You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Urban Forestry Fellow

City of Newark, NJ
Email

Urban Forestry Fellow

Office: Office of Sustainability, Resilience, and Community Transformation (OSRCT)

Program: Rooted In Newark
Location: City Hall, Newark, NJ
Employment Type: Part-Time or Full-Time, must be available to work evenings and weekends
Reports To: Chief Sustainability Officer

Compensation: $19-25/hour depending on experience

Position Overview

The Newark Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation is seeking a motivated Graduate Fellow in Urban Forestry Fellow to support the Rooted In Newark initiative. This fellowship offers hands-on experience in urban forestry, tree health assessment, data collection, and community-based environmental work. The Fellow will work closely with OSRCT staff and partners to help advance Newark’s urban greening, climate resilience, and environmental justice goals.

Key Responsibilities

The Urban Forestry Fellow will support Rooted In Newark and related sustainability initiatives through the following activities:

Urban Forestry & Tree Health

  • Conduct tree health assessments, including visual inspections and basic condition ratings
  • Assist with tree inventory updates, data entry, and analysis
  • Support pre- and post-planting evaluations of newly planted trees
  • Help identify maintenance needs and trends related to tree survivability

Data & Program Support

  • Collect, organize, and analyze data related to tree planting and canopy health
  • Assist with mapping, tracking, and reporting using GIS or spreadsheet tools
  • Support documentation for grants, reports, and internal planning

Field & Event Support

  • Assist with community tree planting events and volunteer coordination
  • Support Rooted In Newark coordination meetings and partner engagement
  • Help prepare materials and logistics for outreach and education events

 

 

Research & Special Projects

  • Conduct research on urban forestry best practices, equity-focused greening strategies, and climate resilience
  • Support special sustainability projects as assigned, including heat mitigation, environmental justice, or community greening initiatives

Desired Qualifications

  • Current graduate student or recent graduate in Forestry, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Urban Planning, Ecology, or a related field
  • Interest in urban forestry, climate resilience, and environmental justice
  • Ability to conduct fieldwork outdoors in varying weather conditions
  • Strong organizational, communication, and data management skills
  • Familiarity with tree species identification, basic arboriculture concepts, or urban ecology preferred
  • Experience with GIS, Excel, or data visualization tools a plus
  • Commitment to working respectfully with diverse communities

Learning Outcomes

The Graduate Fellow will gain:

  • Hands-on experience in municipal sustainability and urban forestry
  • Exposure to city-led climate resilience and environmental justice initiatives
  • Practical skills in tree health assessment, data collection, and program evaluation
  • Opportunities to collaborate with city staff, nonprofit partners, and community members

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter to [email/contact]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Instructions:

  • To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to sustainability@ci.newark.nj.us. Please use the subject line “Urban Forestry Fellow Application [LAST NAME]”. No phone calls, please. 

 

The City of Newark is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.