Arborist II- Planning and Development (Civil Service)

Dallas is growing, and we invite you to grow with us. The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose, competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture. Join a team committed to service, innovation, and community while helping our city flourish.

About the Role

The Arborist II involves a broad range of responsibilities, including reviewing and approving landscape and tree removal plans, ensuring compliance with the City's landscaping and tree conservation regulations, and engaging with the community to foster a culture of conservation. The arborist will possess a deep understanding of arboriculture, landscape architecture, and urban ecology, demonstrating a proactive approach to preserving and enhancing the City's natural environment.

This position is responsible for reviewing projects for the Q-Team Division and completing special Landscape Review projects as assigned. The individual will collaborate closely with Q-Team review teams to ensure projects are thoroughly evaluated, meet quality standards, and are completed in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve landscape, tree removal, and mitigation plans in alignment with the City’s tree conservation and landscape regulations.
• Evaluate the accuracy of property plats and tree surveys, assessing tree health and risks to determine necessary mitigation efforts.
• Work closely with the supervisor and liaise with professionals across disciplines for the approval of construction documents, ensuring they adhere to landscape, tree conservation, and ecological area protections.
• Contribute arboricultural knowledge to the formulation of tree protection strategies for municipal and private projects, safeguarding urban forestry during construction phases.
• Inspect construction sites to enforce proper tree protection, validate the implementation of landscape plans, and investigate compliance with tree replacement requirements.
• Provide lead professional support on expert evaluations, compile reports, assess trees and measure tree canopies, and devise remediation strategies for City staff and contractors, including court appearances to testify on regulatory adherence and municipal actions.
• Offer expert technical guidance to residents, developers, boards, commissions, council, and City personnel on matters related to landscaping and tree conservation, pertaining to engineering and planning reviews, fostering community engagement and awareness.
• Lead team training of arborists for arboricultural standards and tree risk assessment leading toward certification.
• Conduct informational sessions on landscape and tree care for various community groups, promoting best practices and conservation awareness.
• Manage and guide the planting of trees on public domains, collaborating with various stakeholders and educating them on optimal planting techniques.
• Aid in overseeing the City's tree inventory, including the use of digital inventory collection, ensuring accurate tracking and maintenance of urban forestry resources.
• Engage in tree risk assessments, investigation of unauthorized tree activities in collaboration with other departments, responding to public complaints, and grant application processes to support tree conservation efforts.
• Undertake supplementary tasks, including administrative duties, communication, and enforcement actions, to bolster the City's tree conservation initiatives.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of trees and landscaping materials, including tree risk assessments, proper planting, pruning, and care techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of soil sciences and infiltration and penetration rates.
• Thorough knowledge of ordinances and regulations concerning tree preservation, landscaping, escarpment zone, soil erosion, non-point source pollution, and sedimentation.
• Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental regulations and codes.
• Knowledge of International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards for tree care.
• Knowledge of the design and layout of plant materials and irrigation techniques.
• Knowledge of environmental factors related to biology, geography, forestry, hydrology, etc.
• Skill in the use of computers and Microsoft software products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Ability to enforce regulations with fairness, firmness, and tact.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans for compliance with landscape and tree preservation ordinances.
• Ability to prepare reports and letters and make mathematical calculations.
• Ability to conduct various forms of public outreach to diverse community groups in formal and informal settings for effective public engagement and collaboration.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in forestry, horticulture, or an environmental field. Two (2) years of experience in forestry, horticulture, tree preservation, or landscape planning.

Equivalencies:

• High school or GED plus six (6) years of experience in forestry, horticulture, tree preservation, or landscape planning will meet the education and experience requirements.
• Associate degree in any field plus four (4) years of experience in forestry, horticulture, tree preservation, or landscape planning will meet the education and experience requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a non-specified field plus four (4) years of experience in forestry, horticulture, tree preservation, or landscape planning will meet the education and experience requirements.

Licenses and Certifications

• ISA Certified Arborist required.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $28.27 - $33.93 per hour, with the amount offered dependent upon qualifications.