Tree Planting Crew Leader

Big Reuse advances New York City's sustainable urban environment through circular economy programs that divert waste from our landfills and reduce greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. We pursue our mission through reuse and transformation. The Big Reuse Center takes in tens of thousands of donated items that are resold and kept in use by thousands of new owners, keeping them out of the landfill.

We help New Yorkers turn food scraps into compost used to enrich soil across New York City creating a resilient green infrastructure to resist climate change. We also host street tree care events in partnership with community organizations in certain council districts across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

Big Reuse is now launching our Street Tree Planting program to expand the NYC urban forest and tree canopy. Planting street trees beautifies neighborhoods, improves air quality, combats the urban heat island effect, and strengthens NYC’s overall resilience to climate change. This opening is for a full time Crew Lead. The successful applicant will report to the Street Tree program manager and experience a dynamic position on our planting team during the tree planting seasons (spring/fall) and perform other tasks during the summer/winter seasons.

This work will be done with Big Reuse colleagues, adult and school aged volunteers, and at times, sub-contracted work crews.

SCHEDULE AND

LOCATION:

• Full-time (37.5 paid hours per week, scheduled as 8-hour shifts including a 30-minute unpaid lunch).
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends to make up hours for rain day(s) during the work week.
• Work sites will vary day-to-day, week-by-week and seasonally, but most work will occur in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) in Brooklyn and Queens, and/or specific Council Districts in Manhattan and the Bronx.
• This position is funded until May 2027 with the potential to stay on board depending on funding.

• Work with tree planting team to perform horticultural activities including tree planting, tree care, tree bed gardening, tree guard construction and/or other projects.
• Report directly to crew foreman as well as team co-manager and program coordinator as needed.
• Schedule crew member’s workdays considering weather conditions, individual needs, work load, due dates, etc.
• Lead/supervise crew to perform all required yard maintenance including all irrigation of trees and all tree care-related duties.
• Assist with unloading, storage, and maintenance of tree deliveries from nurseries.
• Prepare yard for optimal tree storage conditions.
• Assist in and perform tasks involved in the operation and care of hand and power gardening tools and equipment.
• Make necessary operating adjustments; report needs for repairs and replacements to supervisor.
• Perform simple record keeping and prepare simple written reports as needed.
• Drive vehicles and operate other motorized equipment required for the performance of duties.
• Perform excavation, amend, and grade soil to prepare tree beds for planting.
• Support Program Managers in coordinating and facilitating volunteer street tree care, tree guard installation and other horticultural events and installs.
• Pick-up and/or return equipment required for street tree planting.
• Maintain newly planted street trees for the first year after planting in conjunction with seasonal staff.
• Plan and implement a watering schedule in conjunction with Planting Foreman/seasonal staff.
• Work with the planting coordinator to create schedules for the planting crew.
• Support tree team with increasing community engagement in tree planting.
• Coordinate and lead street tree care & installation events outside of planting seasons, with a focus on building new community partnerships in new Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods.
• Cooperate with the broader Big Reuse team as changes in funding necessitates.
• Assist with Street Tree Care events and other projects across Big Reuse as needed, during off seasons.
• Future potential to perform tree work and stump removal operations.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Minimum 3 years of related work experience (tree planting, construction work, etc).
• Valid Driver's License and clean driving/insurance record, and comfortable driving a truck/dump truck in NYC.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to perform and maintain a positive attitude under time constraints.
• Comfortable working with a diverse group of individuals in a range of capacities.
• Ability to prioritize workload and work independently; self-motivated.
• Flexible to an environment with changing variables subject to external factors (for example: funding.)
• Experience/proficiency working with computers including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Forms.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills when corresponding with managers, coworkers, volunteers, the general public, suppliers, sub-contractors, etc.

PREFERRED

SKILLS:

• Street tree knowledge and…