Urban Forester (Landscape Technician II)

City of Edmonton•Edmonton, AB

3d•CA$85,978 - CA$107,415•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Edmonton is seeking a dedicated and collaborative professional to join their Parks and Urban Forestry team as an Inventory and Assessment Urban Forester. This role is crucial for maintaining the health and resilience of the city's urban forest. The primary objective is to manage the accuracy, assessment, and updating of the City's Open Space and Boulevard Tree Inventory, which includes approximately 400,000 trees, as well as an inventory of vulnerable species on private property. The position serves as a technical expert, connecting daily field operations with long-term strategic management. A key component involves providing hands-on training, development, and ongoing mentorship to seasonal field staff to ensure high technical precision in data collection. Collaboration with internal teams and external community partners is essential to protect the urban forest from threats like climate change, pests, and diseases. The work ensures that data-driven insights optimize forestry maintenance plans and safeguard natural infrastructure.

Requirements

Completion of a two-year Technical Diploma in Urban Forestry, GIS, or a related field, OR an undergraduate degree in Urban Forestry or a related field.
A minimum of 5 years of practical experience in Urban Forestry or a closely related field.
Strong GIS mapping abilities and experience utilizing mobile data applications (e.g., TreeKeeper or Field Maps).
Advanced tree identification skills, including the ability to identify species during dormant seasons.
Excellent customer service and communication skills for navigating community interactions and resolving inquiries.
Strong time management and workplan routing skills to efficiently meet seasonal performance metrics.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while guiding a collaborative team environment.
Valid Alberta Class 5 driver's licence (or provincial equivalent).
Obtaining and maintaining a City Driver's permit is a requirement of this position.
Successful candidates must arrange their own transportation, to be reimbursed in accordance with City of Edmonton policy. This may require business auto insurance.

Nice To Haves

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certification is considered a strong asset.
Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) is considered a strong asset.

Responsibilities

Lead the orientation, training, and daily workflow of Landscape Technician I staff, supporting their development in skilled tree assessments and spatial data tools.
Perform in-field audits, weekly spot checks, and data validations to maintain the high technical integrity of our spatial inventory databases.
Investigate tree mortality by performing field diagnostic tests, assessing environmental stressors, and inspecting for biotic factors like pests or diseases.
Manage incoming inquiries regarding tree health and ownership disputes, mapping boundaries, and escalating public safety hazards to qualified arborists.
Liaise with pruning leaders, project foresters, planting leaders, and inspectors to ensure the inventory reflects real-time field data, property lines, and newly planted trees.