Organization Description:
The Tree Canopy Programs Intern works within the Community Tree Canopy Preservation
Division (CTCP) which is part of the Planning, Design & Development Department for the
City of Charlotte. This division includes both Urban Forestry professionals focused on
enforcing development regulations and Conservation professionals focused on policy and
preserving trees in Charlotte. This position would provide support for Community Tree
Canopy Preservation division programs including the Tree Canopy Preservation Program
(TCPP) Canopy Care Program and the upcoming Tree Canopy Action Plan 2.0. The
position works directly with, supports, and reports to the Tree Canopy Program Manager.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide program and operations management coordination for the Tree Canopy
Preservation Program, including management of processes and contractor work.
• Provide general program support for the City’s efforts to support Council’s Urban
Forest Master Plan, 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and community planting and education
efforts.
• Provide program and operations management coordination for the Canopy Care
Program, including management of processes and contractor work.
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders on operational needs such as: Landscape
Management, Real Estate, Planning Department and Catawba Lands Conservancy.
• Provide education programs with individuals, groups, and government agencies.
• Support City initiatives related to tree canopy policy development and implementation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to work independently, exercising initiative and independent judgment.
• Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic, and
ethnic backgrounds.
• Basic knowledge of flowers, plants, trees, shrubs, and turf indigenous to North Carolina
and the southeastern U.S.
• Planning knowledge as it relates to site planning, planting plans, preservation, and
strategic prioritizing.
• Basic GIS and mapping software skills preferred.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Good public speaking skills with the ability to make quality presentations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to successfully prioritize multiple projects
and complete projects within project deadlines.
• Requires good computer skills (Windows, Microsoft Office software including Word,
Excel, Outlook, Power Point).
Student Demographic:

Preference for student in either planning, public service, sociology, natural sciences,
biology, forestry or related field.
Hybrid Position.
Student Experience and Additional Information:
This intern would be involved in our Tree Canopy Preservation Program, Canopy Care
Program, as well as the Tree Canopy Action Plan 2.0 which is starting up late spring/early
summer. For the Tree Canopy Preservation Program, we need support in coming up with
site plans and management plans (including community engagement, plantings,
management plans, etc.) for our over 30 sites that are managed to protect the tree canopy.
The Canopy Care program was just recently as a pilot and then lost one large pot of federal
funding so we are re-grouping and launching that from our division within the next few
months. There would be a lot of marketing/outreach and project management involvement
in this step. The Tree Canopy Action Plan 2.0 is our policy work on a city level to figure out
our best course of action to preserve and grow the city’s tree canopy. The stakeholder
process is slated to be starting early summer-early fall so this would be a great engagement
piece for an intern as well.
An intern would pick up many skills from this position including community engagement,
GIS, planning and urban design, tree and plant knowledge, interdepartmental collaboration
experience, as well as policy and stakeholder involvement. Position can be adapted based
on intern’s experience and interests. It would involve some outdoor work and site visits as
well as a good amount of planning and organizational program support work.