Landscape Inspector

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Join the City of Chattanooga Team! Chattanooga is a vibrant and growing community known as the "Scenic City" for its outdoor adventure and innovation. Our organization consists of 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service. We offer careers with purpose, competitive compensation, work-life balance, exceptional wellness programs, and opportunities for growth. This role is responsible for inspecting and directing the management of trees and vegetation on public and private property to ensure compliance with regulations, maintain public safety, and implement vegetation management practices. Duties include conducting inspections and risk assessments of landscape installations and citywide trees, creating work orders for maintenance, and communicating with various stakeholders. The work is performed with limited supervision.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree—or relevant coursework—in Forestry, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction, combined with five (5) years of professional field experience, including experience with GSP or GIS, or any combination of equivalent experience and education.
Valid Driver’s License
Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; site development; forestry, landscape, and horticulture principles and practices.
Skill in plant identification.
Skill in interpreting, applying, and communicating applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; selecting, caring for, and maintaining trees; identifying tree species; and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
Ability to read, interpret, and understand construction documents, including plans, details, and specifications.

Nice To Haves

ISA Arborist Certification is required within six (6) months of hire.
ISA TRAQ Certification is required within one (1) year of hire.
State of Tennessee Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Certificate Level 1 within six (6) months of hire.
Certificate in Native Plants within six (6) months of hire is preferred.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Professional Accreditation is preferred.

Responsibilities

Confirms ownership and location of trees and plant material using site plans, surveys, GIS, and other tools.
Inspects trees and plant material for correct species, proper planting, health, and structure.
Conducts risk assessments of City- and privately-owned trees.
Inspects construction sites for compliance with City tree planting, tree protection, and tree provisioning standards.
Communicates with Developers, Contractors, Homeowners, and Regulatory Agencies.
Attends pre-submittal meetings to inform architects, owners, and contractors of City landscape ordinance and design issues.
Assists in the selection, care, and maintenance of City trees in local parks and in other public areas.
Performs various manual tasks associated with tree protection activities, which may include: planting trees; measuring trees; taking samples from trees; spraying pesticides; cutting tree limbs; removing trees/branches from roadways; dragging brush; and performing other related activities.
Operates a variety of equipment and tools associated with work activities, which may include a utility truck, hand saw, drill, spray pump, increment borer, hypsometer, measuring devices, shovel, hand tools, or mechanic tools.
Prepares, reviews, completes, and stores various forms, reports, correspondence, permits, or other documents.
Reviews and inspects 311 requests relating to maintenance of City-owned trees.
Writes detailed ANSI A300-compliant urban forestry work orders to be completed by the City of Chattanooga and contract crews.
Assists with scheduling of work orders by the City of Chattanooga and contract crews.
Creates, mails, and tracks code enforcement actions.
Ensures that local construction sites comply with Federal, State, and City Landscape and Stormwater (Vegetated Green Infrastructure/Water Quality Buffer Vegetation) permits, requirements, laws, and regulations via inspections.
Reads, interprets, and reviews land-disturbing and building permits for compliance and/or restoration of Water Quality buffers and any required trees or vegetated elements.
May inspect and ensure compliance with the installation and maintenance of Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) as related to vegetation when appropriate.
May create and implement new specifications and standards for City departments where native plants are used.
May review development plans to ensure plans are in compliance with applicable landscape and urban tree ordinances; conducts related site inspections to monitor compliance of work activities with approved site plans, traffic plans, and grading plans.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.