Arborist, Senior

t the City of Atlanta, we are passionate about building and improving our community. Our police officers, firefighters and building inspectors keep our citizens safe. Our Public Works staff keeps our City clean and helps maintain, build and improve our City’s infrastructure. Our City planners help envision and shape future City growth. Our Parks & Recreation professionals enhance our quality of life.
O

ur engineers help keep our drinking water clean, the largest airport in the world (by passenger volume) operating and our buildings maintained. Along with the host of Finance, Procurement, and Human Resources professionals whose support is vital, we are the City of Atlanta! If you are seeking a meaningful role where you can make a real difference improving and growing our City, we welcome you to explore the job opportunities we have to offer.
P

osting: Open Until Filled
S

alary: Commensurate with experience
G

eneral Description and Classification Standards T

he purpose of the Arborist Senior position in the Department of Planning and Community Development is to enforce the City's tree protection ordinance. The Arborist Senior assists citizens with tree preservation on construction sites and with obtaining tree removal permits as necessary. The incumbent must ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the City’s core values, beliefs, and culture.
S

upervision Received W

orks under very general supervision. May work independently or with other skilled or semi-skilled workers with responsibility for completion of assigned tasks.
E

ssential Duties & Responsibilities These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. May perform other duties as assigned.
A

dministrative Duties R
eviews construction drawings and specifications for property improvements including but not limited to plans for construction, demolition, landscaping, grading, and general repair to evaluate impact to trees on site and on surrounding properties.
D

ocuments plan review process, site inspections, and tree inspections in computer database.
M

ay participate in committees and work groups for Division-related or Departmental projects.
M

ay attend Municipal Court with City Solicitor when the tree ordinances have been violated, functions as an expert witness.
A

ttend Tree Conservation Commission hearings and give testimony when an appeal is filed.
C

ommunication C

ommunicates with customers regarding status of plan review, any necessary plan revisions, and explains requirements for compliance with City ordinances.
C

ommunicates with Arborist Division and other City staff to coordinate timely customer service, ensuring prompt public posting of properties, individual tree and site evaluation, and timely issuance of permits.
C

ommunicates by letter, telephone, and email with customers, external and internal stakeholders regarding tree inspections, tree care, tree permits, and other tree-related issues.
A

ddresses schools and civic groups; Responds to questions regarding trees in general and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
S

ite Work M

ay visit site to verify site conditions are accurately represented on tree protection plans submitted to City and to post public notice of tree removal on construction sites.
M

ay conduct site visits to ensure compliance with tree protection ordinance on active construction sites.
M

ay conduct site visits to evaluate tree health and issue permits for removal of dead, dying, and hazardous trees.
D

ecision Making A

pplies organizational policies. Follows standardized procedures and written instructions to accomplish assigned tasks. Must be able to process information on hand and decide on next steps to complete tasks and/or resolve issues. Determines when to escalate issues to upper/senior management
L

eadership Provided P

rovides guidance and training as required to lower level, interns, temporary employees, etc. May exercise supervisory duties in absence of supervisor.
K

nowledge, Skills & Abilities This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the jobsuccessfully. It is not an exhaustive list.
K

nowledge of the City’s overall permitting operations, codes, services and procedures.
S

pecialty knowledge of all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards and regulations pertaining to tree-related issues and other responsibilities in serving as City Arborist
G

eneral knowledge of arboriculture, practices, policies and procedures as necessary in the completion of daily responsibilities
T

horough knowledge of the principles and practices of best in class customer service.
C

ommunicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
U

se independent judgment and make sound decisions in accordance with established procedures and policies. Use of discretion in the handing of emergency situations.
P

erform a variety of difficult and complex permit related tasks with minimal supervision.
W

ork effectively and efficiently under stress and meet deadlines as required.
K

nowledgeable and proficient with computers.
A

bility to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, other officials, representatives of other government agencies, developers, and the general public.
A

bility to provide information and to answer questions pertaining to the City’s building permit procedures in a tactful and courteous manner to the general public.
A

bility to gather relevant information to solve practical problems.
A

bility to read, understand, and interpret, development plans, architectural plans, reports and related materials.
A

bility to develop and administer operations, staff plans and objectives for the expedience and effectiveness of specific duties of the City.
A

bility to assist in developing and implementing long-term goals for the department in order to promote effectiveness and efficiency.
A

bility to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, operations, and equipment needs, etc. as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
A

bility to effectively communicate and interact with management, employees, and members of the general public and all other groups involved in the activities of the City as they relate to the department.
A

bility to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
A

bility to organize and prioritize work and has technical skills to follow through.
A

bility to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
A