Green Infrastructure Design Principal

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable; we share our process as a model for the world. TreePeople is among the largest independent environmental organizations in California. Sustained by a team of educators, foresters, organizers, and administrators as well as thousands of trained Community Foresters, TreePeople plays a leading role in mobilizing individuals, private businesses, and government agencies to work together to create resilient communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change. For almost 50 years, TreePeople has partnered with community volunteers to plant and care for millions of trees throughout the cities and mountains of Southern California. The Green Infrastructure Design Principal leads multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement impactful community-led green infrastructure projects including green streets, schools, and parks. Successful candidates will have strong experience in and sound working knowledge of green infrastructure design and construction processes. Demonstrated experience should include developing and maintaining clear and effective communication between contractors and consultants, and should also include effective supervision of and leadership for internal project teams.

ESSENTIAL JOB

RESPONSIBILITIESLead Landscape Design and Green Infrastructure ProjectsLead and manage all phases of green infrastructure projects, ensuring delivery on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with grant requirements and TreePeople valuesLead in-house green infrastructure design efforts, from concept design through construction documents and specificationsSet and communicate a clear design vision aligned with TreePeople's valuesProduce presentation materials such as renderings, illustrative plans, and diagrams to communicate design intentEnsure designs comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and permitting requirements through agency coordination and researchLead permitting, approvals, and agency coordination processesDevelop and maintain project work plans, schedules, and task assignmentsDevelop and track project budgets; review and approve expenditures; develop or commission cost estimates as neededLead regular project meetings, ensuring they are efficient, well-documented, and result in clear next stepsLead coordination with subcontractors to achieve deliverables on time, on budget, and in complianceCoordinate project changes in budget, schedule, or scope with the Director of Green InfrastructureFacilitate regular coordination with public agencies, funders, and community stakeholders; ensure feedback is incorporated into designLead progress reports to agencies and funders as required; coordinate submittals and any contract amendments or extensions with the Grants teamAssist other TreePeople departments with landscape design-related tasks as neededConstruction Management and AdministrationSelect contractors and consultants through interviews, RFPs, and competitive biddingCoordinate with the Director of Green Infrastructure to develop subcontracts, MOUs, and other legal project documentsEnsure subcontractors, consultants, and vendors comply with all contracts throughout the projectAttend construction sites to verify work is being built in alignment with approved designsDocument construction progress through photographs and meeting notesOversee construction communications including RFIs, submittals, and bulletinsRespond to RFIs and field questions during constructionSupervise final inspections, punchlists, and completion reviewsSupport project close-out documentation and reportingManage Direct ReportsConduct regular one-on-ones and annual/90-day performance reviewsMonitor workloads, set clear expectations, and assign tasks through AsanaApprove timesheets and time-off requestsAddress performance issues in partnership with HR and the Director of Green InfrastructureSupport professional development and identify growth opportunitiesFoster a positive, inclusive, and productive team cultureSupervise coordination with internal departments (education, marketing/communications, forestry) as neededHelp recruit, interview, hire, and onboard new team members as needed.

Promote Project Outcomes and Represent TreePeople ExternallyCoordinate with Marketing/Communications for social media, press releases, media inquiries, and eventsParticipate in interviews and presentations to share project detailsSupervise project website updates to keep content currentCoordinate with the Development team to keep donors informed of project progressOversee planning of project events such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, workshops, and tree plantingsContribute to the OrganizationRepresent TreePeople at meetings, fundraising, marketing, membership, and volunteer eventsLead and coordinate site walk-throughs with internal teams, contractors, agencies, and community groupsContribute to project proposals as requestedHelp identify, cultivate, and strengthen strategic partnershipsMeet deadlines and proactively flag potential delaysRespond to internal and external communications within 2 business daysContribute ideas and improvements to projects, workflows, and systemsSupport teammates and contribute to a positive work cultureParticipate in annual workshops and all-staff meetingsQUALIFICATIONS/SKILLSRequiredBachelors or masters degree in landscape architecture or equivalent experienceAt least 5 years of professional experience managing projects that involve civil/landscape engineering, landscape architecture, and related fieldsKnowledge and experience with green infrastructure and nature based solutions.

Highly organized, detailed oriented, strong work ethic, friendly, smart, proactive and a quick learnerExcellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skillsExperience working with community members, their representatives and advocates to assess their needs and strengthsExperience working and communicating with project engineers and related technical staff at public agencies and private firms and translating (in relatable terms) for staff and other interested partiesExperience in construction management and administrationAbility to work with flexibility in teams and independently toward completion deadlinesProficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Suite, GIS and/or other project design softwarePreferredLicensed landscape architectBilingual Spanish/English