Arborist

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Public Works Department is actively seeking a City Arborist.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well? In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

This is professional forestry work in planning, organizing, and directing urban forestry activities relating to county-wide tree planting projects. The work requires a basic understanding and application of the theories, principles, and practices of urban forestry, arboriculture, botany, and horticultural, and the use of specialized skills in recommending, developing, and administering urban forestry planting plans, policies and procedures, which is gained through degree granting schools, or an equivalent level of practical knowledge gained through experience.

Schedules, assigns, monitors, directs, reviews the work of contractors engaged in tree planting, care and removal from the time of planting until tree establishment. Contacts require skill in understanding and influencing people and are important in disseminating technical information and advice to public officials and the public regarding forestry-related regulations, proper forestry techniques and forestry-related projects. The forestry work is standardized in that tasks are covered by substantially diversified procedures and specialized standards, and because of the changing priorities, or different situations, incumbents have the latitude to consider which of the many procedures or standards should be followed and in what sequence.

The work involves differing situations requiring use of judgment in search of solutions or new applications within ones’ known experiences. Work is performed in both an office and field environment where risks and hazards are minimal, known, predictable, and controllable. Operates a utility vehicle and standard office equipment such as personal computer. Physical demands consist mainly of visually inspecting trees, using equipment and occasionally lifting objects weighing less than fifty (50) pounds.

Work is performed under limited supervision where work assignments are subject to established procedures, practices or well-defined policies and is reviewed, usually after the fact, in terms of quality, timeliness, and adherence to methods, standards and policies.

• Administers county-wide tree planting projects.
• Schedules, assigns, monitors, directs, reviews and evaluates the work of contractors involved in tree planting, care and removal from the time of planting until tree establishment.
• Estimate costs, materials, labor, and time for selection, purchasing and planting of trees.
• Recommends, develops and administers urban forestry planting plans, policies and procedures.
• Facilitates and monitors tree planting projects with nonprofits and civil groups.
• Coordinates private and public participation in planting process.
• Help develop a list of priority planting projects.
• Coordinates education and outreach programs to government and civil groups related to planting.
• Oversee urban forestry studies include street trees analyses, type mapping and classification through use of aerial photos, statistical analyses, and related materials and methods.
• Helps prepare and submit grant proposals for urban forestry grants.
• Provides staff support for the Tree Conservation Commission related to planting trees.
• Develop long term monitoring procedures for planting projects.
• Sets canopy goals and measures the progress of planting programs.
• Maintains a database and inventory of the City's trees.
• Responds to citizen right-of-way planting requests through the MyJax System.
• Responds public damaged tree…