URBAN FORESTRY MANAGER

City of Key West; Key West (FL); On-site; USD 91,257 - 118,504; Full time

Job summary

City of Key West is seeking a Planning Department leader to manage the Urban Forestry program, balancing environmental, economic, and storm-resilience goals. You will supervise clerical staff and field crews, develop policies, and coordinate with Growth Management, Code Compliance, Legal, and other departments.

The role requires proactive public education, staff supervision, and review of landscape ordinances, with collaboration across City entities and participation in the City Tree Commission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, Environmental Science, Urban Forestry, Horticulture, or Arboriculture.
• Five years of forestry, environmental, or arboriculture experience, with supervisory responsibilities.
• ISA Certified Arborist designation or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Valid Florida driver’s license.
• Ability to work a 40-hour week and respond to emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Directs planting, pruning, care, and maintenance of trees and shrubs on City-owned property.
• Establishes schedules and methods for urban forestry services and coordinates with other departments.
• Prepares technical reports and onboards all incoming Tree Commissioners for the Tree Commission.
• Reviews permits for landscape compliance and liaises with City departments.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Program planning

Communication

English proficiency

Driver's license

ISA Certified Arborist

Education

Bachelor's degree in Botany/Biology/Environmental Science/Urban Forestry/Horticulture/Arboriculture

Tools

ISA Certified Arborist

Job description

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Compensation Details:

• GRADE: 30N
• SALARY RANGE: $91,157 - $118,504

Performs advanced managerial, supervisory, and administrative work in the field of arboriculture and horticulture. Responsible for planning, developing, managing, and monitoring the City’s Urban Forestry program, with a focus on balancing environmental sustainability, economic value, and storm resilience. Duties include conducting assessments and studies; developing and implementing policies, procedures, and recommendations; and supervising the work of clerical staff and field maintenance crews. The position requires close collaboration with Growth Management, Code Compliance, Legal, and other City departments, as well as providing public education to support the enforcement of ordinances and regulations governing the planting, maintenance, protection, and removal of trees and vegetation on public and, when applicable, private property. Serves as professional staff to the City Tree Commission and as a member of the City’s Development Review Committee. Provides support to the Sustainability Coordinator, Utilities, Engineering, and Building Departments. Additionally, serves as a safety officer during routine operations and emergency response situations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Without Accommodations):

• Able to read, write, speak, and understand English in order to perform the duties of this job description.
• Able to work a forty (40) hour work week and additional hours as required.
• Able to use equipment and/or materials as specified.

EQUIPMENT TO BE USED:

• Landscape tools, garden equipment, and backhoe as required for training purposes when assisting Urban Forestry field crew and Community Services personnel.
• Computer and related software
• Pickup truck for transporting tools and plant and tree specimens.

ENVIRONMENT:

• Inside air-conditioned office and outside for inspection purposes.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

• Sitting 15%
• Standing 25%
• Walking 30%
• Bending 10%
• Reaching 10%

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Directs the planting, pruning, cutting, feeding, care, and maintenance of trees, shrubs and other plant matter on City owned property.
• Establishes schedules and methods for providing urban forestry services; identifies resource needs; coordinates with Growth Management, Community Services, Code Compliance and other appropriate departments.
• Provides professional staffing support to the Tree Commission by preparing technical reports and other data and analysis; onboards all incoming Tree Commissioners.
• Processes and issues permits in accordance with City code and verifies compliance to issued permits.
• Confers with architects, developers, contractors, utilities, city department directors, engineers, arborists, landscape contractors and private citizens to discuss the requirements of the City landscape ordinances with Regulations; require the submittal of landscape and planting plans by a registered Landscape Architect.
• Reviews all projects with site plans for compliance with Landscape Ordinances in conjunction with Planners.
• Develops ordinances, regulations and policies relating to arboricultural, horticultural and urban forestry practices and programs in collaboration with the Growth Management and the Legal Departments.
• Manages, coordinates and/or provides various presentations regarding specific tree programs, i.e., Heritage Tree Program, Beautification Program, Arbor Day, Earth Day, Ambassador Program and safety programs to City Staff (tree crews, public works, utilities, and the general public). This includes proper use of equipment and techniques.
• Advocates for National Champion and Florida Champion tree proliferation.
• Conducts studies including tree analyses, canopy analyses, vegetation classification, mapping, etc.
• Evaluates bid proposals for City capital improvement projects to ensure compliance with the landscape ordinance.
• Evaluates Urban Forestry programs for effectiveness, quality assurance and accomplishment of goals.
• Researches information for federal, state and local environmental grants as required in collaboration with the Growth Management Department.
• Writes contract specifications and standards for the purchase of plant materials, primarily trees.
• Responsible for direct supervision of clerical/administrative support person and field crew(s).
• Develops annual Tree Commission budget and monitors expenditures; this includes capital outlay.
• Reviews building permits for arboriculture compliance with the city ordinance.
• Writes reports for the native lands’ areas to appropriate State and Federal agencies. Helps manage and maintain properties for public use through reporting.
• Reviews and pursues grant opportunities to achieve urban forestry goals in conjunction with City Manager’s and City’s Senior Grant Administrator.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough knowledge of the modern principles, practices and techniques of urban arboriculture and horticulture; good knowledge of the practices, tools, terminology, equipment and materials used in tree and shrub planting, maintenance, and removal.
• Ability to plan and develop forestry and horticultural programs.
• Ability to enforce ordinances and regulations in a firm, yet tactful manner while working in concert with Code Compliance department when required.
• Ability to work effectively with the public, private arboriculture entities, and City Staff; establish cooperative working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge and familiarity of the vegetation found in growing zones 10 & 11 and the tropical Caribbean.
• Knowledge of budgeting and purchasing functions.
• Ability to resolve complex problems or situations requiring the exercise of good judgment.
• Ability to compile analytical reports and papers on Urban Forestry/arboricultural issues.
• Knowledge of facilities, maintenance and emergency maintenance operations.
• Ability to utilize personal and networked computers and knowledge of related software.
• Ability to plan, direct and supervise staff in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English to perform job duties.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, and exposure to insects and uneven terrain.
• Ability to operate tools, equipment, and computers as required.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Supervisory experience of Urban Forestry personnel and field crews or comparable organizational setting.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Botany, Biology, Environmental Science, Urban Forestry, Horticulture, or Arboriculture.
• Five (5) years of forestry, environmental, or arboriculture experience, two (2) years of which were in a supervisory/managerial capacity.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist designation or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Ability to work a standard forty (40) hour workweek and additional hours as required, including emergency response situations.
• Ability to respond to emergency and disaster situations as required.
• Possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license.