Green Infrastructure Design Principal

Job Description

Job Description

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 RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead Landscape Design and Green Infrastructure Projects

• Lead and manage all phases of green infrastructure projects, ensuring delivery on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with grant requirements and TreePeople values
• Lead in-house green infrastructure design efforts, from concept design through construction documents and specifications
• Set and communicate a clear design vision aligned with TreePeople's values
• Produce presentation materials such as renderings, illustrative plans, and diagrams to communicate design intent
• Ensure designs comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and permitting requirements through agency coordination and research
• Lead permitting, approvals, and agency coordination processes
• Develop and maintain project work plans, schedules, and task assignments
• Develop and track project budgets; review and approve expenditures; develop or commission cost estimates as needed
• Lead regular project meetings, ensuring they are efficient, well-documented, and result in clear next steps
• Lead coordination with subcontractors to achieve deliverables on time, on budget, and in compliance
• Coordinate project changes in budget, schedule, or scope with the Director of Green Infrastructure
• Facilitate regular coordination with public agencies, funders, and community stakeholders; ensure feedback is incorporated into design
• Lead progress reports to agencies and funders as required; coordinate submittals and any contract amendments or extensions with the Grants team
• Assist other TreePeople departments with landscape design-related tasks as needed

Construction Management and Administration

• Select contractors and consultants through interviews, RFPs, and competitive bidding
• Coordinate with the Director of Green Infrastructure to develop subcontracts, MOUs, and other legal project documents
• Ensure subcontractors, consultants, and vendors comply with all contracts throughout the project
• Attend construction sites to verify work is being built in alignment with approved designs
• Document construction progress through photographs and meeting notes
• Oversee construction communications including RFIs, submittals, and bulletins
• Respond to RFIs and field questions during construction
• Supervise final inspections, punchlists, and completion reviews
• Support project close-out documentation and reporting

Manage Direct Reports

• Conduct regular one-on-ones and annual/90-day performance reviews
• Monitor workloads, set clear expectations, and assign tasks through Asana
• Approve timesheets and time-off requests
• Address performance issues in partnership with HR and the Director of Green Infrastructure
• Support professional development and identify growth opportunities
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and productive team culture
• Supervise coordination with internal departments (education, marketing/communications, forestry) as needed
• Help recruit, interview, hire, and onboard new team members as needed.
• Promote Project Outcomes and Represent TreePeople Externally
• Coordinate with Marketing/Communications for social media, press releases, media inquiries, and events
• Participate in interviews and presentations to share project details
• Supervise project website updates to keep content current
• Coordinate with the Development team to keep donors informed of project progress
• Oversee planning of project events such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, workshops, and tree plantings

Contribute to the Organization

• Represent TreePeople at meetings, fundraising, marketing, membership, and volunteer events
• Lead and coordinate site walk-throughs with internal teams, contractors, agencies, and community groups
• Contribute to project proposals as requested
• Help identify, cultivate, and strengthen strategic partnerships
• Meet deadlines and proactively flag potential delays
• Respond to internal and external communications within 2 business days
• Contribute ideas and improvements to projects, workflows, and systems
• Support teammates and contribute to a positive work culture
• Participate in annual workshops and all-staff meetings

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

Required

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years of professional experience managing projects that involve civil/landscape engineering, landscape architecture, and related fields
• Knowledge and experience with green infrastructure and nature based solutions.
• Highly organized, detailed oriented, strong work ethic, friendly, smart, proactive and a quick learner
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience working with community members, their representatives and advocates to assess their needs and strengths
• Experience 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 parties
• Experience in construction management and administration
• Ability to work with flexibility in teams and independently toward completion deadlines
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Suite, GIS and/or other project design software

Preferred

• Licensed landscape architect
• Bilingual Spanish/English