Job Detail
City Forester
Location: Columbus, OH
Salary: $74,422- $111,613
City of Columbus
Recreation and Parks Department
Operations and Maintenance Division
Forestry Section
Posting for new City Forester
Who we are:
We are the Forestry Section of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. We oversee the trees in over 500 parklands, and along more than 2,000 miles of City streets. We are tasked to grow our tree canopy while managing existing trees. We promote equity in the urban forest. We grow a portion of our trees at our tree nursery, focusing on local genetic native tree species and harder to obtain species that can work in the public tree lawn. We also play a role in combatting invasive plants in our parks.
Columbus, Ohio, the 14th largest city in the U.S., is seeking an experienced, well-educated forester with strong interpersonal skills, public engagement experience and management experience.
Duties of the City Forester:
- Develop and implement the Urban Forestry Master Plan
- Oversee the City Forestry Program, including tree maintenance operations, tree production facilities and community involvement
- Oversee the implementation of the Forestry Five Year Operations Plan
- Develop long-term planning and implementation for the urban forest, including providing guidance for the private sector
- Provide guidance in development of tree ordinances / tree protection
- Coordinate with governmental agencies and community leaders to discuss forestry concerns and develop viable solutions
- Create and incorporate best practices into policies and protocols to guide forestry activities
- Participate in the City-wide plan review process, advocating for larger tree lawns, better inter-department coordination and the preservation of as many trees as possible before, during and after construction of projects
- Advocate and foster diversity of tree species in large and small spaces throughout the City
- Foster education of forestry in the urban environment for residents, agencies, utilities and private businesses
Current Forestry Section efforts:
- Forestry will be adding staff to nearly double the current size.
- New job classes are being created to address forestry needs, including the creation of a Deputy City Forester, utility arborists, a Community Outreach arborist and contract inspectors.
- We are purchasing new forestry capital equipment and will be adding a new tree crew each year in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to bring our resources from four to seven tree crews, plus support staff.
- We are increasing contracting to help our internal planting crews to plant trees, remove stumps, and even remove higher-risk trees.
- We are working on an updated tree inventory, which should be complete by the end of 2022.
- We are working on an updated tree canopy study to see how the canopy stands compared to the 2015 study to help us adjust efforts; this should be completed by the end of 2022.
- We are utilizing CDBG and UIRF grant funds to help replant portions of the City of Columbus.
- We are developing an equitable planting plan to focus on deficit forest areas of the City, while also addressing tree replacements in areas of the City with better canopy.
Are you an experienced, well-educated forester with strong interpersonal skills, public engagement experience and management experience looking to make a significant impact in protecting and growing an urban forest? If so, Columbus, Ohio is looking for you!
Columbus, Ohio is the nation’s 14th largest city and is rapidly growing. The City is embarking on its first-ever Urban Forestry Master Plan to protect and grow the City’s tree canopy (learn more: https://www.columbusufmp.org/). The City is seeking a new City Forester to lead the Forestry team, including the team’s efforts to achieve the Urban Forestry Master Plan’s goals: Reach Citywide tree canopy cover of 40%, stop the net canopy losses and invest in equitable canopy across all neighborhoods.
The ideal candidate has used forestry best practices to create and implement plans, policies and protocols; has experience managing a large team and; has demonstrated experience effectively advocating for forestry efforts with the public and government agencies.
Requirements include a bachelor’s of science degree in Forestry or closely related field; certification as an ISA arborist; 5+ years managing a forestry operation; strong tree identification skills; familiarity with tree maintenance equipment, procedures, and safe practices and; familiarity with GIS information. Salary range is between $74,422 and $111,613 (commensurate with experience).
Interested candidate should submit a resume and application* to:
Deanna Kies, HR Administrator
1111 E. Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43205
dlkies@columbus.gov
*applications available at the Columbus Civil Service Commission
https://www.columbus.gov/civilservice/
Back to Job Listings