Urban Forest Stewardship Specialist; Botanic Specialist II - Forestry

Job Appointment: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. 7:00am – 3:30 pm, with some evening and weekend work for events and community engagement activities.

Work Location: In person at PP&R Urban Forestry, 10910 N. Denver Ave., Portland, OR 97217. There is opportunity for limited telework. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington.

Union Representation: PROTEC
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Starting Pay: The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry’s Community Stewardship Team is hiring an Urban Forest Stewardship Specialist (job class Botanic Specialist II: Forestry) to serve as technical and field leader in urban forestry and arboriculture, helping Portlanders to plant and care for community trees, and to access Urban Forestry programs and resources.

The Community Stewardship Team connects Portland’s diverse communities with opportunities to grow and care for the urban forest through free tree programs, community events, volunteer stewardship, education, communications, and partnership development. This team focuses their work on bringing urban forestry resources to spaces and communities where trees and the many environmental and public health services they provide, are needed most.

The Urban Forest Stewardship Specialist brings strong arboricultural and urban forestry expertise to this work, as a lead technical resource for tree planting, pruning, establishment, and care for volunteers and staff. This position supports outreach and engagement for Urban Forestry’s tree planting programs, which plant 10,000 trees annually. This includes coordinating outreach efforts with a team of seasonal and full-time staff, raising awareness of the importance of urban trees, answering technical questions about tree planting programs and tree care, and finding effective ways to encourage participation across the city.

The successful Urban Forest Stewardship Specialist has strong project management, communication, collaboration, and organization skills. They have substantial knowledge and practical experience in arboriculture or urban forestry, along with the ability to teach, lead, communicate, and work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds. They will be comfortable moving between field work, public events, staff training, community presentations, and program planning.

They know how to translate technical tree care concepts into clear, practical guidance and are excited to help others build the skills and confidence to care for Portland’s urban forest.

• Serve as a technical leader in urban forestry and arboriculture. Provide practical expertise in tree planting, establishment, pruning, young tree care, tree selection, site conditions, and other aspects of urban tree care. Apply current arboricultural best management practices and ensure that staff, volunteers, and community members have the knowledge to care for trees successfully.
• Lead tree planting and tree care training. Develop and deliver hands‑on training for volunteers and members of the public. Demonstrate proper planting, pruning, watering, establishment, and ongoing care practices in the field.
• Lead volunteers in hands‑on urban forestry activities. Plan and facilitate volunteer tree planting and stewardship activities, providing clear instruction, demonstrating safe and effective work practices, and creating an experience that leaves participants feeling capable, connected, and excited to care for trees.
• Inspire Portlanders to plant and care for trees. Represent…