Urban Forestry Specialist

It’s a great time to join the City of Boulder!

October 13, 2026

Hiring Range

28.52 - 41.36

This is a full-time hourly position.

40

BMEA (20+ Hours)

Locate the Benefit Eligibility Group value on the Employee Benefit Eligibility document to identify the benefits offered for this job.

Under limited supervision, maintains the health, safety, and aesthetics of public trees in city parks and public street rights-of-way. The primary focus of this position is to safely perform specialized technical urban forestry/arboriculture field operations involving public trees to ensure a safe and healthy urban tree canopy. There is a strong focus on pruning trees of all sizes using rope and saddle techniques and an aerial lift, structure pruning of small trees, and tree removal following industry standards.

Collaborates with contractors and internal staff on Forestry operations, programs, and projects. Operates a variety of power tools and specialized equipment in the performance of these duties.

• Performs technical urban forestry and arboricultural field operations involving public trees to ensure a safe and healthy urban tree canopy.

• Prunes and removes trees of all sizes to industry standards, safely and efficiently, utilizing both rope and saddle techniques and aerial lifts.

• Prunes smaller diameter trees for structure and clearance to industry standards.

• Grinds stumps and performs maintenance tasks such as pesticide applications, tank watering, and mulching.

• Surveys public trees to determine pruning or removal needs based on tree health, structure, and safety.

• Operates and maintains equipment including brush chippers, stump grinders, backhoe, loader, skid-steer, trucks with trailers, tractors, chain saws of various sizes, and aerial lifts.

• Coordinates daily and directly with the public, other city departments, contractors, business owners, and other agencies on project timelines, scope and notification processes.

• Disposes of wood debris properly; distributes logs to firewood lot and chips to city free mulch pile.

• Coordinates traffic control plans and implementation with Public Works and Traffic Control contractors to ensure safe Forestry Operations.

• Trains and assists in coordinating the daily tasks seasonal and temporary staff and volunteers in tree maintenance activities including but not limited to tree planting, pruning, removal, stump grinding, pesticide applications, and tank watering.

• Provides recommendations to the public on matters related to general tree care, maintenance and protection.

• Responds to service requests generated by multiple sources regarding tree maintenance needs.

• Uses asset management and GIS software to collect, update, and maintain information on species type, tree size, health, location and maintenance records for public trees.

• Evaluates equipment from suppliers for efficient purchasing and sourcing, maintains equipment inventory, PPE, and other items.

• Assists with the implementation of Forestry programs.

• Assists with community related special events, educational events, and volunteer events such as Arbor Day Tree Planting.

• Unloads tree deliveries from nursery, care for tree stock in forestry yard.

• Assists with inspections of tree deliveries based on the condition and health of tree stock.

• Plants trees in City parks and Rights of Way to industry standards; trains and coordinates Forestry field staff to plant trees to industry standards.

• Monitors and samples for insect and disease problems in city parks, street rights-of-way and private property.

• Inspect public trees for safety from either a rope and saddle or an aerial lift using the ISA Tree Risk Assessment process.

• Performs and assists with research, monitoring, surveys, and data collection associated with forestry programs.

• Posts for no parking and pesticide notification to ensure compliance with City ordinances.

• Monitors, maintains, and repairs tree grates and guards in commercial areas.

• Assists with emergency response activities related to tree hazards due to weather events, construction impacts and vehicular accidents.

• Responds to tree related emergencies called in by internal or external customers; climbs trees or utilizes aerial lift truck to remove hangers and eliminate hazards or dispatches contractors as needed.

• Assesses priority, corrective action, appropriate equipment and agencies needed to…