Arborist, Grade 23

Montgomery Co; Gaithersburg, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Services, seeks an Arborist to respond to residents’ street-tree requests, inspect trees for disease, stress, or risk, and prescribe treatments. You will plan and prioritize work based on risk and budget, update the tree inventory, and coordinate with utilities and agencies.

A bachelor’s degree in horticulture or related field is required, ISA Arborist certification is mandatory, a valid driver’s license is required, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• ISA Arborist certification (mandatory).
• Valid driver's license.
• Pre-employment medical evaluation required.

Responsibilities

• Inspect street trees for disease, damage, risk to the public, or abiotic stress.
• Recommend treatment prioritized by risk and disease present; advising on location and type of trees to plant near ROW.
• Update the computerized tree management inventory with inspection results and prescribed work.
• Meet with representatives of County/State agencies and public utilities regarding street tree maintenance.
• Respond to citizens inquiries about trees by correspondence, phone and in person.
• Meet with community groups to discuss tree maintenance programs and prepare educational material.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Analytical thinking

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in horticulture, forestry, environmental studies/science, entomology, or related field

Tools

TreeKeeper

ESRI

Cityworks

ArcGIS

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Please note: The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $78,929 to $126,097, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (DOT) mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County. MCDOT supports its residents, commuters and visitors with transit options and infrastructure that provides seamless transportation services to the public.

The Division of Highway Services (DHS) manages the maintenance of all transportation infrastructure within the County right-of-way including more than 5,200 lane miles of rural, residential, and primary roadways, as well as nearly 1,000 miles of concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk. The Tree Maintenance Section manages an inventory of over 250,000 street trees and more than 200,000 trees in the rural areas. This position is designated as an Essential Position which will require the ability to work evening and weekends as well as working off-site accordingly.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Division of Highway Services (DHS), seeks a highly motivated and skilled Arborist for its Tree Maintenance Section. The Arborist is responsible for responding to residents' street tree-related service requests, inspecting street trees to identify maintenance needs, and assessing tree risk in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) risk assessment guidelines. The role includes prescribing appropriate maintenance to mitigate risks associated with structural defects, abiotic issues, and insect or disease problems, as well as planning and prioritizing work based on the level of tree risk and budgetary considerations. The ideal candidate possesses strong attention to detail, organizational and time management abilities, excellent oral and written communication skills, and thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Additionally, the position requires strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Services (DHS) seeks an Arborist to assist in the management of Montgomery County's street tree canopy and to provide customer service to the residents of Montgomery County. We are looking for a person who is adept at:

• Inspecting and diagnosing trees for disease, damage, risk to the public or private property, insect damage, abiotic stress and aesthetic appearance.
• Recommending treatment which is prioritized by severity of the risk posed by a tree and/or disease present; providing recommendations regarding location, size and kind of trees to be planted in the County right-of-way.
• Providing information to supervisors/management concerning the condition of the County's street tree population and workload.
• Updating the computerized tree management inventory with inspection results and prescribed work; meeting with representatives of other County and State agencies and public utility companies concerning street tree maintenance activities.
• Responding to citizens inquiries about trees by correspondence, phone and in person, explaining corrective measures which the County may take.
• Meeting with community groups to discuss the Counties tree maintenance and care programs and preparing educational material for public consumption
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Information:

Certification: This position requires a Certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). This certification MUST be uploaded along with the applicant's submission. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of your application.

Essential: The individual selected for this position will be considered an "Essential Employee." Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave. The individual selected is REQUIRED to work overtime during inclement weather situations and emergencies, which may include overnight stays.

Flexible Schedule: The ability to work a flexible schedule and on is required.

Offsite Work: The candidate must be able to work off-site occasionally.

Experience: Some (one (1) year) professional experience diagnosing and prescribing treatment for tree problems/diseases.

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, forestry, environmental studies/science, entomology, or related field.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted.

License

• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's state of residence.
• Certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Medical Protocol This position requires successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, which includes a limited physical examination and drug screening.

The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

• Describe your experience diagnosing biotic, abiotic, and structural defects; and evaluating tree risk in an urban forest setting.
• Do you have or have you obtained a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). If you do not have an active TRAQ are you able and willing to obtain one in the first year of employment?
• Describe your experience interacting with stakeholders such as community associations, government officials, and residents as a professional in your field of expertise.
• Describe your experience using digital tree inventory software or other asset management platforms such as TreeKeeper, ESRI, Cityworks, etc.
• Describe your experience using other software programs such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS.
• Describe your experience managing projects involving internal and external stakeholder, clients, and/or contractors.