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SalaryCity Urban Forester
Public Works
Full-time, Exempt
Salary Range: $53,164 - $63,793 DOQ
The Arborist performs a variety of responsible work assisting with the management of trees and other arboricultural work as required for the City s Public Works Department. Duties include conducting field inspections, issue and approval of tree removal permits, performing risk assessments. Continued development of a City master plan to ensure perpetuity of the urban forest in public rights of way, City properties, and parks. The Urban Forester will report directly to the City Manager.
Essential Duties:
- The Urban Forester will work with city staff and volunteers to manage the city tree inventory. This process will include identifying places to plant trees, determining the types of trees to plant, preparing a list of trees to trim, and reviewing the current inventory to determine and create a list of trees to remove.
- This position analyzes, coordinates, and inspects right-of-way, City properties and safe street overhead clearances. Develops maintenance operations with a master plan to ensure perpetuity of the urban forest by exemplify best work practices, quality control of arboricultural work performed by city and contract staff. The incumbent consults with all City departments to ensure correct practices involving City maintained trees.
- Reviews new development plans and provides the city planning director tree maintenance and planting recommendations.
- Reviews and processes property owner requests to remove trees and determines the health of the tree in deciding authorization to remove a tree. Also, assists the code enforcement office with cases presented to the magistrate when trees are removed without proper authorization.
- Establish new or maintain existing programs to encourage citizens to plant native tree species on their private property.
- Inspects and determines condition of trees on the rights of way and public land. Mitigates with local utilities on tree related issues. Maintains work orders in the City s work order program (BS&A) to efficiently monitor work progress and enable components to measure success.
- Makes tree purchases for the city; sets up tree planting and maintenance schedules and contracts; establishes and inspects tree trimming contracts; develops and provides oversight to tree removal schedules and contracts; and oversees tree trunk removals.
- Initiates programs to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of tree care and preservation, develops and coordinates various tree related events with citizens and appointed committees. Prepares and administers grants related to the urban forestry program, assists and consults in the design of tree-related city projects, develops and administers relevant ordinances.
- Meets with and receives input from volunteers and citizens on a continuous basis.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Working knowledge of municipal policies, operation, procedures, ordinances, and functions.
- Ability to read and interpret technical documents, regulations, procedure manuals and plans.
- Has effective communication skills, both written and oral, with staff, government officials and members of the public.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees and the general public.
- Working knowledge of tree planting, tree care, and tree removal.
- Working knowledge of Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Stock.
- Working knowledge of tree species and tree biological functions, tree pests, and diseases.
- Working knowledge of the safe operation and use of chainsaws, stump grinders, aerial trucks, crane trucks, brush chippers, and all other equipment used in division activities.
- Working knowledge of International Society of Arboriculture best management practices and ANSI A300 standards.
- Working knowledge of occupational hazards, safety rules, and practices and the ability to transmit such knowledge to subordinates.
- Working knowledge of traffic direction.
- Skill in keeping records, meeting schedules and being adaptable to emergency situations.
- Ability to estimate weights and distances.
- Ability to exhibit necessary leadership qualities including but not limited to giving directions and educating subordinates.
- Ability to travel locally on a daily basis and occasionally travel out-of-area and/or overnight.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, supervisors, city officials, and the public.
- Ability to communicate information tactfully and impartially, both in person and in writing with all staff, city officials, and the public.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions and keep accurate records.
- This position is performed with working knowledge – the incumbent has ability to recall and apply important and commonly used information from relevant source documents or information in a particular subject field.
Required Qualifications:
- High School diploma or equivalent supplemented by a minimum of three years of experience in all aspects or arboriculture.
- An associate s degree in forestry, urban forestry, or related field.
- Preference to a Bachelor s degree in Horticulture, Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resources, or Agricultural Science/Engineering from an accredited college or university.
- International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist preferred Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.
- One year of experience in vegetation management or combination of education and work experience.
- Attend at least three Tree Committee public meetings annually.
- Valid Florida Driver s License, Class E or higher.
- Complete the required National Incident Management System (NIMS) training within 6 months of completion of probationary period.
A comprehensive job description is available upon request.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. E-Verify Works for Everyone For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.
The City of Mount Dora is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Mount Dora will provide accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Mount Dora is a drug-free, smoke-free, EOE.
