Street Tree Maintenance Program Tree Inspector – Multiple Vacancies

City of Portland; Oregon (WI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Portland is recruiting Tree Inspectors for PP&R to support a citywide Street Tree Maintenance program. Inspectors will assess tree health, safety risks, and regulatory compliance, coordinating with contractors and other agencies to deliver timely maintenance.

These roles require strong communication with residents and stakeholders, field work, and collaboration with program supervisors to advance Portland’s urban forestry goals.

Qualifications

• Experience inspecting trees in urban settings to evaluate health and risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse audiences.
• Ability to review plans and use databases to manage workloads.
• Driver's license and ability to obtain ISA credentials within nine months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform timely evaluations, field assessments, and inspections for tree health, pruning, removal, and root care.
• Provide technical arboricultural guidance through clear written responses to stakeholders.
• Respond to inquiries from residents and stakeholders with information on tree regulations and programs.
• Maintain accurate records of tree conditions and actions; use software to create work orders and track contractors.
• Maintain professional relations with City contractors and ensure compliance with program standards.
• Collaborate with supervisors, other bureaus, and agencies to implement the Street Tree Maintenance program.
• Promote safety, diversity, inclusion, and productive work culture.

Skills

Tree inspection

Urban forestry

Public communication

Data management

Contractor coordination

Tools

City tree management software

Job description

Job Appointment:Full-Time, Limited Duration

Work Schedule:Monday - Friday 7 am - 3:30 pm

Work Location: This position is primarily in person, with regular work conducted at field locations throughout the City. The primary reporting location is 10850 N Denver Ave. Portland, OR. Limited remote work may be available based on operational needs and supervisor approval; however, any remote work must be performed within the states of Oregon or Washington.

Benefits:Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Language Pay Premium Eligible:This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Union Representation:This classification is represented by Portland City Laborers 483. To view current labor agreements, please visit here.

Position Summary

The City of Portland is seeking skilled and dedicated Tree Inspectors to support a new, citywide effort to care for Portland’s public street trees. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is currently recruiting for two (2) Street Tree Maintenance Program Tree Inspectors, funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). This program will inspect and maintain approximately 330,000 public street trees, improving tree health, public safety, and neighborhood livability while reducing the financial burden on adjacent property owners.

These advanced professional roles involve the systematic inspection of public trees to evaluate tree health, structural integrity, and public safety risks. Tree Inspectors may perform on-site tree condition and risk assessments; create work orders for tree pruning, removal, and inoculations; and manage contractors working under City contracts. The role also includes collaboration with inter-agency bureaus, public utilities, government agencies, developers, property owners, contractors, and attorneys on program development and regulatory compliance.

This position requires extensive public communication and interaction, including the ability to understand and respect diverse perspectives, assess varying viewpoints, and exercise diplomacy. While Tree Inspectors often work independently in the field, they are also part of a collaborative team environment. Within PP&R, these positions operate under the guidance of the Tree Maintenance Operations Manager, Street Tree Maintenance Program Supervisor, and City Forester.

These Tree Inspector positions are located within the Portland Parks & Recreation bureau. The eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies in Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Permitting & Development.

As a Tree Inspector, you will

• Perform timely evaluations, field assessments, and inspections for tree preservation, removal, pruning, chemical application, planting, and root pruning.
• Provide technical program and arboricultural expertise through clear and detailed written responses to diverse urban forest stakeholders.
• Respond to inquiries from residents, property owners, and internal stakeholders to provide education, assistance, and information on tree regulations and Street Tree Maintenance program delivery.
• Maintain accurate records of tree conditions, inspections, and actions taken. Learn and utilize the City tree management software to develop work orders and monitor contractor performance.
• Maintain positive, professional working relationships with City contractors to conduct arboricultural operations on trees in the public rights-of-way; hold contractors to account for good performance. Respectfully and firmly communicate needed corrections to contractors to achieve program results.
• Collaborate with TMO Supervisors, the Street Tree Maintenance Program Supervisor, the City Forester, other City infrastructure bureaus, and public agencies to develop and implement the City’s new Street Tree Maintenance program.
• Participate in fostering a positive and equitable work culture that values safety, diversity, inclusion, and productivity.

About Urban Forestry and Portland’s Forest

Urban Forestry cares for our vibrant and diverse urban forest—the 1.2 million trees in parks and natural areas, 333,000 street trees, and 2.9 million trees on private property.

Valued at $9.5 billion, Portland's trees are critical city infrastructure. Urban Forestry protects and grows this shared asset through tree planting and care, education, volunteer stewardship, and community partnerships—with research, data, and community feedback guiding our programs and services. Our work is informed by the Portland Urban Forest Plan, which provides a roadmap for protecting, expanding, and caring for Portland's trees.

We are proud of our long history protecting this vital asset, reflected in the City’s nearly 50-year recognition as a Tree City USA, our designation as a Tree City of the World, and our accreditation for urban forestry excellence by the Urban and Community Forestry Society.

About the Bureau

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugees, and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon, is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates who can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position

1. Knowledge and technical expertise in inspecting and evaluating trees in an urban environment, including extensive experience performing whole tree and tree root inspections to detect hazardous conditions related to health, structure, insects, and disease.
2. Experience applying arboricultural best practices and principles of urban forest management and municipal tree care, including tree risk assessment, to independently evaluate urban trees and execute tree care decisions.
3. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse external and internal audiences, both verbally and in writing; ability to present information and recommendations clearly to non-technical individuals, exercising tact and diplomacy in interactions with colleagues, the public, contractors, and other stakeholders.
4. Experience interpreting work plans, reviewing professional reports, and utilizing modern database systems to accurately input and analyze data to manage workloads.

Applicant must also possess

• A valid state driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintainand International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP) certification within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a public pesticide applicator license or pesticide consultant license within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.

We’re committed to providing a fair, inclusive, and accessible hiring process. If you need assistance with your application or would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, pregnancy, or religious belief, please contact the recruiter listed below.