City Forester

*Job Postings Closing Dates: A job posting may close before the listed deadline if the number of applications reaches the limit for that position. If the original deadline produced fewer applications than expected, the posting may remain open longer.

** Early applications are encouraged**

*Up to $3,000 Sign On Bonus Available*

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. The application must be filled out completely; stating "see resume" anywhere in the application, is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

Enjoy Industry Leading Benefits:

• Generous paid vacation and extended sick leave, and holidays.

• Free and discounted transportation options to get around Aspen and the Valley.

• Professional development and learning opportunities, including a tuition reimbursement program.

• Health and wellbeing options that include Medical, Dental, Vision, robust and accessible employee assistance program, and nationally recognized wellbeing platform.

• Monetary bonuses for healthy lifestyle choices and to use towards other personal needs.

• Plan for your future with competitive employer contributions to a 401a retirement plans and Social Security, in addition to an individual 457b retirement plan and Roth IRA option. Have peace of mind with life and disability insurance.

The City of Aspen is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Title: City Forester

Department: Parks and Open Space

Classification: Exempt

Hiring Range (annual): $81,453 - $91,645
[Salary Range: $81,453/annually - $122,179/annualy]

Position Summary: Responsible for the successful development, implementation and monitoring of the community's forestry, noxious vegetation, natural resource, and wildfire mitigation programs.

Supervision Exercised and Received: Position works under the general supervision of the Open Space and Natural Resource Manager. Exercises both direct and general supervision of the Parks Crew Supervisor/Arborist Technician, Forestry Crew, and seasonal employees as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

Community Forestry

• Develops, implements, and maintains the City's risk tree monitoring plan. Utilizes GIS and GPS technology to manage and update the existing inventory of the City's trees. Manages the forestry/natural resources fleet of vehicles and equipment. Fulfills requirements necessary to annually obtain Tree City USA designation. Oversees the work of contracted arborists and grounds maintenance professionals involved in planting, maintaining, pruning and removing public trees. Examines trees in order to determine the presence of diseases or harmful insects. Diagnoses cause and determines proper preventative or curative steps for control. Plans, assigns, supervises and evaluates the work of forestry personnel engaged in all aspects of community forestry. Develops, implements, and monitors the strategic management plan for the City's trees. Trains staff on proper and safe use of arboricultural related equipment.

• Researches and provides the latest approved personal protection equipment for personnel and ensures its proper use. Investigates trees via use of a resistograph/tomograph and interprets outputs.

Noxious Vegetation Program

• Responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the noxious vegetation management plan. Conducts trainings related to pesticide use. Oversees spray technicians when mixing and/or applying pesticides.

Natural Resources Program

• Responsible for the successful management of the City of Aspen natural resources and open space stewardship programs. Plans, assigns, and evaluates the work of personnel engaged in all aspects of restoration and maintenance in both native and non-native habitats. Researches and provides the latest approved personal protection equipment for personnel and ensure its proper use.

Wildfire

• Provide a dedicated approach to reducing the risk of wildfire to our community, with a primary responsibility to coordinate fuel removal work and to manage grant funds applied towards wildfire mitigation.

Community Outreach

• Facilitates public outreach programs such as speaking at local schools. Assists in natural resource and open space public outreach programs and serves as a community resource for questions related to forestry, noxious weed management, natural resource management, and wildfire mitigation. Makes presentations to various civic, professional and other related groups including the City of Aspen Council and Mayor.

Project Manager

• Serves as project manager for natural resources restoration projects, open space improvement projects, and large-scale community landscaping projects. Plans, organizes and expands the City's annual Arbor Day event. Manages natural resources related volunteer projects.

Collaboration

• Works with local, state and Federal agencies related to natural resource-based planning and management of public lands. Collaborates with City departments, other governmental agencies, and the public on matters pertaining to public and private trees. Collaborates with other city and county departments on projects.

Budgeting

• Creates, publishes, reviews and awards contracts for tree trimming and removal, noxious vegetation control, pest control and fertilization, mall flower production, plant material suppliers and seed suppliers. Recommends capital improvement projects and prepares, monitors and directs the expenditure of the annual forestry budget. Responsible for the development and management of an annual budget.

Municipal Code Enforcement

• Enforces City tree ordinances, design standards and municipal specifications. Works with contractors and homeowners to answer questions, resolve issues and brainstorm options related to tree resources and development conflicts. Issues tree removal permits of public and private trees as defined in municipal code.

Supervision

• Executes leadership and supervision responsibilities through sound judgment, focusing on quality improvement, managing and resolving conflict, fostering a culture of accountability, clearly defining responsibilities and expectations, setting goals, providing motivation and performance feedback, recognizing contributions and encouraging training and development.

City Organizational Values:

• Supports and models the City of Aspen organizational values: Service, Partnership, Stewardship, and Innovation.Organizational values are shared principles that guide behavior across the organization. This position is responsible for upholding and applying these values while performing daily work functions.

Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies Displays the following key competencies in the overall job performance to include knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Service: Provides service with excellence, humility, integrity, and respect in daily work, builds trust by listening, treats people with respect, acknowledges opportunities for improvement, and follows through with commitments.

• Partnership: Actively fosters strong, supportive internal and external relationships to achieve a common goal and maximize impact together.

• Stewardship: Balances social, environmental, and financial responsibilities, evaluating the impact of decision making on a thriving future for all.

• Innovation: Develops technical expertise to pursue new ideas and creative outcomes, grounded in Aspen's unique culture, opportunities, and challenges.

• Communication: Knowledge of effective and appropriate communication. Ability to use knowledge effectively in various contexts, which may require oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication.

• Interpersonal: Works to develop strength in interpersonal skills. Has the ability to work well with diverse groups of people, both inside and outside the organization.

• Technology: Demonstrates technology skills sufficient for the nature and level of the position. Demonstrates a willingness to learn new technologies and transition job duties accordingly to support technological advances and innovation.

• Strategic Thinking: Works to bring a strategic focus to daily work, anticipates problems, and considers solutions.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management or related field.

Experience: Three years of experience in forestry, natural resource management or related field.

Technical Knowledge: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with a strong command of Word (document formatting, templates, and editing tools), Excel (data management, and analysis), and Outlook (email, calendar scheduling, and inbox organization). Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS or similar platforms.

Licenses & Certifications: Must possess a valid Colorado driver's license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of start date. Must possess an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and Qualified Supervisor through the Colorado Department of Agriculture or be able to obtain one within one year from date of hire. Obtain and maintain a qualified supervisor license through the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

NOTE: Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge, and skills as determined by the City of Aspen may be substituted for the requirements above.

NOTE: This position requires a Criminal Background Check upon hire. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.

Position Type and Work Hours:

• Regular full time, 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday, hours may vary with workload. Standard hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Evenings/Weekends: Occasionally may be required depending on department needs.

Work Environment:

• Indoors: Office environment.

• Outdoors/Off-Site: Performs site visits to construction sites, attends meetings, and conferences. Position involves exposure to a variety of weather conditions and temperatures; requires a full range of body movements.

Physical Demands:

• Visual Acuity: Ability to bring objects into focus.

• Balancing: Maintaining equilibrium.

• Bending: Bending or position oneself to move an object from one level to another.

• Carrying: Occasionally up to 50 lbs. such as plant material, seed and fertilizer.

• Crouching: Bending body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

• Climbing: Ascending or descending stationary objects.

• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination: Performing work through using two or more body parts or other devices.

• Gripping/Grasping: Ability to apply pressure with fingers and palm.

• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, through use of hands, fingers, or other means.

• Hearing: Perceiving and comprehending the nature and direction of sounds.

• Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees

• Lifting: Moving objects weighing no more than 50 pounds from one level to another.

• Pushing/Pulling: Ability to use upper extremities to exert force in order to press, draw, drag or haul objects in a sustained motion.

• Reaching: Extending the hands and arms or other device in any direction.

• Repetitive motions: Making frequent or continuous movements.

• Sitting: Remaining in a stationary position.

• Standing: Ability to sustain position for a period of time.

• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

• Talking: Communicating ideas or exchanging information.

• Walking: Ability to move to traverse from one location to another.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.