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Urban Forester

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Urban Forester

Salary

$105,206.40 - $136,136.00 Annually

Location

City of Santa Monica, CA

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

251357-01

Department

Public Works

Division

Public Landscape

Opening Date

12/29/2025

Closing Date

1/16/2026 5:30 PM Pacific

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Job Summary

Plans, develops, administers and supervises the staff and operations of the City-wide urban forestry program. Oversees and develops programs, policies and procedures to enhance and protect the City’s Urban Forest.

Works under the general supervision of the Public Landscape Manager, planning and arranging own work. Instructions are occasionally provided, and work is periodically reviewed. Oversee the work of contract employees and exercise administrative supervision over assigned staff, frequently reviewing work in progress and carefully reviewing completed work.

Representative Duties

Plans strategic and systematic operations in accordance with the vision and guiding principles of the City's Urban Forest Master Plan.

Develops, monitors and oversees program budget. Makes budgetary recommendations and maintains appropriate administrative and financial records and reports.

Manages Santa Monica’s urban forestry program for all public trees located in City parks, streets, parkways, and other City-administered landscaped areas. Establishes tree inspection and pruning frequencies and ensures planting is consistent with the species designations in the Urban Forest Master Plan.

Enforces International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and American National Standard Institute (ANSI) specifications for tree pruning, removal, planting, and replacement.

Reviews and comments on development plans, drawings, calculations, and reports to ensure conformance with the Urban Forest Master Plan. Mitigates public tree loss through restitution collection for tree planting and aftercare.

Serves as a liaison to other City departments, the community, the Urban Forest Task Force, and various national, state, and regional organizations. Provides expert technical advice and guidance on arboricultural and urban forestry matters as needed.

Prepares and delivers urban forestry related presentations to the public, stakeholder groups, boards, commissions, the Urban Forest Task Force, and City Council.

Responds to urban forest emergencies.

Selects, supervises, directs and evaluates staff. Implements personnel policies and procedures. Establishes and approves work schedules and leave requests. Reviews employee time-cards and prepares employee performance evaluations.

Trains and coordinates training activities for assigned employees in proper work methods and procedures. Inspects work sites on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with City and department goals, objectives, policies and procedures.

Develops and writes contract specifications and Requests for Proposal (RFPs). Reviews contract proposals, interviews bidders and checks references. Monitors contract progress pursuant to City policies and procedures.

Monitors and inspects contract work to ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions, resolves discrepancies and corrects deficiencies as needed.

Identifies funding resources for urban forestry and landscape development programs. Writes funding proposals, prepares grant applications and accompanying reports, and manages grant funds.

Implements environmentally sound maintenance practices which are consistent with applicable conservation, ecological and environmental principles. Provides support to the development of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan and related sustainable programs, including the Integrated Pest Management Program.

Conducts research and prepares and maintains a variety of reports, records, and correspondence as requested.

Responds to inquiries, 311s, and requests for information. Investigates and resolves citizen complaints and escalating concerns.

Evaluates and analyzes urban forestry operations and customer satisfaction levels. Makes recommendations for improvements and prepares and maintains various reports addressing productivity, accomplishments and program status updates.

Performs other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of:

Principles, policies and practices of arboriculture and urban forestry

Urban forestry operations and policy development

Advanced tree risk assessment and tree preservation

Tree law and planning regulations

Tree pest identification and treatment

Principles and practices of public administration

Maintenance principles of turf and landscaped areas

Applicable conservation, ecological and environmental principles

Applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations

Operation specific safe work practices and procedures and applicable Cal OSHA

regulations

Budget development and management

State and federal grant application and management

Public relations, marketing and public outreach techniques

Contract preparation, award, and administration

Principles and practices of work planning, scheduling and evaluation

Effective training and coordinating techniques

Effective supervisory practices and techniques

Effective customer service techniques

Ability to:

Plan, organize and coordinate the work of others

Develop and work with staff members using a team-oriented approach

Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff

Plan, manage and implement an urban forest program

Develop and enforce contract specifications and provisions related to urban forestry

Provide technical information and advice regarding trees and public landscapes

Develop and implement policies and procedures

Ensure staff are compliant with all safety regulations and procedures

Coordinate, monitor and inspect work of contractors

Conduct research, analyze information, identify alternatives and make recommendations

Prepare analytical and financial reports

Interpret and apply policies, laws and regulations

Prepare and present clear, concise and comprehensive oral and written reports

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Make public presentations

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City

employees, various boards and commissions, outside agencies, and the general public

Provide effective customer service

Work with persons from diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds as well as a

variety of work styles, personalities, and approaches

Skill in:

Leading and coordinating the work of others.

Effective written and verbal communication

Program management and evaluation

Using a personal computer and applicable software applications

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree. A degree in Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, Urban Forestry, Agronomy, Horticulture or a closely related field is desirable.

Four years of recent, paid work experience in the administration of an urban forestry program. At least two years of recent, paid work experience must have included supervisory responsibilities.

Recent, related public agency work experience is desirable. Additional recent, related work experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. (Successful completion of 30 semester units or the equivalent is equal to one year of the additional work experience.)

Licenses and Certificates:

Possession of a valid Class C driver license.

Certification as a Certified Arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Holder of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).

Certification as a Board-Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) must be obtained within six months upon hire. Certification as a Certified Urban Forest Professional by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is desirable. Possession of a valid State of California Pest Control Adviser (PCA) License and valid State of California Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) is desirable.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is routinely performed in an office environment and in the field. Office work involves sitting and using a computer keyboard and screen. The incumbent is required to perform field work which includes visits to various parks and outdoor sites and exposure to seasonal weather conditions. Outdoor work is performed around moving objects, vibrations, slippery surfaces, loud noise, dirt, dust, mud, branches, foliage, chemicals and oils. Responding to emergency situations may be required. Physical demands include traveling from site to site, standing, bending grasping, reaching and walking and moderate lifting of objects. Off-site assignments and irregular work hours are required. May be required to attend meetings during the evening and/or on weekends.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit a clear, concise, completed on-line City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your on-line application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Resumes, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process.

If you would like for your education to be considered, you must attach a copy of your college level transcripts or diploma to your online application. Applicants who indicate receipt of college level coursework or degree from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcripts. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than the filing deadline. Failure to do so may result in your application being evaluated without the education being considered.

Selection Process:

All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding your work history and qualifications for the position. All applicants will be reviewed and only those applicants determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

Testing may consist of any combination of the following:

Training and Experience Evaluation

Oral Exam

If three or more qualified City employees apply and pass the examination, a promotional list will be established in addition to an open-competitive list. If fewer than three qualified City employees pass the examination, the appointing authority, in accordance with the City's civil service rules and regulations, can decline to use a promotional list, in which case a promotional list will not be established for this position.

Background Investigation:

Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Inclusion & Diversity Statement:

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally rich community. As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees. Join us!

Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities. Call (310) 458-8246, TDD (310) 458-8696 (Hearing Impaired Only).

Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three workdays prior to the examination.