Urban Outdoors Program Manager
12 days ago
Boston
Job Description Who We Are: Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, . Posting Information: Annual Salary: $60,000 – $72,000 Hours per week: 40 Job Classification: Exempt, Full-Time Job Type: Hybrid (2–3 days/week in office or on site in Greater Boston) Duration: Three-year term with potential to extend Location: Boston, MA What You’ll Do: Your Impact: As the person launching Urban Outdoors, you’ll help build a new initiative from the ground up—one that weaves together conservation, community building, and climate resilience in some of Massachusetts’ most dynamic and historically excluded urban neighborhoods. You’ll play a key role in creating and protecting green spaces, expanding access to nature, and strengthening stewardship through culturally relevant partnerships with both longtime residents and new collaborators. This role brings environmental justice into practice by grounding our work in the lived experiences of communities already impacted by climate change. It’s about fostering durable, reciprocal relationships with Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and immigrant communities—and ensuring our presence in cities reflects equity, trust, and long-term commitment. Together, we’ll learn, build, and grow a model of Urban Outdoors conservation that is shaped by and reflects the people it serves. The Role: As Program Manager for Urban Outdoors, you will work to prepare the rollout of a new initiative that combines conservation, community building, and climate resilience in Massachusetts’ urban centers. You’ll collaboratively establish several programs and partnerships, represent The Trustees in community spaces, and help lay the groundwork for long-term, trust-based engagement. You’ll also work across departments to involve colleagues in the initiative and guide them in support of these goals and relevance. This role is well suited for someone who can build respectful relationships, communicate across differences, manage details and timelines, and stay focused on both people and outcomes. Specifically, you’ll: • Coordinate the management and delivery of Urban Outdoors programs, events, and engagement activities, guided by the Director of Urban Resilience & Director of Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity (DBIE) Programs & Partnerships, handling timelines, logistics, and communications across internal teams and external collaborators., • Facilitate planning meetings and working groups, support community listening sessions, and steward shared decision-making processes with transparency and accountability., • Provide limited technical assistance to community partners by helping translate conservation goals and climate resilience strategies into tangible, community-informed priorities and pilot efforts., • Cultivate and sustain relationships with community partners, residents, grassroots organizations, and local leaders to support inclusive planning, co-design of programs, and trust-based collaboration., • Track and manage program deliverables and project timelines, supporting operational follow-through, adapting to emerging needs, and reporting on key milestones., • Represent The Trustees and the Urban Outdoors initiative in public and community-facing settings—including meetings, convenings, tabling events, and speaking engagements—to ensure a visible, responsive, and consistent presence., • Contribute to learning and evaluation by tracking participation data, capturing feedback from stakeholders, and helping to measure program outcomes for internal reporting and strategic refinement., • Identify gaps and barriers related to nature access in urban communities—such as those involving safety, infrastructure, policy, or maintenance—and help develop responsive solutions through cross-functional and cross-sector coordination., • Collaborate with colleagues and partners to ensure that all programs and events reflect the core values of equity, accessibility, and cultural relevance, and that community voice is embedded in both content and design. This is a full-time position with benefits, currently funded for a three-year term with the opportunity to extend. The role reports to the Regional Vice President for Boston & Urban Outdoors and works closely with the Boston team and several statewide colleagues. This position requires availability for frequent evening and weekend work, such as public meetings and town halls, which involves regular travel throughout Greater Boston and surrounding urban centers. Work environment: • In person and remote work across various sites, • Evening and weekend work will be required Physical demands: • Outdoor work will be required—such as tabling at outdoor events and programs—throughout the year (Spring, Summer, and Fall primarily). What You’ll Need: Skills and Experience: Required: • 3-5 years of relevant work experience, in a related field/discipline., • Demonstrated ability to build relationships across lines of difference—including culture, language, power, and sector—and to serve as a connector between institutions and grassroots communities., • Experience coordinating or supporting programs related to community engagement, climate justice, conservation, youth development, or social equity., • Strong facilitation and interpersonal communication skills, with comfort guiding meetings, helping navigate conflict or differences, and contributing to consensus-building processes., • Capacity to manage logistics, track multiple workstreams, and help translate plans into action; experience supporting program implementation across organizations is preferred., • Multilingual candidates and those with lived experience in BIPOC, immigrant, or environmental justice communities are strongly encouraged to apply., • Familiarity with GIS tools, demographic reports, environmental science, urban policy, or population and climate trends—especially as they relate to equity, nature access, and resilience in Massachusetts’ urban communities., • Experience providing or receiving technical assistance in a nonprofit, public agency, or advocacy setting., • Familiarity with local, state, or federal programs that support equitable land use, community development, or climate adaptation. Eligibility Criteria: • Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by their first day of employment., • A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy., • A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check., • A higher education degree in a relevant field such as urban planning, public health, environmental science, climate adaptation, public policy, or community development — or a comparable combination of education, training, and lived experience that prepares the candidate to work effectively at the intersection of conservation and urban equity., • Demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and environmental justice, reflected in personal experience or professional practice., • Willingness and ability to travel regularly across Greater Boston and surrounding urban centers for meetings, events, and site visits, with occasional travel to other Trustees properties as needed. Travel will be by one's own means with reimbursement available for mileage. Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above. Questions? Contact our People team at Benefits Your Benefits: • Sick time: 15 days per year, • Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated), • 12 observed holidays, 3 floating, • Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits., • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance, • Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave, • Life Insurance, • 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment, • Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice., • Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions., • Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns., • Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property, • Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property Equal Opportunity and Diversity: The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission. The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at .
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