City Forester

City of Clarksville; Clarksville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Clarksville seeks a forestry professional to develop and monitor city-wide tree programs, inventories, and educational activities. You will lead planning, maintenance, and community outreach to promote healthy urban forests.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Forestry/Arboriculture/Horticulture, 4 years of related experience, and ISA certification. Responsibilities include coordinating grants, training staff, and reporting on program outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, or Horticulture.
• Four years of forest management or arboriculture experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor the forestry plan for city properties and rights of way.
• Identify and prioritize forestry projects; coordinate education programs for the public and staff.
• Maintain Tree City USA certification and Growth Award annually; manage Arbor Day activities.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of municipal trees and prepare operational reports.

Skills

Forestry knowledge

Arboriculture expertise

Public education

Recordkeeping

Safety procedures

Education

Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, or Horticulture

Job description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

This is a stand-alone classification. Incumbents develop, implement and monitor a forestry plan. Responsibilities may include developing plans for the inventory, maintenance, planting, and removal of trees on city property and rights of way; training grounds maintenance employees in tree trimming, removal and care; and providing community education programs and materials.

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2026, OR UNTIL FILLED.***

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions:

• Prepares technical documentation, plans, and recommendations related to the health and diversity of trees and related vegetation.

• Identifies and prioritizes forestry projects.

• Coordinates and instructs public and employee educational programs which includes determining course content, developing training materials and training activities, presenting training materials, tracking training, and preparing related records.

• Maintains State Certified Arboretum at Liberty Park.

• Maintains Tree City USA certification and also Growth Award annually.

• Holds annual Arbor Day celebration in conjunction with the City Tree Board.

• Maintains and applies for yearly cost share TAEP community grant which includes planting and maintaining new and existing TAEP areas.

• Writes articles for publication in newsletters and other publications which includes researching information, writing, editing copy, and creating graphics.

• Coordinates landscape maintenance activities which include training grounds maintenance employees on weeding; applying pesticides and herbicides; removing brushes; trimming trees, shrubs, and other plant materials; and performing related duties.

• Prioritizes work orders regarding trees and Adopt-a-Plot program, consisting of multiple beautification areas throughout the city.

• Conducts tree analysis and diagnostics for disease and pests for patrons throughout the city.

• Coordinates removal and assessment of hazardous and right of way trees.

• Assists in planting/removal and continued maintenance (pruning) of city trees utilizing heavy and light equipment.

• Maintains an accurate inventory of all municipal trees.

• Prepares and maintains operational records and reports.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, or Horticulture.

• Four (4) years of forest management or arboriculture experience.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

License and Certifications

• Possession of a valid driver’s license.

• International Society of Arboriculture Certification.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Characteristics and care of plants, trees, and grass common to the area.

• Weeds and weed control methods.

• Landscape maintenance principles and practices.

• Equipment maintenance techniques.

• Applicable equipment, materials, and tools used in ground maintenance activities.

• Common plant diseases.

• Recordkeeping techniques.

• Budgeting principles.

• Training techniques.

• Safety procedures.

Skill in:

• Identifying and prioritizing landscape maintenance, forestry, and development needs.

• Operating light and heavy equipment.

• Operating small hand and power tools and other related equipment.

• Performing landscape maintenance, installation, and repair activities.

• Maintaining accurate records.

• Preparing reports, plans, and related documentation.

• Presenting training materials.

• Preparing records, reports, newsletters, and related documents.

• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements:

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to or constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

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

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound.

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

• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward, or outward.

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.

• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.