.
• Identify and promote the contest to new audiences to obtain more high-quality artwork submissions.
• Facilitate partner participation including but not limited to confirming partner roles, review of process and deadlines, and partner voting.
• Work with printer on deadlines and design.
• Ensure poster orders are shipped and delivered to regional staff and large recurring requests in March.
• Track inventory of Arbor Day posters and related materials.
• Work independently and as a supportive and productive member of a cohesive team. Must be detail oriented, highly organized and a good communicator.
• Assist in the development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of statewide Urban and Community Forestry programs as needed.
• Utilize various tools and technologies including various webinar software, GIS, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.

Qualifications:

Required:

• A bachelor's or higher-level degree in ecological forest management, forest biology, forest ecosystem science, forest health, forest resource management, forestry, urban forestry, natural resources planning, natural resources management, natural resources conservation, environmental planning, environmental science, environmental studies, biology, chemistry, geography or physics OR
• A bachelor's or higher degree including or supplemented by 24 credits in at least two (2) of the following areas; dendrology, entomology, environmental planning, environmental science, environmental policy, environmental resource management, forest ecology, forest ecosystem, forest entomology, forest inventories, forest pathology, forest management, forest measurement/inventory, forest recreation, forest recreation management, geographic information system (GIS), natural resources planning, natural resources policy, pathology, plant entomology, plant pathology, silviculture, soils, surveying, ecological restoration, wilderness management, carbon sequestration, environmental education or environmental climate change. Two years of forestry-related work may be substituted for 12 credits.
• Must have a valid driver's license

Preferred:

• Urban forestry experience
• Two years of experience

How to Apply:

Please submit resume and cover letter via email: [email protected], noting “UCF Practitioner Coordinator” in subject line of email by close of business, Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Additional Comments:

NHT is committed to building and encouraging an inclusive workplace that strives for respect and promotes and values diversity. We believe that organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective, or any other trait that makes an individual unique, are proven to be better organizations. Please consider joining the team as we work together to build a welcoming workplace where employees recognize their unique characteristics, skills, and experiences are respected, valued, and celebrated.

To support our employees, NHT provides a generous benefits package similar to what is offered to New York State employees. Our total compensation package includes, but is not limited to, leave benefits (14 paid holidays as well as paid vacation, sick, and personal leave); a comprehensive health insurance program including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision plans; and membership in the NYS Employees Retirement System. Additionally, employees may be eligible for partial remote work schedules.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Albany, NY 12207: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Albany, NY 12207