Urban Forester

City of Scottsdale, AZ•Scottsdale, AZ

41d

About The Position

Are you rooted in urban forestry and ready to lead with purpose? The Scottsdale Parks & Recreation & Preserve Department is a team of passionate professionals delivering Simply Better Service for a World Class Community. We design exceptional facilities, programs, and experiences that enrich the lives of our residents. With a culture built on innovation, dedication, and customer service that consistently exceeds expectations, we're seeking a visionary leader to help our city thrive from the ground up. As Urban Forester, you'll be the driving force behind the care and stewardship of Scottsdale's extensive tree canopy. This high-impact role blends technical expertise, hands-on fieldwork, and strategic leadership. You'll manage tree inventories, review construction plans, train staff in best practices, and guide policy and budget decisions that shape the city's green future. You'll also serve as a contract administrator and play a key role in departmental planning and innovation. The ideal candidate will have an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Urban Forest Professional Certification and experience in:

Requirements

Associate's Degree in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Arboriculture, Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, or related field.
Five years of experience in forestry, arboriculture, or landscape architecture relating to urban forest management, planning, and inventories.
Must have one-year of lead or supervisory experience which is included in the five years required above.
Any equivalent combination of education and/or job-related experience that meets the minimum qualifications may be substituted.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist or ISA Urban Forest Professional Certification at time of hire.
Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license with no major citations within the past 39 months prior to the start date. The Arizona Motor Vehicle Department requires that out-of-state driver's licenses must be surrendered within 10 days of relocating to the State of Arizona. Note: Graduated Driver's Licenses are considered restricted.
Within six months of hire, an Arizona Pest Control Applicator certification possessing Category 1 (Industrial and Institutional), Category 3 (Ornamental & Turf) and Category 4 (Right-of-Way) must be obtained.
Every person employed by the City of Scottsdale shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by the City, regardless of whether the employee is approved to remote work.

Responsibilities

Overseeing daily operations, projects, and work orders
Inspecting park assets and recommending tree care, pruning, planting, pest control, removals, and species selection
Maintaining tree health records and applying pesticides/fertilizers to support data-driven urban forestry practices
Developing and managing a citywide tree inventory and Urban Forest Management Plan with measurable performance metrics
Supporting Capital Improvement Projects through mitigation planning, report preparation, and contractor oversight
Coordinating community forestry events and leading staff and volunteers in tree planting and maintenance efforts
Supervising staff and managing personnel activities, including training, scheduling, coaching, and performance evaluations

Benefits

12 Paid Holidays- including 1 Floating Holiday
Vacation Accrual- starts at 10.3 hours/month
Sick Leave Accrual- 8 hours/month
Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage- includes behavioral health benefits
City-Paid Basic Life Insurance- equal to one time your annual salary
Optional Supplemental Life Insurance available
Tuition Reimbursement- up to $2,500/year
Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)- defined benefit plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions (currently 12%), includes Long-Term Disability
Supplemental Retirement Plans- available through Nationwide (457)
Pet Insurance
Bilingual Pay Compensation