Job Details

Planner/Urban Forester/City Arborist

Location: Greensboro, NC
Salary: $54,102–$80,708

Shape Greensboro's Future—One Plan, One Place, One Tree at a Time

Greensboro is growing, and the decisions we make today will shape the places where people live, work, gather, and connect for generations to come.

The City of Greensboro is seeking an experienced Planner / Urban Forester / City Arborist to bring advanced professional expertise to complex planning, code, urban forestry, and community development work. This is a senior-level opportunity for someone who can see both the big picture and the details—understanding how policy, land use, community priorities, natural resources, and municipal operations come together to create a thriving city.

In this role, you'll work beyond the generalist level, applying specialized knowledge to support the Planning Department and other City departments. You'll engage with residents, zoning applicants, developers, landscape professionals, appointed officials, and colleagues to navigate complex issues, explain requirements, develop solutions, and advance projects that contribute to Greensboro's long-term success.

Whether you're reviewing City code and the Land Development Ordinance, contributing to long-range or community planning, applying urban forestry expertise, or helping address complex development questions, your work will have a visible impact on the places and people that make Greensboro home.

This is an opportunity to bring your professional expertise to a city focused on safe and sustainable neighborhoods, economic opportunity, resiliency, and an exceptional quality of life.

Compensation

• Hiring Salary Range: $54,102–$80,708
• Full-time, exempt position

Benefits

The City of Greensboro offers a comprehensive benefits program for eligible employees. See the City of Greensboro Benefits Book for complete details.

Work Schedule

• Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Some evening work may be required based on community meetings, public hearings, or other City business.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

Make a visible difference in Greensboro. Your work will influence how the city grows, develops, and cares for its built and natural environments.

Work at the intersection of planning and urban forestry. This position offers the opportunity to apply specialized expertise while working across disciplines and City departments.

Tackle meaningful, complex challenges. You'll work on issues that require professional judgment, thoughtful analysis, communication, and creative problem-solving.

Engage directly with the community. You'll have opportunities to work with residents, applicants, appointed officials, and other stakeholders to help navigate planning and development questions.

Help create sustainable neighborhoods. Your expertise can contribute to Greensboro's commitment to resilient communities, responsible growth, and an exceptional quality of life.

Bring your specialty to a broader planning team. The City values professionals who can contribute expertise beyond the generalist level while collaborating across organizational boundaries.

About the Role

The Planner / Urban Forester / City Arborist is a senior planning position responsible for work across a range of planning topics, including City code and Land Development Ordinance (LDO) management, long-range planning, community planning, and specialized planning responsibilities.

The position requires an advanced understanding of municipal operations and the ability to apply specialized professional knowledge to complex situations.

Your expertise may intersect with areas such as:

• Urban forestry
• Landscape architecture
• Urban design
• Community planning
• Economic development
• Historic preservation
• Community relations
• Real estate development
• Computer and planning systems
• Other specialized areas of planning

What You'll Do

• Work on complex planning projects and assignments involving City code, including the Land Development Ordinance.
• Act as Plan Review and Tracking Coordinator for landscape and tree conservation plans
• Support long-range and community planning initiatives.
• Apply advanced professional knowledge and specialized expertise to planning projects and departmental responsibilities.
• Review and interpret planning requirements and help address complex development and zoning questions.
• Work with residents, zoning applicants, appointed officials, City staff, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate technical information clearly to audiences with different levels of planning knowledge.
• Provide professional guidance and subject-matter expertise to the Planning Department and other City departments.
• Contribute to community plans and other long-range planning efforts.
• Apply urban forestry, arboriculture, landscape, or other specialized expertise to defined departmental responsibilities.
• Analyze complex situations and develop practical, community-focused solutions.
• Collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders to advance City priorities.
• Represent the City professionally in meetings, discussions, and other public-facing settings.
• Support municipal planning practices that advance safe, sustainable, connected, and prosperous neighborhoods.