City Arborist

REQUIRED - A City of Portland On-line Application is required to be submitted to Apply. Please see link below.

CITY ARBORIST -

Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department

– Full-Time, 37.5 hours/week, 8am-4:30pm -

The City of Portland, Maine seeks a dynamic, experienced and passionate City Arborist. This position is responsible for administrative and managerial work in planning, organizing, directing and supervising the Forestry and Horticulture Sections of the City of Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department. The program areas are Forestry and Horticulture operations and maintenance of Portland’s 67 parks & open spaces and 20,000 street trees. The City Arborist oversees and coordinates the Parks Division Winter Operations of city parking lots, fire stations and peninsula schools as well as 100 miles of sidewalks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Plans, directs, manages and oversees, forestry and horticulture operations, maintenance and work order scheduling. Coordinates, prioritizes and schedules forestry and horticulture operations and maintenance. Assists in preparing, justifying, monitoring and representing the budget for Forestry and Horticulture Sections. Assists in the development and implementation of the goals and objectives, policies and procedures and safety work standards for the Forestry and Horticulture Sections. Communicates regularly with the Parks Division Director to keep the Director informed on important developments, correspondence and meetings attended. Assists in developing and promoting Forestry and Horticulture Sections marketing, public relations and customer service. Works collaboratively with departmental divisions and community organizations. Establishes policies and procedures, inspects, trains staff and maintains records for safe operations. Coordinates obtaining and maintaining pesticide licenses for Department Staff. Reviews and evaluates the work of employees; makes program, services and area inspections to evaluate the quality of work being performed within the Forestry and Horticulture Sections. Acts as public relations person on forestry and horticulture program issues and related complaints. Designs, plans and oversees tree planting, forest management, weed control, turf maintenance, brush clearing, meadow maintenance, landscape and horticulture operations. Prepares landscape designs and development plans for municipal grounds, parks and facilities and supervises the landscaping of public grounds. Coordinates with state and federal agencies to proactively manage invasive species and pests in city open spaces. Reviews and comments on landscaping designs and site development plans submitted by private developers. Directs, supervises and oversees parks, forestry and construction projects as assigned. Prepares or oversees preparation of specifications, contracts, documents, written, oral reports. Plans and coordinates park operations as needed. Oversees and coordinates all Forestry and Horticulture section Winter Operations. Ensures prompt clearing of city snow ban lots, fire station aprons, select school lots and all other areas as assigned. Oversees and coordinates Winter Sidewalk Plowing Operations. Ensures prompt clearing of City sidewalk plow routes, as well as, regular salting and sanding operations. Monitors existing plow routes and makes recommendations for changes to City routes. Promotes good internal and external public relations through communication, assisting in creating reports, conducting studies and needs assessments. Works with staff to ensure a high level of morale and productivity. Develops and fosters positive working relationships among all staff. Ensures that discipline investigations are conducted in compliance with union and non-Union City policy. Performs related work as required.

Requirements of Work: Graduation from a college or university with a baccalaureate degree in Parks Management, Forestry, Arboriculture or Horticulture or related degree, or any equivalent combination of experience and training. Considerable knowledge of the modern principles and practices of parks management including turf management, horticulture, and urban forestry / arboriculture. Considerable knowledge and experience in managing and maintaining urban parks, open space and facilities. Extensive knowledge of City of Portland parks, trails, athletic facilities and playgrounds. Proven experience prioritizing, organizing, directing and coordinating the activities of parks programs, services and staff. Ability to analyze a variety of parks, open space and facilities operational issues, to make recommendations for solutions and to implement those recommendations. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Department employees, school department personnel, other governmental officials, and the general public. Excellent communication skills. Ability to organize and work with all types of public events and other public functions. Experience in budget preparation and management. Working knowledge of trail maintenance and construction. Experience with athletic facilities and pest management practices. Ability to keep records, prepare reports, and make public presentations. Ability to be flexible with the seasonal and emergency requirements of parks, open space and services. Working knowledge of computer software programs such as Google Workspace, City Works, ArcGIS, and Microsoft Office.

Experience and Training Desired: Certified Parks and Recreation Professional. ISA Arborist Certification. Accredited Organic Land Care Professional (AOLCP). Maine Certified Landscape Professional (MELNA). ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist. Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).

Necessary Special Requirements: Possession of Maine Arborist License. Possession of Master’s Level Maine Pesticide Applicator’s. Must possess a valid Class C driver's license in good standing. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.

Pro-Tech Union position – Grade 9 – Salary range depending on experience - $64,291.75 - $81,451.76/year.

Well qualified candidates may be eligible for relocation reimbursement upon hire.

Applications will be accepted until filled.

REQUIRED - A City of Portland On-line Application is required to be submitted to Apply. Please click the link below to Apply (or copy this URL to your browser):

https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=264&sreq=4&form=5000&desc=CITY ARBORIST

City Benefits

Permanent employees receive a generous benefits package that includes paid holidays; employee health insurance; sick and vacation leave; optional life, dental, vision and income protection insurances; choice of retirement plans; and tuition reduction program with the University of Southern Maine and Thomas College.

The City of Portland is strongly committed to diversity in its workforce.

Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

***COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate*** For the safety of our employees and our constituents, the City of Portland requires that new employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start of employment. Candidates may request an accommodation for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs at the conditional offer stage.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $64,291.76 - $81,451.76 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Maine Class C Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person