Arborist, Grade 23

Montgomery County • 100 Edison Park Dr Gaithersburg MD 20878 USA, MD

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (DOT) mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County. MCDOT supports its residents, commuters and visitors with transit options and infrastructure that provides seamless transportation services to the public. The Division of Highway Services (DHS) manages the maintenance of all transportation infrastructure within the County right-of-way including more than 5,200 lane miles of rural, residential, and primary roadways, as well as nearly 1,000 miles of concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk. The Tree Maintenance Section manages an inventory of over 250,000 street trees and more than 200,000 trees in the rural areas. This position is designated as an Essential Position which will require the ability to work evening and weekends as well as working off-site accordingly. The Department of Transportation (DOT), Division of Highway Services (DHS), seeks a highly motivated and skilled Arborist for its Tree Maintenance Section. The Arborist is responsible for responding to residents’ street tree–related service requests, inspecting street trees to identify maintenance needs, and assessing tree risk in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) risk assessment guidelines. The role includes prescribing appropriate maintenance to mitigate risks associated with structural defects, abiotic issues, and insect or disease problems, as well as planning and prioritizing work based on the level of tree risk and budgetary considerations. The ideal candidate possesses strong attention to detail, organizational and time management abilities, excellent oral and written communication skills, and thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Additionally, the position requires strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills. The Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Services (DHS) seeks an Arborist to assist in the management of Montgomery County’s street tree canopy and to provide customer service to the residents of Montgomery County.

Requirements

• Some (one (1) year) professional experience diagnosing and prescribing treatment for tree problems/diseases.
• Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, forestry, environmental studies/science, entomology, or related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted.
• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.
• Certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, which includes a limited physical examination and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

• Describe your experience diagnosing biotic, abiotic, and structural defects; and evaluating tree risk in an urban forest setting.
• Do you have or have you obtained a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). If you do not have an active TRAQ are you able and willing to obtain one in the first year of employment?
• Describe your experience interacting with stakeholders such as community associations, government officials, and residents as a professional in your field of expertise.
• Describe your experience using digital tree inventory software or other asset management platforms such as TreeKeeper, ESRI, Cityworks, etc.
• Describe your experience using other software programs such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS.
• Describe your experience managing projects involving internal and external stakeholder, clients, and/or contractors.

Responsibilities

• Inspecting and diagnosing trees for disease, damage, risk to the public or private property, insect damage, abiotic stress and aesthetic appearance.
• Recommending treatment which is prioritized by severity of the risk posed by a tree and/or disease present; providing recommendations regarding location, size and kind of trees to be planted in the County right-of-way.
• Providing information to supervisors/management concerning the condition of the County’s street tree population and workload.
• Updating the computerized tree management inventory with inspection results and prescribed work; meeting with representatives of other County and State agencies and public utility companies concerning street tree maintenance activities.
• Responding to citizens inquiries about trees by correspondence, phone and in person, explaining corrective measures which the County may take.
• Meeting with community groups to discuss the Counties tree maintenance and care programs and preparing educational material for public consumption
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $78,929 to $126,097, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level