Planting Coordinator

City of Cleveland • 4501 - Parks & Recreation, OH

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Planting Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing the City's tree-planting initiatives using a combination of vendors, volunteers, and in-house personnel. This role ensures that planting projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with professional standards and city goals. The Planting Coordinator manages logistics, oversees field implementation, and serves as the primary point of coordination for community partners, contractors, and internal staff involved in tree-planting activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences, or closely related field preferred.
• Two (2) years of any equivalent combination of education, training and experience in program administration required.
• Must be able to lift and carry thirty (30) pounds.
• Valid State of Ohio Driver's License required.
• Experience in urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, or natural resources
• Knowledge of tree-planting standards, species selection, and site assessment.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Ability to coordinate diverse groups, including contractors, volunteers, and city staff.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying conditions and oversee field activities.
• Basic proficiency with mapping tools, spreadsheets, or project-tracking software.

Nice To Haves

• ISA Certified Arborist credential or ability to obtain
• Experience coordinating volunteer events or community-based planting programs.
• Familiarity with municipal processes, procurement, or contractor oversight.
• Knowledge of urban tree survival strategies, soil conditions, and planting best practices.
• Experience with GIS, inventory systems, or canopy-tracking tools.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate all tree-planting projects, including scheduling, site selection, logistics, and resource allocation.
• Oversee planting activities performed by vendors, volunteers, and in-house crews to ensure quality, safety, and adherence to standards.
• Develop planting plans and layouts, ensuring species diversity, site suitability, and long-term survivability.
• Manage vendor relationships, including contract coordination, performance monitoring, and compliance with city specifications.
• Organize volunteer planting events, providing training, on-site leadership, and positive community engagement.
• Track planting data, maintain accurate records, and support reporting on project outcomes and canopy expansion goals.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including operations, forestry staff, and community partners, to ensure smooth project execution and alignment with broader initiatives.
• Serves as the administrative supervisor on projects or programs.
• Plans, assigns, supervises, and reviews activities of subordinate personnel.
• Monitors the project or program's operating budget and assists in the annual preparation of same.
• Designs, implements, and monitors procedures utilized in program evaluation.
• Develops and secures commitments from other City departments and agencies to provide services to program participants.
• Provides technical assistance or reviews program policies and procedures.
• Maintains current information and oversees the preparation of project status reports.
• Prepares financial and narrative reports and program applications.
• Communicates project/program status and information to municipal officials and/or public and private entities.
• May supervise employees assigned to the respective project.

Benefits

• The City's guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level