Office of the City Forester Plans Review Specialist II

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

6d • $31 - $41 • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The hiring range for this position is $31.00 - $41.00/hour. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location In this position you can expect a Flexible, Hybrid schedule, starting at our Denver Post Bldg. at 101 W Colfax Ave. This position will work Monday-Friday. Who We Are & What You’ll Do Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) recognizes the importance of diversity in the representation of our organization to best serve our customers and community. To that end, DPR is committed to: Examining department policies and processes that value diverse perspectives and eliminate barriers to inclusion. Identifying where inequities exist and implementing strategies to ensure equitable outcomes. Strengthening diversity in Parks and Recreation services by transforming policies to institutionalize equity. Reinvesting in resources aimed at ensuring DPR is an equitable and just organization. The Office of the City Forester is seeking a Forestry Plans Review Specialist II to perform professional intermediate level plans review work with a focus on Affordable Housing project submittals to meet fast paced permitting timelines with an emphasis on customer service. This position works directly with developers, contractors, property owners and internal reviewing agencies to review and approve residential and commercial zoning building permit requests for compliance to lessen the as impacts to our urban forest. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a career in urban forestry in a progressive, diverse, and accomplished urban forestry program.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate.
• Five (5) years of plans review experience reviewing blueprints and plans for zoning and/or construction projects regarding the compliance of zoning and construction codes and regulations.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• This job requires driving.
• Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• ISA Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Certification.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with tree health and condition evaluations in the Denver Front Range area.
• Experience in tree appraisal methodology.
• Working knowledge of regionally appropriate plant species as relates to climate sustainability mandates and goals.
• Technical knowledge of zoning and construction methods, codes and regulations.
• Experience with code compliance, managing conflict resolution, and finding creative solutions to resolve a variety of complex situations.
• Experience with TreeKeeper inventory program and high proficiency with Microsoft suite software.

Responsibilities

• Review development construction plans at various design and submittal stages for compliance with Chapter 57 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code and Forestry rules and regulations, and to minimize impacts to existing tree canopy and/or proposed tree planting areas through application of current industry best management practices, construction methods and techniques, detailed knowledge of various City department and agency requirements, understanding of land use and designations, and researching and interpreting historical maps and documents.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders such as Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency, Zoning Department, Denver Housing Authority, Regional Transportation District, Mile High Flood District, Denver Water, Colorado Department of Transportation, and various utility companies to advise and lessen impacts to the urban canopy for proposed projects and construction activities.
• Work directly with developers, contractors, architects, and property owners to review construction plans for adherence with forestry, zoning and building codes and regulations for the issuance of City permits.
• Consult with engineers and other professional and technical experts on more complex permitting requests, unusual designs, issues of conformity and compliance, and coordinate reviews as part of a comprehensive construction project review.
• Evaluate protected trees for condition and health both pre and post construction activities.
• Issue notices and corrective orders, administrative citations, and appraisal mitigation fees for lack of compliance and damages to trees.
• Throughout the duration of the project, monitor and ensure field and administrative requirements have been adhered to and completed as approved, issue required forestry permits, and approve additional pending permits in a timely manner.
• May request additional project testing and studies as required by permitting guidelines, such as soil samples, tree health evaluations, pneumatic excavation of soil, review of storm, sanitary, and erosion control studies, and traffic engineering impact studies and reports.
• Prepare reports for management detailing projects, permits, and permit revenues, which includes maintaining files and reports for projects.
• Maintain an adaptive and open approach to daily tasks and priorities to reflect the day-to-day Affordable Housing applications balanced with other Forestry reviews and duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED