[Hiring] Vice President, Urban Forestry @American Forests

Role Description

The Vice President of Urban Forestry will serve as a partner to the Chief Program Officer (CPO) of Tree Equity and will lead the national field strategy and operations of AF’s ambitious, highly visible urban and community forestry efforts. This is a senior role for a seasoned program leader who has spent a career delivering urban forestry at scale.

• Deliver impactful place-based programs across cities and states.
• Lead a distributed team of regional directors and senior program leaders.
• Serve as a principal internal and external ambassador for American Forests’ urban forestry mission.
• Connect emerging urban forestry science and research to on-the-ground program design and delivery.
• Report directly to the CPO and serve as the primary steward and connector around AF’s urban impacts.
• Maintain strong relationships with partners across government and community partners.

Qualifications

• 12–15 years of professional experience, with at least 5–7 years in senior leadership roles.
• Trusted leader in the urban forestry state and/or federal fields.
• Deep knowledge of how urban forestry programs are funded, structured, and delivered.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-jurisdictional programs.
• Proven track record of building durable relationships with senior government officials and community partners.
• Strong operational and strategic instincts, including budget fluency.
• Experience managing or partnering with state urban and community forestry programs.
• Familiarity with urban forestry science and research.
• Experience with grant programs, community capital strategies, or workforce development initiatives.
• Comfort operating in politically complex environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and community-centered approaches.

Requirements

• Set and execute the national field strategy for the Tree Equity program.
• Manage two Senior Directors and establish clear performance expectations.
• Oversee the impact of the Senior Director of Field Delivery.
• Ensure impactful community capital deployment through $55 million of USDA-funded subgrants.
• Leverage AF’s national partnerships to increase urban forestry interest and capacity.
• Navigate the urban forestry funding landscape with confidence.
• Stay current with urban forestry research and actively integrate insights into program design.
• Lead, coach, and grow a distributed team of senior program leaders.
• Partner with the Chief Program Officer on program design and organizational planning.
• Collaborate on cross-departmental initiatives to align place-based efforts.
• Partner with Philanthropy and Communications teams on outreach and fundraising strategy.
• Contribute substantive programmatic insight to grant narratives and funder reporting.
• Ensure strong integration across field delivery, data tools, and storytelling.

Benefits

• Full-time, salaried exempt position with a budgeted salary range of $155,000-$160,000.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Health and wellness resources such as an Employee Assistance Program.
• Flexible spending accounts, disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
• Vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, parental bonding leave, bereavement leave, and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match.

Working Conditions & Start Date

• Preferred start date: Week of July 6, 2026, or earlier.
• This is a remote position based in the United States, with a preference for candidates based on the East Coast.
• Expected working hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Time.
• Up to 25% travel throughout the U.S. may be required.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate a computer.