Urban Forester

Responsibilities

Plans, develops, administers and supervises the staff and operations of the City-wide urban forestry program. Oversees and develops programs, policies and procedures to enhance and protect the City’s Urban Forest.

Works under the general supervision of the Public Landscape Manager, planning and arranging own work. Instructions are occasionally provided, and work is periodically reviewed. Oversee the work of contract employees and exercise administrative supervision over assigned staff, frequently reviewing work in progress and carefully reviewing completed work.

Plans strategic and systematic operations in accordance with the vision and guiding principles of the City's Urban Forest Master Plan.

Develops, monitors and oversees program budget. Makes budgetary recommendations and maintains appropriate administrative and financial records and reports.

Manages Santa Monica’s urban forestry program for all public trees located in City parks, streets, parkways, and other City-administered landscaped areas. Establishes tree inspection and pruning frequencies and ensures planting is consistent with the species designations in the Urban Forest Master Plan.

Enforces International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and American National Standard Institute (ANSI) specifications for tree pruning, removal, planting, and replacement.

Reviews and comments on development plans, drawings, calculations, and reports to ensure conformance with the Urban Forest Master Plan. Mitigates public tree loss through restitution collection for tree planting and aftercare.

Serves as a liaison to other City departments, the community, the Urban Forest Task Force, and various national, state, and regional organizations. Provides expert technical advice and guidance on arboricultural and urban forestry matters as needed.

Prepares and delivers urban forestry related presentations to the public, stakeholder groups, boards, commissions, the Urban Forest Task Force, and City Council.

Responds to urban forest emergencies.

Selects, supervises, directs and evaluates staff. Implements personnel policies and procedures. Establishes and approves work schedules and leave requests. Reviews employee time-cards and prepares employee performance evaluations.

Trains and coordinates training activities for assigned employees in proper work methods and procedures. Inspects work sites on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with City and department goals, objectives, policies and procedures.

Develops and writes contract specifications and Requests for Proposal (RFPs). Reviews contract proposals, interviews bidders and checks references. Monitors contract progress pursuant to City policies and procedures.

Monitors and inspects contract work to ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions, resolves discrepancies and corrects deficiencies as needed.

Identifies funding resources for urban forestry and landscape development programs. Writes funding proposals, prepares grant applications and accompanying reports, and manages grant funds.

Implements environmentally sound maintenance practices which are consistent with applicable conservation, ecological and environmental principles. Provides support to the development of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan and related sustainable programs, including the Integrated Pest Management Program.

Conducts research and prepares and maintains a variety of reports, records, and correspondence as requested.

Responds to inquiries, 311s, and requests for information. Investigates and resolves citizen complaints and escalating concerns.

Evaluates and analyzes urban forestry operations and customer satisfaction levels. Makes recommendations for improvements and prepares and maintains various reports addressing productivity, accomplishments and program status updates.

Performs other duties, as assigned.

• Principles, policies and practices of arboriculture and urban forestry
• Urban forestry operations and policy development
• Advanced tree risk assessment and tree preservation
• Tree law and planning regulations
• Tree pest identification and treatment
• Principles and practices of public administration
• Maintenance…