Community Forester

Position Description

The City Trees Program is seeking a knowledgeable and passionate Community Forester to bring technical expertise to the Health Department.

This experienced Forester will have experience with outreach and be passionate about environmental justice and developing relationships with under- represented communities.

They will develop and maintain relationships with community organizations, residents, volunteers, and partners.

They will lead the development of community workshops and trainings with an emphasis on environmental justice communities.

They will train, provide technical assistance, and educate City staff, partners, residents, and volunteers in planting, pruning, invasive species identification and management practices, and tree identification.

They will perform tree inspections and site visits and plant and prune trees.

The Community Forester is the first and only arborist on staff and will work within the City Trees program in the Health Department on an emerging team of sustainability-focused individuals.

This position offers a high level of autonomy with the opportunity to lead and make decisions independently. The City Trees program works to increase tree canopy on private property.

This is a new position and will be establishing new systems for private property tree work.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide technical expertise on trees, tree care and community forestry for City staff, partners, and volunteers, and residents.

2. Train City staff, partners, and volunteers, and residents in planting, pruning, tree maintenance, invasive species identification and management practices, tree identification.

3. Perform tree inspections for pests, disease, identification, and hazards.

4. Plan workshops and trainings for residents, volunteers, and community groups.

5. Determine if preservation intervention is suitable for existing trees threatened by pests or disease.

6. Perform site inspections to determine planting location and species selection.

7. Plant, prune, and / or water trees in urban settings according to industry best management practices.

8. Perform visual inventory / census of trees on private property.

9. Assist with development and implementation of a tree preservation ordinance.

10. Coordinate site preparation for tree planting including submitting utility locate requests and delivering trees.

11. Place orders for trees and coordinate deliveries with nurseries.

12. Develop, use, and update Geographic Information System (GIS) databases and maps.

13. Attend and make presentations to advisory committees, neighborhood associations, or other community groups.

WORKING CONDITIONS :

Office / indoor setting and outdoors in various terrain and weather.

Required Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Associate degree in urban and community forestry, forestry, natural resources, physical or natural sciences or another field related to the position including coursework in dendrology, soils, entomology, diseases, biology, GIS, and volunteer engagement.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE :

Five years of practical full-time experience in arboriculture.

EQUIVALENCY :

An equivalent combination of education and highly related experience may be considered.

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS :

• Current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification.
• Current Tree Inspector's License from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or ability to acquire qualification within 1 year.
• First Aid and CPR Certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire

Selection Process : The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps : a rating of relevant education and experience (100%).

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process.

A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list.

The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Interview Selection : The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list.

If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate's education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

Background Check : The City has determined that a criminal background check and academic check are necessary for certain positions with this job title.

Persons offered employment must, as a condition of employment, sign an informed consent allowing the City to obtain their criminal history information in connection with the position sought.

Applicants who do not sign the informed consent will not be further considered for the position.

Drug / Alcohol Testing : All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing drug and alcohol testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer, resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position.

Union Representation : This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Professional Employees Association (MPEA).

For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit : http : / / www.minneapolismn.gov / hr / laboragreements / labor- agreements professionalemployees index .

Eligible List Statement : The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration.

This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire two (2) months after it has been established.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to work effectively with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Good interpersonal oral and written communications skills.
• Working knowledge of computers, software and applications for word processing, spreadsheets, GIS, and tree inventory management.
• Good organizational, problem-solving, time management and analytical skills.
• Provide excellent customer service
• Manage multiple active projects.
• Knowledge and enthusiasm in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with under-represented communities, co-workers and other professions including teams comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and expertise.
• Experience in developing and delivering programs, services, and educational programs in collaboration with environmental justice communities, cultural communities, and / or low-income properties.
• Experience using a racial equity lens to work with community groups and neighborhood organizations
• Ability to implement conflict resolution strategies and trauma-informed care practices.
• Fluency in or familiarity with Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Oromo, or Amharic is highly desirable.

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees.

Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.