Municipal Arborist & Beautification Coordinator

Kentucky League of Cities; Newport (KY); On-site; USD 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Newport seeks an experienced municipal arborist & beautification coordinator to manage the urban tree canopy and enhance parks, gateways, and streetscapes. You will advise on tree selection, pruning, and long-term forestry practices while coordinating with public works, contractors, and volunteers.

The role requires an ISA Certified Arborist and at least three years of related experience, with strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current ISA Certified Arborist credential.
• 3+ years of professional arboriculture/urban forestry experience.
• Ability to use basic computer applications and maintain records.

Responsibilities

• Inspect city property trees to identify hazards and determine maintenance or replacement needs.
• Provide guidance on tree species selection, planting, pruning, health, and preservation.
• Maintain a digital inventory of city trees and related records.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma

ISA Certified Arborist

Job description

City of Newport | Newport, KY

Date Posted: 9/8/2026 10:15:22 AM

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION: The municipal arborist & neautification coordinator is responsible for professional and skilled work related to the management of the City of Newport’s urban tree canopy and the appearance, maintenance, and improvement of parks, rights-of-way, gateways, streetscapes, sidewalks, landscaped areas, and other public common areas. The position serves as the city’s primary technical resource for the planting, inspection, maintenance, preservation, and management of public trees and provides professional guidance regarding tree selection, pruning, removal, replacement, and long-term urban forestry practices. The position also serves as a primary point person for city beautification efforts. The coordinator proactively identifies maintenance and improvement needs; performs routine tree, landscape, vegetation, cleanup, and grounds work where practical; and coordinates larger or specialized work with public works, contractors, volunteers, and other partners. The position is expected to take an active, field-based approach to improving the appearance and condition of highly visible public spaces and major entry points into the city.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts routine inspections of trees on city property, rights-of-way, parks, public grounds, and other municipal areas to identify hazardous, diseased, damaged, or declining trees and determines or recommends appropriate maintenance, treatment, removal, or replacement
• Provides professional arboricultural guidance regarding tree species selection, planting, pruning, preservation, removal, replacement, soil conditions, tree health, and other urban forestry matters
• Develops and maintains a digital inventory of city-owned trees and related records, including location, species, condition, maintenance history, recommended work, and replacement needs
• Performs and coordinates proper tree planting, pruning, trimming, maintenance, and removal activities in accordance with accepted arboricultural practices and applicable safety standards
• Identifies tree species, defects, pests, diseases, structural concerns, and hazardous conditions and assists in establishing priorities for corrective work
• Coordinates tree removal, stump removal, large-tree pruning, utility-conflict work, and other specialized arboricultural services performed by city personnel, contractors, or outside service providers
• Responds to storm damage, fallen trees, hazardous limbs, and other tree-related emergencies and coordinates appropriate response with public works and other agencies as necessary
• Organizes and carries out tree-planting initiatives to expand and diversify the city’s urban tree canopy, including coordination with residents, volunteers, neighborhood groups, and partner organizations
• Manages and supports the Newport Tree Board, including preparing materials, providing technical information, attending meetings, maintaining records, and coordinating follow-up activities
• Responds to public requests and inquiries concerning city trees, tree maintenance, planting, landscaping, and related public-space conditions
• Serves as the city’s primary coordinator for beautification, landscaping, and appearance of parks, rights-of-way, gateways and entry points, medians, streetscapes, sidewalks, landscaped areas, and other public common areas
• Routinely inspects public spaces and major corridors to identify landscaping, vegetation, litter, maintenance, and general appearance issues and establishes or recommends priorities for corrective work and improvements
• Performs routine grounds and landscape maintenance as needed, including trimming, pruning, planting, watering, weeding, mowing or cutting vegetation, clearing overgrowth, litter removal, and related activities
• Monitors newly planted trees, landscaping, and other improvements to ensure appropriate watering, maintenance, establishment, and long-term care
• Develops and implements landscaping and beautification improvements at prominent city gateways, major rights-of-way, medians, parks, and other highly visible public spaces
• Identifies deteriorated, overgrown, poorly maintained, or otherwise unsightly public areas and coordinates appropriate corrective action
• Coordinates larger-scale maintenance, cleanup, landscaping, tree work, and beautification projects with public works, other city departments, contractors, volunteers, neighborhood groups, and community organizations
• Coordinates contractors and vendors performing tree care, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and related beautification work and monitors work for satisfactory completion
• Develops seasonal planting, landscaping, maintenance, watering, and beautification priorities and recommends projects, materials, equipment, and improvements to city leadership
• Assists with planning and implementing park and public-space improvements, including landscaping, trees, plantings, site amenities, and general appearance
• Explores, develops, and, if determined feasible, assists in establishing and operating a city municipal tree nursery/tree farm at the city-owned landfill property in Wilder, Kentucky, to support long-term tree planting and replacement needs
• Develops recommendations for the municipal tree nursery/tree farm, including species selection, propagation or procurement, irrigation, equipment, site improvements, maintenance requirements, anticipated production, costs, and operational needs
• Maintains records, work plans, project documentation, inventories, and reports related to urban forestry, beautification, grounds maintenance, and public-space improvements
• Safely operates and assists with the operation of chainsaws, chippers, bucket trucks, stump grinders, mowers, tractors, utility vehicles, hand tools, and other equipment used in tree, landscape, and grounds maintenance
• Performs additional duties as assigned by city leadership.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential
• At least three years of progressively responsible professional experience in arboriculture, urban forestry, tree care, horticulture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, or a closely related field, including substantial hands-on tree care experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of accepted arboricultural practices and safe operation of tree-care tools and equipment
• Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work and to work independently in field settings
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills for working with residents, contractors, volunteers, community organizations, and city staff
• Ability to use basic computer applications and maintain digital records, inventories, and work documentation.

Salary Information: 60,000
Application Deadline: 10/31/2026

Emily Moore
Human Resources Coordinator
998 Monmouth Street
Newport, KY 41071

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