Urban Forester

About the role

The City of Encinitas is seeking an experienced Urban Forester to lead its Urban Forestry Program. Key responsibilities include managing tree inspections, overseeing contractors, maintaining the tree inventory, and ensuring compliance with city and state regulations.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the work of personnel and contractors engaged in tree planting, pruning, maintenance, preservation, and removal.
• Develops, implements, and updates the Urban Forest Management Program Administrative Manual of Procedures.
• Prepares specifications, scopes of work, and RFPs for urban forestry services; administers and monitors contracts; inspects contractor work for compliance.
• Conducts inspections and tree risk assessments; diagnoses tree health issues; prescribes pruning, treatment, mitigation, or removal as appropriate.
• Maintains the City’s tree inventory and GIS-based mapping of the urban forest; tracks tree species, condition, maintenance history, pest and disease conditions, planting locations, and canopy data.
• Reviews development plans for potential tree conflicts; performs site inspections to evaluate construction impacts on existing trees; enforces tree protection requirements; performs final inspections; calculates tree valuations and recommends restitution or replacement plantings.
• Establishes and enforces tree-related ordinances, guidelines, and regulations; pursues enforcement of penalties for illegal tree removal, damage, or noncompliance.
• Serves as the City’s technical resource on urban forestry matters; provides public education and outreach on tree care, urban forestry benefits, and City policies.
• Coordinates with other City departments and outside agencies on green infrastructure, urban heat island mitigation, stormwater management, sustainability initiatives, and emergency storm response and recovery affecting City trees.
• Serves as a liaison to the Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC); responds to inquiries, complaints, and requests for information from residents, business owners, contractors, other City departments, external agencies, and the public.
• Participates in the development and administration of the assigned operating, capital, and contract services budgets; forecasts materials, equipment, and contracted service needs; monitors expenditures, prepares budget reports, and recommends adjustments.
• Researches and pursues grants and outside funding opportunities to support urban forestry initiatives.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in forestry, urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture, environmental science, or a closely related field, plus four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in urban forestry, arboriculture, or tree care operations.
• Valid California Drivers License.
• Certified Arborist designation issued by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) - Must obtain with 1 year of employment.
• Desirable: Qualified Applicator’s Certificate and/or Qualified Applicator’s License issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques of arboriculture and urban forestry, including tree species selection, planting, pruning, soil science, tree biology, plant pathology, and tree risk assessment.
• Knowledge of ANSI A300 standards and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices for tree care operations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of urban forest management, including the development and implementation of the Urban Forest Management Program Administrative Manual of Procedures, canopy assessment, and species diversification.
• Skills in identifying tree species, hazards, deficiencies, pests, and diseases, and prescribing appropriate corrective action; performing tree risk assessments and tree health care inspections; reading and interpreting construction plans, landscape plans, and specifications.
• Ability to organize, implement, and direct a comprehensive urban forestry program; provide scientific and technical advice and assistance on problems relating to tree care, preservation, protection, and urban forest management.

Benefits

This position offers competitive compensation and benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Pay

Salary range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.