HomeMy WebLinkAboutUrban ForesterPage 1 of 2
City of Georgetown JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Urban Forester Effective Date: 10/01/2012
FLSA Category: Exempt Revision Date: 05/30/2014
SUMMARY: Conserves, preserves, and proliferates trees within the City. Administers and enforces the City’s tree
ordinance. Manages all aspects of tree planting, and tree maintenance within the City’s parks system. Assists other city
departments with tree related issues. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of
the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable
accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is
subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to,
the following:
• Administers and enforces the City’s tree ordinance, to include reviewing and processing of preliminary and final plats, associated documents, site plans and construction plans to ensure compliance with city development codes
/standards.
• Meets with city planning staff, developers, engineers, and landscape architects on development; writes reviews and resolve issues with developers; maintains contact with other staff and agencies involved in the planning
process; interprets codes and ordinances.
• Performs landscape inspections upon completion of projects.
• Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the Urban Forestry program including the formulation of short- and
long-term objectives.
• Develops and manages the Urban Forestry program budget; manages the tree maintenance budget under Support Services division.
• Oversees various community forestry programs and services.
• Develops education and outreach programs to inform city staff and the community on tree planting, care, and preservation by working with various civic groups and through other communication venues.
• Manages and coordinates public tree planting activities for the city; works with other Parks staff to complete small
tree jobs in house; manages memorial tree and bench program.
• Works independently and with GUS CIP project managers and field inspectors to perform site inspections of both
city and private development projects for compliance with codes and city standards as related to trees and landscaping.
• Attends pre-construction and project coordination meetings.
• Works with Transportation Services, Energy Services and other city departments on tree issues as needed.
• Prepares reports and make public presentations to boards, commissions and City Council.
• May assist Parks workers in day-to-day tasks in absence of employees of during special events
• Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, training and Experience Guidelines
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Landscape, Horticulture or a related field. Three years of full-time experience in tree planting and care or in forestry program development. OR Any combination of experience, education and/or training that provides the required knowledge, skills,
and abilities.
Page 2 of 2
Knowledge of:
• Site plan review.
• Construction site tree protection standards; skills / ability to perform field inspections.
• Tree biology, tree planting, tree pruning, and hazardous tree identification.
• Parks administration procedures.
• State of Texas Structural Pest Control policies.
• Chemical Maintenance and reporting. Skill in:
• Using computer and various software programs..
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with co-workers.
• Negotiating and communicating effectively with developers, citizens, appointed officials, and the public
• Reading development plans, reports, legal documents, manuals, memos, and warning labels.
• Writing development reviews, ordinances, reports, newsletter and newspaper articles, schedules and memos.
• Calculate distances, during interpretation of ordinances and site plans.
• Budget preparation and management of three budgets,
• Performing mathematical calculations to calculate tree ordinance mitigation totals and charges.
• Working with developers and planners to resolve complex problems.
• Working with onsite construction foreman to ensure tree protection is carried out as approved.
• Performing on site construction inspections, tree and landscape inspections and hazardous tree inspections for citizens, other departments.
• Parks fertilizers, insect and disease control, tree planting, maintenance, and pruning, tree biology, also tree and plant species.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Valid Class C Texas driver’s license.
Certified through International Society of Arborists (ISA) or must obtain within six months of hire date. Pesticide applicators license or must obtain within six months of hire date.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Standing, sitting, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling, fine dexterity, crouching, bending, vision, hearing, talking, use of foot controls.
Exposed to weather extremes, dust, hazardous chemicals, noise from machines, on active construction sites, and while tree work is being performed.