Office of Forester Plans Review Specialist

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $29.59-$34.00/hour. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver utilize a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Depending on work schedule, employees’ work where needed, reporting to a city site and/or in the field along with an option to telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado.

Denver Parks & Recreation’s Office of the City Forester is seeking a Plans Review Specialist to perform professional routine level plans review work to meet fast paced permitting timelines with an emphasis on customer service. This position works directly with developers, contractors, property owners and other internal reviewing agencies to review and approve residential and commercial zoning and building permit requests as impacts the urban forest.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a career in urban forestry in a progressive, diverse, and accomplished urban forestry program.

Duties for this role include:

• Review and approve permit applications and development construction plans at various design and submittal stages for compliance with Chapter 57 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, forestry rules and regulations, and industry BMPS, which includes reviewing, understanding and application of current arboricultural standards, research and construction methods and techniques, researching historical maps and documents, full review of building and construction plan sets for impacts to the existing or proposed tree planting areas and tree canopy, impacts from changes required by other reviewing agencies, understanding of land dedication and easement plans, property setback requirements, land use designations, and the mixed use of property.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders such as Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency, Denver Housing Authority, Regional Transportation District, Urban Drainage, Metro Wastewater, Denver Water, Colorado Department of Transportation, and utility companies to advise on major construction projects and plans.
• Work directly with developers, contractors, architects, and property owners to review construction plans for adherence with forestry, zoning and building codes and regulations for the issuance of City permits.
• Consult with engineers and other professional and technical experts on more complex permitting requests, unusual designs, issues of conformity and compliance, and coordinate reviews as part of a comprehensive construction committee project review.
• Evaluate the condition and health of protected trees for both pre and post project and construction activities. Issuance of notices and corrective orders,…