The Position
Portland Parks & Recreation is hiring for a part-time job opportunity in the Urban Forestry Division. Job Appointment: Casual, Full-time 35-40 hours per week .
June through November with the possibility of extension Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. The schedule will vary depending on event schedules. Occasional evening work will be required. This is a casual position with a maximum of 1400 hours per year, with flexible hours and may include days, evenings. Employees in these positions serve at will.
Work Location: 10910 N. Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217. Possibility of some remote work, which must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here
Benefit: These positions have limited benefit eligibility. Please review the Benefits tab for more information.
Language Pay Differential: Employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English and who use their language skill to assist the community, may receive additional pay. More about the process can be found here .
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to submit a resume and answer supplemental questions for this application.
Union Representation: non-represented
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.
These are seasonal Community Service Aide (CSA) II positions with a maximum of 1,400 hours in a calendar year.
These positions are not eligible for benefits.
Position Summary:
Are you bilingual and interested in using your language skills to connect with others? Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry is seeking a Bilingual Community Outreach Specialist. Join a team dedicated to engaging diverse communities in the planting and care of urban trees. Help bring the essential services that trees provide to all Portlanders. Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, and Tagalog speakers are especially encouraged to apply.
This position will promote Urban Forestry’s Yard Tree Giveaway program. You will co-create and implement an outreach plan with a goal to register community members for free trees this summer. This year the city of Portland will give away 3,000 free trees and we want to find great homes for them. The focus audience is community members living in priority geographies (primarily East and North Portland), low income residents, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) community members. You will use your language skills to develop and conduct outreach activities that connect with residents who speak your language and some who will not. While knowledge of trees may be helpful, we are more interested in finding candidates that are passionate about bringing the valuable resources trees provide to communities throughout Portland.
We are seeking a team member who is deeply committed to ensuring underserved communities are at the heart of our tree planting and outreach initiatives and that we can create more inclusive ways for people who speak languages other than English to participate in the Yard Tree Giveaway program. In this exciting role you will spend significant time working at events, networking, and being in communities rain or shine. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who is outgoing, energetic, and an excellent communicator, someone who enjoys spending time outside and walking, and someone who loves trees and nature.
What you'll get to do: - Create and implement an outreach plan to promote the Yard Tree Giveaway program, with goals of registering community members for 3,000 free trees.
- Develop and conduct language-specific outreach for Yard Tree Giveaway.
- Attend and table at community events, share information, and register residents for free yard trees.
- Effectively communicate via email, social media, phone calls, in person and Zoom meetings, and networking to promote PP&R Urban Forestry programs.
- Present and speak to community organizations to promote PP&R Urban Forestry programs.
- Speak passionately about the benefits and services that trees provide, such as shade, clean air and water, habitat, and health.
- Listen actively and empathetically to community member needs and concerns around trees and find creative resolutions to concerns when possible.
- Develop and manage social media posts to promote PP&R Urban Forestry programs.
- Assist with volunteer coordination of door-to-door canvassing.
- Talk with residents, knock on doors, and post door hangers and flyers in all weather.
- Organize event logistics, includingordering supplies, communicating with staff and volunteers, transporting supplies, and conducting event set up and tear down.
- Maintain records for all events and contacts and update the outreach database.
- Collect data, analyze, and report on outreach effectiveness, suggesting improvements and tracking progress.
- Assist Urban Forestry staff at events, including Yard Tree Giveaway pick up days, workshops, and others.
Who you are: - Inclusive and culturally competent: You are a leader and advocate for equity, work effectively across cultures, and thrive in a diverse team.
- Collaborative: You enjoy working with a team, developing and supporting relationships, bringing people together to achieve shared goals and are someone who is comfortable learning new things.
- Organized and Efficient: You can manage complex projects, multiple deadlines, requests, and communication in a timely manner.
About Urban Forestry and Portland’s Forest:
Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland’s urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Portland’s urban forest is valued at over $6 billion and comprised of over 1.2 million park trees, 218,000 street trees and 2.9 million private property trees. The Urban Forestry's team is responsible for the overall management, stewardship, and improvement of this essential infrastructure system. Urban Forestry’s work includes delivery of sustainable and equitable forest services to all Portlanders; establishing and enacting best management practices, plans, policies and technical standards for tree care and protection and urban forest expansion; implementing, enforcing and proposing improvements to the City’s tree regulations; providing tree maintenance services including 24/7 response to tree emergencies on City properties and public streets; tree planting and expansion of urban forest services; measurement and assessment of urban forest coverage, health and services; offering community education and stewardship programs; and oversight and support of the City’s volunteer advisory tree board. Portland is a Tree City USA for 45 years; a Tree City of the World and the Urban Forestry program is accredited by the Society of Municipal Arborists.
About the Bureau: Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugee and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public.
PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials.
Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Language Pay Differential: Employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English and who use their language skill to assist the community, may receive additional pay. More about the process can be found here.
Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences and qualifications for the role. Have a question?
Contact Information:
Cierra Maceo
Recruiter
cierra.maceo@portlandoregon.gov To Qualify
Ability to regularly work outdoors in all weather conditions, moving around on uneven terrain. The ability to lift or carry items up to 30 pounds. Possess a valid Driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Click here for more information on the Cities acceptable driving record policy. Ability to effectively communicate both in writing and verbally to diverse audiences with varying levels of skill or competency. Knowledge of cultural competence and sensitivity to the challenges experienced by multicultural communities. Interest in trees and the ability to promote their services within Portland’s diverse communities.
Preferred Qualifications: Although not required, you may have one or more of the following:
We strongly encourage people who speak both English and any of the follow languages: Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Tagalog to apply ( click here to view the list of languages commonly spoken in the City of Portland)
The Recruitment Process
STEP 1: Apply online between March 25 - April 8, 2024 Required Application Materials: - Resume
- Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials: - If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
Application Tips: - Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or personal or professional experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your resume should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
Do not attach any additional documents. - Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of April 8, 2024 - An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their work history and supplemental questions.
- Your work history and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our pass/fail evaluation of your qualifications for participation in the next step. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation phase 1 results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 15, 2024 - Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
Step 4: Selection (Interview): Week of April 22, 2024 - Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.
Step 5: Offer of Employment: May 2024 Step 6: Start Date: - A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change. Additional Information
Click here for additional information regarding the following: - City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action EmployerThis summary outlines the benefit programs, actual benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status.The City of Portland offers a comprehensive benefit package that is competitive with other private and public sector employers.
More detailed information can be obtained by calling the Health & Financial Benefits Office at 503-823-6031.
Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
Casual employees can become eligible for health benefits (medical, dental & vision) through Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer provisions if they meet the necessary paid hours requirement, as determined by the Health & Financial Benefits Office.
Retirement
Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
The City currently pays the employee's share of the retirement contribution.
Employees who are OPSRP members are vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65 (age 60 for police and fire.)
Sick Leave
Casual employees accrue sick leave as outlined in the City of Portland protected sick time law.
Family Medical Leave
In accordance with federal and state law, and the City policy for family medical leave, the City grants family and medical leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical related reasons.
Closing Date/Time: 6/24/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
