Urban Forester

City of Bentonville•Bentonville, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Coordinates and performs the daily activities of Parks Urban Forester engaged in the overall management of Urban Forestry Program for the City’s grounds, parks and recreational areas. This role is responsible for promoting tree preservation, monitoring tree health, and performing various tree maintenance duties. The position also involves assessing hazard trees, conducting tree appraisals, maintaining records, researching grants, providing training, serving on committees, and assisting with budget forecasting and material requisitions. The Urban Forester will also review construction plans for urban forest resource impact and coordinate volunteer and contractor activities.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in Urban Forestry or a related field and Seven (7) years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions.
Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Must be a Certified Arborist, certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, and/or the requirement to attain the certification.
Regularly required to use hands, to reach with hands and arms, and to talk or hear.
Frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Position may require a commercial driver’s license.
Arkansas Plant Board Certifications.

Responsibilities

Promoting tree preservation on Park’s property.
Monitoring the health of the Parks’ tree population and addressing concerns.
Performing tree maintenance duties including watering, pruning, installation, removal, fertilization, and pest management.
Determining appropriateness of tree species, proper tree care, and plant health diagnostic skills.
Determining best management practices for tree inventories and management plans.
Assessing hazard trees and performing Tree Risk Assessments.
Performing tree appraisals.
Establishing and maintaining accurate records and files on park tree maintenance.
Conducting research, analyzing data, and compiling special narratives and statistical reports.
Researching, applying for, and maintaining grants for Urban Forestry programs.
Providing training for City staff, Boards, and other work groups.
Serving on select City committees as a subject matter expert.
Assisting with determining the need for park improvements, capital projects, and necessary budget items.
Assisting other City Departments with tree care questions and concerns.
Coordinating and overseeing volunteer efforts related to urban forestry activities.
Coordinating and overseeing contractor activities for Parks’ tree related projects.
Promoting proper tree care among Parks’ staff.
Operating equipment such as chain saws, hand saws, loppers, pruners, pole pruners, mini excavators, skid steers, toolcats, backhoes, tractors, tank sprayers, backpack sprayers, pneumatic air tools, and tree injection equipment.
Maintaining tools used in the performance of duties.
Operating an aerial bucket truck and other aerial platforms.
Maintaining knowledge of safe work practices and Best Management Practices associated with tree maintenance, including ANSI A300.
Overseeing the activities of assigned Temporary and Seasonal staff.
Assisting with budget forecasting.
Assisting with material and equipment requisition.
Reviewing construction plan documents and providing comments related to the urban forest resource.