Director of Urban Resilience

Who We Are: 

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s 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, www.thetrustees.org. 

Posting Information:  

Hours per week: 40hrs 

Job Classification: Exempt, Full-Time, Permanent 

Job Type: Hybrid, Onsite work in and around Boston 

Location: Boston HQ, Boston, MA 

Hiring Manager: Vidya Tikku 

What You’ll Do: 

Your Impact: 

Help The Trustees build and grow our urban resilience initiatives and carry on the work we have already started in East Boston with the Boston Waterfront Initiative! Become a community leader that helps make our urban communities more resilient to the challenges of climate change and connect more people with nature. 

The Role: 

The Director of Urban Resilience is responsible for leading and implementing the strategic goals for the Trustees’ vision to increase access to open space and build climate resilience in Greater Boston, in partnership with local communities and state and federal agencies. In this position you will develop and drive a project plan to ensure that near-term project goals are met while long-term site opportunities are pursued for the creation, stewardship and activation of resilient open spaces in the city including but not limited to city parks, community gardens, waterfronts, canopy covers, ecological projects and more. 

Specifically, you’ll: 

Project Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead Trustees’ Urban Resilience initiatives, with the initial focus on East Boston, aligned with the new Trustees Strategic Plan to support near and long-term goals and opportunities, and alignment with priority funder commitments. 

• In partnership with our land conservation team, identify acquisition, lease and activation opportunities for conservation and engagement for the Boston Waterfront Initiative partnership.  

• Build on-the-ground partnerships to understand the needs of the community, increase awareness of Trustees offerings in Boston, and develop and execute projects that meet these needs and align with the Trustees strategic plan.  

• Support advocacy efforts to build access to resilient open spaces including collaboration with stakeholder non-profits, communication with federal, state, and local agencies, and other work in coordination with our Public Policy team. 

• In partnership with Trustees development and program team develop funding strategies that includes federal, state, local and philanthropic support to underpin this work. 

Management & Administration

• Build and manage all aspects of an urban resilience project plan from conception and site exploration to budgeting and board approvals. This position will develop timelines for design and oversee contractors, permitting, and other tactical project needs. 

•  Develop and foster new and existing partnership, including with Mass Port and the City of Boston to explore, scope and plan projects that support access and resilience. 

•  Drive effective collaboration on urban resiliency initiatives in cross-departmental matrix structure. Lead and manage regular convening of internal collaborative staff and governance to drive project progress and ensure regular, positive, and productive internal communication. 

•  Create, organize, and maintain comprehensive project documentation and develop reports internally and externally on the progress of the Initiative including annual project budgets & expenses and evaluations. 

• Prioritize and set measurable DBIE goals for site specific work including hiring, vendor selection, intentional selection of paid partnerships and programming relationships and developing equitable development best practices 

Represent the urban resiliency initiative to the public

• Engage urban communities in our work with resilient landscapes across the state by representing the Trustees vision at city and statewide forums, community meetings and conferences. 

• Work closely with the Boston Gardens Property Manager and Mobile Adventures Project Manager on annual planning and work-planning for project outreach and engagement programs in urban communities.  

•  Lead collaborative work with various external partners including non‐profit organizations, government agencies, and community groups and stay abreast of partner goals, strategies, and projects.  

•  Increase Trustees brand recognition among influential stakeholders. Prepare and deliver effective public presentations that communicate Initiative objectives and generate public enthusiasm, through new innovative programming & interactive engagement formats. 

•  Collaborate with Public Policy and Development staff to build and maintain strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations Federal, State, City and Municipal elected official, to support for Trustees‘ work in urban resilience. 

Fundraising

• Develop, in partnership with development team a plan to fund urban work.   

• Create effective pitches to donors, and create and deliver interactive experiences for donors like site tours and corporate volunteer days 

• Support Development to cultivate and secure multiyear commitments of financial support, this includes managing and providing content for grant applications, donor solicitations, and associated reporting.  Support the grant writing process for all funder reports and proposals. 

This is a permanent, full-time, exempt position 40 hours a week, reporting directly to the Regional Vice President of Boston and Urban Spaces.  

Skills and Experience: 

• Required: 

• Bachelor's degree in related field. 

• 8-10 years or relevant work experience in land conservation. 

• 3-5 years of leadership experience. 

• Familiarity with Boston neighborhoods and a passion for making grassroot connections. 

• In depth knowledge of climate-based initiatives and organizations active on the Boston waterfront and in open space. 

• Experience working with public and private partners. 

• Extensive knowledge of urban conservation & resilience, proven success navigation city, state, and federal rules and regulations.  

• Expertise in developing complex project plans & overseeing progress and timeline. 

• Strong communicator and public speaker, including having experience working with board members & advisors. 

• Experience with project managed and project budgeting. 

• Proven success and experience at bringing in funding opportunities from federal, state, local and philanthropic sources. 

• Familiarity with managing and reporting on the use of state and federal funds. 

• Preferred: 

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, or Public Policy 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment 

• A valid driver’s license, as well the capacity to travel within the state 

• A satisfactory criminal background check  

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.  

Want to learn more? Set up an informational call with a member of our People Team by emailing people@thetrustees.org. 

Your Benefits: 

• Sick time: 80 hours   

• Vacation time: 15 days per year  

• Early release time: 36 hours per year  

• Floating holidays/personal days: 15 Floating Holidays (13 observed holidays; 2 personal days)  

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offer additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.  

• Short 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 admissions and memberships 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.