Urban Outdoors Program Manager

Urban Outdoors Program Manager

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts' 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.

Annual Salary : $60,000 $72,000

Hours per week : 40

Job Classification : Exempt, Full-Time

Job Type : Hybrid (23 days / week in office or on site in Greater Boston)

Duration : Three-year term with potential to extend

Location : Boston, MA

Your Impact :

As the person launching Urban Outdoors, you'll help build a new initiative from the ground upone that weaves together conservation, community building, and climate resilience in some of Massachusetts' most dynamic and historically excluded urban neighborhoods. You'll play a key role in creating and protecting green spaces, expanding access to nature, and strengthening stewardship through culturally relevant partnerships with both longtime residents and new collaborators. This role brings environmental justice into practice by grounding our work in the lived experiences of communities already impacted by climate change. It's about fostering durable, reciprocal relationships with Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and immigrant communitiesand ensuring our presence in cities reflects equity, trust, and long-term commitment.

Together, we'll learn, build, and grow a model of Urban Outdoors conservation that is shaped by and reflects the people it serves.

The Role :

As Program Manager for Urban Outdoors, you will work to prepare the rollout of a new initiative that combines conservation, community building, and climate resilience in Massachusetts' urban centers. You'll collaboratively establish several programs and partnerships, represent The Trustees in community spaces, and help lay the groundwork for long-term, trust-based engagement. You'll also work across departments to involve colleagues in the initiative and guide them in support of these goals and relevance. This role is well suited for someone who can build respectful relationships, communicate across differences, manage details and timelines, and stay focused on both people and outcomes.

Specifically, you'll :

• Coordinate the management and delivery of Urban Outdoors programs, events, and engagement activities, guided by the Director of Urban Resilience & Director of Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity (DBIE) Programs & Partnerships, handling timelines, logistics, and communications across internal teams and external collaborators.
• Facilitate planning meetings and working groups, support community listening sessions, and steward shared decision-making processes with transparency and accountability.
• Provide limited technical assistance to community partners by helping translate conservation goals and climate resilience strategies into tangible, community-informed priorities and pilot efforts.
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with community partners, residents, grassroots organizations, and local leaders to support inclusive planning, co-design of programs, and trust-based collaboration.
• Track and manage program deliverables and project timelines, supporting operational follow-through, adapting to emerging needs, and reporting on key milestones.
• Represent The Trustees and the Urban Outdoors initiative in public and community-facing settingsincluding meetings, convenings, tabling events, and speaking engagementsto ensure a visible, responsive, and consistent presence.
• Contribute to learning and evaluation by tracking participation data, capturing feedback from stakeholders, and helping to measure program outcomes for internal reporting and strategic refinement.
• Identify gaps and barriers related to nature access in urban communitiessuch as those involving safety, infrastructure, policy, or maintenanceand help develop responsive solutions through cross-functional and cross-sector coordination.
• Collaborate with colleagues and partners to ensure that all programs and events reflect the core values of equity, accessibility, and cultural relevance, and that community voice is embedded in both content and design.

This is a full-time position with benefits, currently funded for a three-year term with the opportunity to extend. The role reports to the Regional Vice President for Boston & Urban Outdoors and works closely with the Boston team and several statewide colleagues. This position requires availability for frequent evening and weekend work, such as public meetings and town halls, which involves regular travel throughout Greater Boston and surrounding urban centers.

Work environment :

Physical demands :