Urban Forester

Tumwater is a vibrant community, rich in history, community, and opportunity.

Nestled into the base of Puget Sound, Tumwater is the southern gateway to the Seattle/Tacoma metropolitan area. It’s just a little over an hour from the Pacific Ocean beaches, the Olympic Peninsula, and Mount Rainier with beautiful landscapes of prairie, river, estuary, and lush green trees. With its central location, Tumwater is a picturesque Northwest community with convenient access to arts, cultural and outdoor recreation.

Our vision is to create a future that is highly livable with diverse and engaged residents, a strong economy, and a healthy natural environment. Safe neighborhoods, quality schools, and a sense of community pride make Tumwater a great place to live, work, and play.

The City of Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department seeks a qualified individual to fill the position of Urban Forester. This position leads efforts to maintain and enhance the City urban and community forest including planning, implementing, coordinating, and operation of urban forestry initiatives and programs. Provides technical expertise on public and private tree-related concerns and is responsible for implementing the City Urban Forestry program. The selected individual will assist with the administration of a broad range of local land use and development codes and support city planning and policy development with technical expertise in urban forestry. This position is expected to spend approximately 60% of their time in an office and 40% of their time in the field.

Join our team of dedicated public servants and make a difference.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

Urban Forestry Management Plan Implementation 

• Assist in implementing the City Urban Forestry Management Plan, including any future updates
• Serve as an alternate Staff Liaison to the Tumwater Tree Board and other urban forestry policy and technical teams
• Leads and implements programs to maintain and enhance the City tree canopy including tree planting and distribution programs
• Supports advancing best practices in Urban Forestry including Right Tree Right Place
• Conducts education and outreach on urban forestry topics
• Maintain the City Tree City USA accreditation and assist in planning the Annual Arbor Day celebration
• Coordinates volunteer tree-planting events with the City Volunteer Coordinator and Water Resources Specialist (Habitat & Outreach)
• Provides professional horticultural and landscape advice to community members as needed
• Coordinates and administers the City Heritage Tree program
• Manages the River Foundation grant and all deliverables therein that funds the Urban Forestry Work
• Keeps a log of hours spent specifically in disadvantaged communities or working towards tree equity

Permit and Development Application Review

• Supports Code Enforcement, landscape plan review, ordinance development, inspections, and other land use planning related to trees
• Understand and administer tree, soil and native vegetation protection and replacement standards to land development applications such as site plans, land use review, civil engineering, and building permit applications

Manage City-owned Urban Forest in coordination with other Departments

• Directs, supervises, and trains staff engaged in forestry activities
• Promote the proper management of trees on City-owned properties
• Visits nurseries and selects tree species for planting projects throughout the City
• Supervises tree planting and maintenance in coordination with other City Departments as required
• Provides professional horticultural, forestry, and landscape advice/expertise to other City Departments
• Performs field site visits to conduct tree health/quality assessments on City properties; recommends treatment plans to correct problems identified as needed
• Prepare staff reports and other documents that clearly and accurately convey complex information to the public, advisory commissions, and City Council
• Maintains City tree inventory data

Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.Qualifications: 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of current urban forestry practices and procedures
2. Knowledge of applicable City Ordinances, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations related to trees and landscaping
3. Skill of active listening
4. Skill of coordination with others
5. Project management
6. Thorough knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, software and equipment. 
7. Ability to maintain effective, courteous, and tactful public relations with elected officials, management, staff, and the general public. 

Minimum Qualifications: 
Four-year degree in forestry, ecology, arboriculture, horticulture, Planning, or closely related field and three years of related experience required. Additional qualifying experience or completion of coursework at an accredited college or university in a job-related field may substitute for the required experience on a one-to-one year ratio.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification is required. The Urban Forester must maintain this credential for the duration of their employment at the City of Tumwater.

Preferred:

1. Preferred credentials include the following: International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, ISA Certified Tree Climber, and/or American Society of Consulting Arborists Tree Plant Appraisal Qualification.

Training/Licenses/Certifications:

1. ISA Arborist Certification
2. Washington State Driver's License, or ability to attain within 30 days of hire
3. Maintain ISA Arborist Certification for duration of employment

Supplemental Information

Contacts: This position will have significant daily contact with the public for the purpose of information-sharing and problem resolution. Due to the subject matter, some contacts may be confrontational, requiring the Urban Forester to explain City policies and procedures in a professional, concise, and respectful manner. The Urban Forester will also have daily contact with other City staff for the purpose of information sharing, work coordination, and problem resolution. Additional contacts with public officials are for the purpose of information gathering and project definition. Contacts with public officials are usually held in a public meeting forum.

Supervision: May assist in the training and/or supervision of less experienced staff. However, general supervision is not required as a part of this job.

Accountability: The Urban Forester reports to the Sustainability Manager under the guidance of the Water Resources & Sustainability Department Director. The Urban Forester is accountable for completing all assigned work in a timely, professional manner.  

Working Conditions:
The Urban Forester will generally work in an office with a significant portion of time spent performing duties out-of-doors completing site investigations. Investigations require working on construction sites, rough terrain, in wetlands, boating, and being in the proximity of heavy equipment. Periodic travel and attendance at meetings, continuing education, and conferences, both during regular working hours and in the evening, are required.

Physical requirements:

1. Occasional lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds
2. May be subject to walking, standing, sitting, reaching, bending, kneeling and handling. Climbing is not anticipated.  

Specific physical requirements and typical working conditions for this position are on file in the Administrative Services Department. 

The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.   The City of Tumwater is committed to wellness, safety, the environment and racial equity.

Salary : $80,784 - $108,252