Forestry Maintenance Technician

City of Durango; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401(a) retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

Employee wellness program

Free community recreation access

Job summary

The City of Durango is seeking a Forestry Maintenance Technician to support our Parks Division. You will prune, remove trees, plant new ones, install protective fencing, and grind stumps while assisting with landscaping, irrigation, and equipment maintenance across parks, trails, cemetery, and open spaces.

Under supervision of the Arborist Supervisor, you will use GIS for tree inventory mapping and operate a range of power tools and heavy equipment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Valid state driver’s license.
• 1–2 years of forestry experience or equivalent education/training.

Responsibilities

• Prune and remove trees, plant new trees, install protective fencing, and grind stumps.
• Maintain landscaping, irrigation, and equipment across Parks, Trails, Cemetery, and Open Spaces.
• Use GIS for tree inventory mapping.
• Operate power tools and heavy equipment safely.
• Provide a safe work environment for staff and the public.

Skills

Arboriculture

Equipment operation

General maintenance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

GIS

Job description

We’re excited to invite a new Forestry Maintenance Technician to join our Parks Division! In this role, you’ll bring your skills in arboriculture, equipment operation,andgeneral maintenance to contribute to the growth and care of Durango’s urban forest, home to just over 12,000 trees of more than 20 different varieties.

Working under the general supervision of the Arborist Supervisor and with guidance from our Senior Parks Maintenance Technicians, your responsibilities will include pruning, tree removal, planting new trees, installing protective fencing, and grinding stumps. You’ll also assist with the maintenance of landscaping areas, irrigation systems, and equipment maintenance across the Parks, Trails, Cemetery, and Open Spaces divisions.

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan.

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You’ll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

What You’ll Do in This Role:

• Maintain the urban forest, including pruning, tree removal, planting new trees, installing protective fencing for trees, and stump grinding.
• Provide and maintain a safe work environment for both staff and public.
• Use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for tree inventory mapping.
• Assist in maintaining parks, trails, cemetery, and open spaces.
• Operate power tools and heavy equipment, including wood saws, chainsaws, leaf-blowers, weed trimmers, backhoes, aerial bucket trucks, dump trucks, farm tractors, and Bobcat Toolcats.

You Have:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid state driver’s license.
• One to two years of experience in forestry or equivalent education, training, and experience.

You Will Succeed in This Role if You:

• Have a strong understanding of arboriculture and basic forestry practices.
• Can identify common tree species and recognize basic tree health and maintenance needs.
• Work safely when using power tools, heavy equipment, and working around trees and other hazards.
• Are comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions and across parks, trails, cemetery, and open space areas.
• Work well as part of a team and communicate effectively with supervisors and coworkers.

What We Can Offer You:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area.
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being.
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.