Urban Forester

Are you rooted in urban forestry and ready to lead with purpose?

The Scottsdale Parks & Recreation & Preserve Department is a team of passionate professionals delivering Simply Better Service for a World Class Community. We design exceptional facilities, programs, and experiences that enrich the lives of our residents. With a culture built on innovation, dedication, and customer service that consistently exceeds expectations, we’re seeking a visionary leader to help our city thrive from the ground up.

As Urban Forester, you’ll be the driving force behind the care and stewardship of Scottsdale’s extensive tree canopy. This high-impact role blends technical expertise, hands-on fieldwork, and strategic leadership. You’ll manage tree inventories, review construction plans, train staff in best practices, and guide policy and budget decisions that shape the city’s green future. You’ll also serve as a contract administrator and play a key role in departmental planning and innovation.

The ideal candidate will have an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Urban Forest Professional Certification and experience in:

• Overseeing daily operations, projects, and work orders
• Inspecting park assets and recommending tree care, pruning, planting, pest control, removals, and species selection
• Maintaining tree health records and applying pesticides/fertilizers to support data-driven urban forestry practices
• Developing and managing a citywide tree inventory and Urban Forest Management Plan with measurable performance metrics
• Supporting Capital Improvement Projects through mitigation planning, report preparation, and contractor oversight
• Coordinating community forestry events and leading staff and volunteers in tree planting and maintenance efforts
• Supervising staff and managing personnel activities, including training, scheduling, coaching, and performance evaluations
  
  

Anticipated starting salary for this position may be up to mid-point depending on candidate’s experience and internal equity. The full salary range is listed above and mid-point for this position is $47.67/hour.

The City of Scottsdale offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth including:

• 12 Paid Holidays– including 1 Floating Holiday
• Vacation Accrual– starts at 10.3 hours/month
• Sick Leave Accrual– 8 hours/month
• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage– includes behavioral health benefits
• City-Paid Basic Life Insurance– equal to one time your annual salary
• Optional Supplemental Life Insurance available
• Tuition Reimbursement– up to $2,500/year
• Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)– defined benefit plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions (currently 12%), includes Long-Term Disability
• Supplemental Retirement Plans– available through Nationwide (457)
• Pet Insurance
• Bilingual Pay Compensation
  

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Education And Experience

• Associate’s Degree in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Arboriculture, Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, or related field.
• Five years of experience in forestry, arboriculture, or landscape architecture relating to urban forest management, planning, and inventories.
• Must have one-year of lead or supervisory experience which is included in the five years required above.
• Any equivalent combination of education and/or job-related experience that meets the minimum qualifications may be substituted.
  
  

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements

• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist or ISA Urban Forest Professional Certification at time of hire.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license with no major citations within the past 39 months prior to the start date. The Arizona Motor Vehicle Department requires that out-of-state driver's licenses must be surrendered within 10 days of relocating to the State of Arizona. Note: Graduated Driver’s Licenses are considered restricted.
• Within six months of hire, an Arizona Pest Control Applicator certification possessing Category 1 (Industrial and Institutional), Category 3 (Ornamental & Turf) and Category 4 (Right-of-Way) must be obtained.
• Every person employed by the City of Scottsdale shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by the City, regardless of whether the employee is approved to remote work.
  
  

Other pertinent licenses and/or certifications may be required of some positions depending on department/section assignment.

Click here to view the job description and full list of Essential Functions.

Click here to view the job description and full list of Work Environment/Physical Demands.