Maintenance Specialist- Landscape

City of Palmdale; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Palmdale is seeking a Maintenance Specialist to oversee urban forestry and landscape operations. This advanced role leads internal staff, manages contract compliance for vendors, and ensures high standards in tree care and environmental stewardship.

Experience in municipal forestry and strong leadership are essential. Responsibilities include planning, scheduling, reporting, and public-facing education on tree care, vegetation preservation, and compliance with environmental

Qualifications

• 5 years of municipal forestry experience.
• Knowledge of tree biology, pest management, and pruning standards.
• Familiarity with GIS software and urban forestry inventory systems.
• Ability to operate forestry tools and equipment safely.
• Strong communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license at time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Administers contract services for urban forestry operations and supervises personnel.
• Inspect and ensure compliance with contractual terms and specifications.
• Inspect, evaluate, and monitor health of urban forest trees; prescribe treatment.
• Coordinate tree planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance operations.
• Provide education in forestry practices and enforce ISA/ANSI standards.
• Assist with urban forest management plans and budget reports.

Skills

Tree biology

Pest management

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Driver's license

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Description

The full salary range for this position is as follows:$37.96-$48.46. Expected hiring range is as follows: $37.96 to $41.86. The Maintenance Specialist is responsible for the planning, maintenance, preservation, and management of trees and urban green infrastructure in the Landscape Maintenance Districts and General Benefit Areas. This role supports environmental sustainability, public safety, and community beautification through urban forestry tree care programs, inspections, and planting initiatives.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Maintenance Specialist position is the advanced journey lead level classification in the Maintenance Specialist series. The Maintenance Specialist is responsible for leading internal staff, managing, scheduling, and conducting contract compliance oversight for vendors and other city personnel working in urban forestry and landscape operations. This classification is distinguished from Senior Maintenance Specialist in that the latter classification is at the working supervisory level responsible for organizing, assigning, training, and monitoring work of contractors and subordinate staff.

Essential Duties

• Administers contract services for urban forestry operations, supervises personnel involved with urban forestry and landscape maintenance projects.
• Inspect and ensure compliance with contractual terms and specifications.
• Inspect, evaluate, and monitor the health and condition of urban forest trees and prescribe treatment as necessary.
• Perform and evaluate soil analysis to determine fertility condition and treatment needed to promote tree or plant health, growth and vitality.
• Inspect and select juvenile trees and plant nursery stock.
• Coordinate tree planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance operations.
• Provide education and instruction in proper forestry and arboriculture practices.
• Enforce International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and American National Standard Institute (ANSI) specifications for tree pruning, removal, planting, and replacement.
• Assist with management and oversight of the Western Joshua Tree and Native Vegetation Preservation ordinance.
• Perform Work Zone Temporary Traffic Control Operations and ensure MUTCD compliance with contractors and city personnel.
• Assist with the development and implementation of urban forestry management plans.
• Conduct tree risk assessments and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain tree inventory databases.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
• Assist with the procurement of commodities, contract services, and requisition entry.
• Prepare reports, assist with budget preparation, and management of operating budgets.
• Respond to public inquiries and community concerns regarding trees and landscaping.
• Assist with wildfire hazard mitigation, storm response, and emergency tree hazards.
• Promote sustainability, biodiversity, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Educate the public about tree care and urban environmental stewardship.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in performing municipal forestry work.
• Knowledge of tree biology, pest management, and pruning standards.
• Familiarity with GIS software and urban forestry inventory systems.
• Ability to operate forestry tools and equipment safely.
• Strong communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license at time of appointment.

Preferred Certifications

• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist.
• International Society of Arboriculture Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
• Commercial Pesticide Applicator License DPR Q.A.L.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Mobility: frequent use of a keyboard; frequent and intermittent sitting for long periods of time; climbing, bending twisting, and squatting when installing equipment.
Lifting: frequently lifting, carrying and pushing tools, equipment, and supplies weighing 10 to 50 pounds or more;
Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision.
Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.

Working Environment

Incumbents in this class work within indoor and outdoor environments. When assigned to work outdoors, incumbents are exposed to all weather conditions including wet, hot and cold. Incumbents may be exposed to slippery surfaces. Incumbents will require the experience and ability to operate chainsaws, chippers, and aerial lift equipment. Incumbents may use chemicals, which may involve exposure to fumes and liquids. Incumbents are exposed to gas fumes, exhaust, dirt, dust, and other contaminants. Incumbents may be required to wear personal protective equipment while performing work. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to climb ladders, use power and noise producing tools and equipment, drive motorized vehicles and heavy equipment, and work in heavy vehicle traffic conditions.
Incumbents must be available for on-call and stand-by duty and respond to after-hours emergencies.

The City of Palmdale is noted for its highly skilled workforce, with a large concentration of aerospace firms located at Air Force Plant 42 and nearby Edwards Air Force Base. Its family-oriented and culturally enhancing venues, such as the Palmdale Playhouse, DryTown Water Park and Palmdale Amphitheater, make Palmdale "a place to call home." Palmdale is located approximately one hour north of Los Angeles off the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14). It encompasses 106.6 square miles and has a population of approximately 165,450. The City is served by several school districts and has a growing retail and commercial base. For more information, visit www.CityOfPalmdaleCA.gov.

BUSINESS HOURS

Normal operating hours are from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday – Thursday. CLOSED on Friday.

UNION

The Teamsters Local 986 represents certain positions in the City's Public Works Maintenance Division and Parks and Recreation Department.

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES

Additional benefits apply to the positions of Deputy Director, Director, Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager. These are at-will positions and do not serve a probationary period.

• Benefits can change at any time.