Urban Forester I

Salary : $49,842.83 - $83,071.46 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ26), VA
Job Type: FT Hourly W BN
Job Number: 24-00039
Department: Land Development Svcs
Opening Date: 12/30/2023
Closing Date: 1/26/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S18
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
Fairfax County boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. County government sits at the heart of this dynamic community of almost 1.2 million residents and seeks employees eager to bring their energy, enthusiasm and skills to serve Fairfax residents and to shape the county's future. Land Development Services (LDS) is the steward of the county's land development and building construction codes and regulations, and its staff members embrace their essential role as "first preventers." Every day, through careful review, permitting and inspection of site and building construction, our staff protect the health, safety, welfare, and environment for those who live in, work in, and visit Fairfax County. Our department also serves as the gateway to much of the county's economic development, reviewing over 30,000 building and site plan submissions, issuing nearly 70,000 building permits, and conducting over 220,000 building and site inspections each year. If you would like to join a creative, collaborative, innovative team doing meaningful work, then LDS is the place for you.
Under supervision of an Urban Forester III, position within the Forest Conservation Branch. Plans and implements forest conservation, urban forestry, landscape management and land development practices, procedures and projects within a geographical subset of Fairfax County; and performs related work as required. Complies with LDS's safety program and guidelines. Position requires incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to drive to/from construction sites, offsite meetings, training and/or conferences. Complies with county, agency, and job specific training, including but limited to Emergency Management and Safety related courses.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in urban forestry, forestry, horticulture, environmental science, landscape architecture, agriculture or related field.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• A valid driver's license.
• Certified Arborist Certification (International Society of Arboriculture) within 9 months of hire.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a driver's license check to the satisfaction of the employer.
The appointee to this position will be required to be available twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flooding, and other designated emergencies on an as-needed basis
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience with analyzing and interpreting construction drawings, and land development plans, proffers and development conditions. Understanding of Geographic Information Systems software (ArcGIS) and the ability to generate maps, charts, and associated reports using these technologies. Knowledge of horticulture including trees, shrubs and vines as applied to the urban environment. Experience with assessing the impact of construction activities and urbanization on individual trees and forest communities. Knowledge of urban forestry, and arboricultural practices. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including technical reports and giving public presentations.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to access tight spaces, crawl, reach, and stoop. Ability to be physically active for three hours at a time. Ability to bend, stoop, crawl and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Ability to stand for 2 hours at a time. Ability to use hand tools. Ability to walk, negotiate or traverse property sites that may be undergoing construction or having terrain that is not level. Ability to work in hot and cold temperatures. Visual acuity to review detailed drawings, plans and documents. Work requires performing tasks in adverse weather conditions. Ability to drive a motor vehicle. Physically and mentally able to use all applicable personal protective equipment in an outdoor environment, including hardhat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, long pants, and sleeved shirt. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
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Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02
If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a related degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03
Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Urban forestry
• Forestry
• Horticulture
• Environmental science
• Landscape architecture
• Arboriculture
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04
If you selected "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related fields)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05
How many years of full-time equivalent experience in forestry, arboriculture, or landscape architecture, relating to urban forest management do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four years or more

06
Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07
How many years of experience do you possess in forestry, arboriculture, horticulture or a related field involving urban forest management planning, implementation, issues, policies, or research?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

08
Are you proficient in any of the following Microsoft Office Suite applications? Check all that apply.

• Outlook (Composing email messages; sending and receiving email messages; organizing email messages into folders; managing contacts; scheduling appointments & meetings, managing tasks)
• Word (Knowledge of common functions such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; indenting paragraphs; using tabs and tables; inserting a hard page break; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; adding comments and tracking changes)
• PowerPoint (Creating a template and working with a design template; working with graphics, animation and multimedia; building interactive presentations using hyperlinks)
• Excel (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents; creating and modifying pivot tables; using formulas and links to other cells/worksheets)
• None of the above

09
How many years of experience do you have applying horticulture practices with trees, shrubs, and vines in an urban environment?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

10
How many years of experience do you have in analyzing and interpreting construction drawings, land development plans, proffers, and development conditions?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

11
How many years of experience do you have in assessing the impacts of construction activities and urbanization on individual trees and forest communities?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

Required Question