Urban Forester

City of Scottsdale•Scottsdale, AZ

16h•$41 - $55•Onsite

About The Position

This high-impact role blends technical expertise, hands-on fieldwork, and the ability to build trust, influence decisions, and work effectively with diverse stakeholders. 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. Success in this role requires exceptional communication and people skills. You’ll need to translate technical arboriculture concepts into clear, accessible language, whether you’re explaining Arbor Day to a Kindergartener, guiding contractors through best practices, or presenting canopy strategies to city leadership. Your ability to connect with people is just as important as your ability to care for trees.

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.
One-year of lead or supervisory experience which is included in the five years required above.
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.
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.

Nice To Haves

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Urban Forest Professional Certification

Responsibilities

Overseeing daily operations, projects, and work orders
Building partnerships across departments and with community groups
Inspecting park assets and recommending tree care, pruning, planting, pest control, removals, and species selection
Representing the department with credibility, empathy, and service-oriented leadership
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
Communicating clearly and confidently with staff, contractors, residents, and leadership
Coordinating community forestry events and leading staff and volunteers in tree planting and maintenance efforts
Coaching, mentoring, and developing staff with patience and clarity

Benefits

12 Paid Holidays, including 1 Floating Holiday
Vacation Accrual starting at 10.3 hours per month
Medical Leave Accrual at 8 hours per month
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, including behavioral health services
City-Paid Basic Life Insurance equal to one year of your annual salary, with optional supplemental coverage
Tuition Reimbursement up to $2,500 per year
Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) — a defined benefit pension plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions currently at 12%, including long-term disability coverage
Post-Employment Health Plan, employer contribution of $10 per pay period to employee's PEHP
Supplemental Retirement Options through Nationwide (457 plan)
Pet Insurance
Bilingual Pay Compensation for eligible employees
Employee Wellness Incentives