City Forester

The purpose of this position is to maintain and preserve the appearance of City lands. This is accomplished by supervising park operations crews. Other duties may include maintaining accounts, overseeing community relations, coordinating tree removal services, providing oversight for commercial sector and City compliance with tree preservation requirements, providing various administrative services and interfacing with other City employees and citizens. This position provides direction to other employees.

Essential Functions:Maintains and preserves the appearance of City lands (parks, greenbelts, medians, right-of-ways, and grounds) by developing, establishing, and managing routine inspection and maintenance programs.
Supervises crew members by assigning work tasks, developing work orders, preparing minor landscape plans, following up on assigned tasks and inspecting completed work.
Provides assistance in the field to staff as needed to complete work tasks including the operation of equipment, and inspection and minor repair/adjustments of landscape irrigation systems.
Maintains accounts by ensuring payment of bills, inputting information for purchase orders, maintaining records in HTE financial system for requisitions, and forecasting future needs.
Oversees community relations by making public presentations, answering citizen complaints, planning and managing community projects, horticulture/forestry related special events (i.e. Arbor Day / Tree City USA), as well as coordinating park related volunteer programs.
Reviews and approves plats and commercial building permits as they relate to tree preservation, inspects development sites for tree protection, oversees tree mitigation plantings, tracks tree mitigation fees, and maintains an inventory of public trees via field data collection and software management.
Coordinates tree removal services by managing and approving tree removal permits, inspecting tree removal permit sites, inspecting illegal tree removals and working in conjunction with contract administration personnel to coordinate tree services contracts.
Performs administrative tasks that include ordering equipment and attending staff, software and safety meetings.
Acts as a consultant for homeowners, developers, architects, and other City staff with regards to landscaping and tree preservation issues.
Works in conjunction with the Grants Coordinator to research, apply for, implement, and document grants for Horticulture and Forestry programs.



Job Requirements:

Education
Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Horticulture, Forestry, or a closely related field.

Experience
Over three years up to and including five years of relevant experience which must include at least two years of supervisory experience.

Certification and Other Requirements
Valid Texas Class C Drivers License (must obtain Class B within 6 months), ISA Certified Arborist (or obtain within 6 months), TDA Pesticide Applicator's License, Texas Certified Nursery Professional (Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional certification must be obtained within 2 years).

INTERESTED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT AN ON-LINE APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY VISITING THE CITY OF ALLEN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.CITYOFALLEN.ORG  ONLY ON-LINE APPLICATIONS FOR POSTED POSITIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.