Assistant Urban Forester

The current vacancy is for a Limited-Term Assistant Urban Forester in the Parks and Recreation Department. Limited-Term positions are of approximately two-year duration, working 40 hours per week, and receive full benefits. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other Assistant Urban Forester vacancies during the life of the list. The eligibility list established from this recruitment is valid for up to one year from the date established unless the list is extended or abolished by the Human Resources Director. 

Under general supervision, the Assistant Urban Forester oversees tree maintenance staff, contractors, and volunteers, assigns and reviews tree maintenance work, ensures compliance with City standards, quality, and safety requirements; participates in grant implementation, project planning, public engagement, and volunteer coordination and administrative tasks, such as data management and permitting functions. 

CANDIDATE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS 

Note: The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

• Week of 02/24 and 03/03/25: Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position. 
• Week of 03/17 and/or 03/24/25: Candidates will be notified of their status in the recruitment and interviews will be tentatively scheduled for top candidates.  The examination process will include an interview and may include a written and/or performance exam.  

(May include, but are not limited to, those duties listed below.) 

• Supervises, trains and conducts effective performance management to include career development, teamwork, collaboration, and coaching and mentoring of tree maintenance staff. 
• Assigns and reviews tree maintenance work (e.g., tree planting, pruning, removal, and relocation of trees) of staff, contractors and volunteers while ensuring adherence to City and safety regulations and standards. 
• Oversees grant implementation, such as completing and compiling information for progress reports (e.g., tree quantities, volunteer hours), monitoring milestones, and ensuring compliance with funding requirements. 
• Identifies project requirements such as quantity of material, equipment, labor, permits and traffic control plans for grant and routine tree maintenance work in accordance with timeline and budget allocations.  
• Monitors project budgets for tree maintenance work in accordance with grant and budget appropriations.  
• Audits tree inventory documentation in data and land management software systems such as TreeKeeper, TRAKiT, and Tyler to verify accuracy of information such as tree species, quantities, and maintenance priorities to entries, in accordance with program or grant requirements.  
• Organizes and coordinates public tree planting projects and events, including event logistics such as number of volunteers and event locations, safety compliance requirements, liability waivers, project evaluations, and volunteer survey completion.  
• Engages residents and volunteers in collaboration with City Serve and local volunteer groups to participate in volunteer tree planting projects and tree care activities.   
• Responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding municipal codes and policies and reported hazards. 
• Solicits and reviews bids for work from contractors for tree maintenance work.  
• Reviews invoices for accurate materials, equipment, and labor supplied and reconciles any discrepancies.  
• Completes outreach to the public for planting approval; holds public meetings to share project goals and objectives and solicits feedback; distributes urban forestry educational resources such as informational materials on species list and planting locations.  
• Assists in investigating complaints and works with legal entity to issue necessary code enforcement actions, such as citations, civil penalties, and required mitigation efforts.  
• Reviews and approves tree removal or planting permits related to Heritage and Street Tree ordinances and municipal codes.  
• Inspects and monitors trees to ensure compliance with citizen tree removal permit requirements or ordinances and monitors related bonds.  
• In the absence of the Urban Forester, assesses and coordinates response to urban forest emergencies, such as fallen trees, limbs, clearing roads, and assessing hazard trees on public and private property.  
• In the absence of the Urban Forester, represents the department at meetings (e.g., council, commission) and public hearings.  
• May assist with tree planting and/or maintenance work; plants, waters, prunes, and cares for trees, shrubs and other vegetation. 
• Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.  

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping, and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.The position also requires both near and far vision when inspecting work.The need to lift, carry and push tools, equipment and supplies weighing 50 pounds or more is also required.Additionally, the incumbent in this position works in all weather conditions, including wet, hot, and cold.The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to operate motorized vehicles and landscape equipment, work in heavy vehicle traffic conditions, and work with constant interruptions. 

The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities are the following: 

Education and Experience: 

• Associate's Degree or two years of relevant coursework in the field of horticulture or arboriculture, or urban forestry related field and, 
• Two (2) years of experience in horticulture or arboriculture with one (1) of those years performing and/or overseeing tree work, including tree identification, planting, pruning and removal.  

OR 

• High School Diploma or tested equivalent and, 
• Three (3) years of experience in horticulture or arboriculture with two (2) of those years performing and/or overseeing tree work including tree identification, planting, pruning and removal. 

Knowledge:  

• Federal, State and local arboricultural laws and regulations. 
• Industry standards, such as the American National Standards Institute and the International Society of Arboriculture. 
• Practices, techniques, and materials used in the operations of urban forestry arboricultural practices. 
• Characteristics of various tree species, shrubs, and other plants.  
• Methods and materials used in tree pruning, planting, tree physiology, and tree identification. 
• Grant implementation and reporting procedures to ensure compliance with funding requirements and effective utilization of resources. 
• Permitting processes and requirements. 
• Community engagement strategies and volunteer coordination principles. 
• Occupational hazards and standard safety procedures and practices of using equipment and vehicles used in tree maintenance. 
• General office practices and methods, and equipment, including a computer. 

Skills: 

• Basic computer literacy  
• Operate a variety of handheld power tools and minor tree equipment (e.g., chainsaw, woodchipper, stump grinder, water tanker trailer). 

Abilities: 

• Learn effective supervisory skills in motivating and developing staff. 
• Monitor tree work activities to ensure safe work practices, work quality and accuracy. 
• Effectively operate tree inventory, permitting, and land management software. 
• Assess and evaluate tree conditions and hazards. 
• Track and monitor progress of project tasks and budgets to ensure timely completion. 
• Organizational and logistical planning skills for coordinating event details. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.  
• Engage with diverse stakeholders, including residents, volunteer groups and internal staff. 
• Make sound decisions within established guidelines. 
• Coordinate resources, including personnel, equipment, and contractors, and volunteers. 
• Effectively review the work products to ensure accuracy and quality. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, including detailed tree reports, presentations and written correspondence. 

Licenses and Certificates 

• Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver's license. 
• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Certification within 18 months of appointment.  

Other Requirements 

• Willingness to serve on-call duty shifts to cover after-hours emergencies that may occur during late nights, on weekends, or on holidays. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS 

• Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Certification. 
• Lead or Supervisory experience or City of Santa Cruz Leadership Development Program training certificate. 

• Urban Forester 
• Assistant Urban Forester
• Sr. Parks Maintenance Worker (with arboriculture experience)
• Parks Maintenance Worker (with arboriculture experience)

Salary : $67,404 - $94,836