What are the responsibilities and job description for the Urban Forester position at Town of Vienna?
DESCRIPTION
BENEFITS
QUESTIONS
General Statement of Job
TOWN OF VIENNA PARKS & RECREATION
URBAN FORESTER (FULL TIME)PAY GRADE 120: $70,606-$113,675
The Urban Forester plays a key leadership role on the Town’s Urban Forestry and Horticulture team, working closely with the Town Arborist and the Superintendent of Urban Forestry, Horticulture & Park Maintenance. This position provides day-to-day, on-site guidance to staff and contractors to ensure the health, beauty, and sustainability of the Town’s trees, parks, landscapes, and green spaces.
Blending technical expertise, hands-on fieldwork, and team leadership, the Urban Forester actively participates in and oversees planting, maintenance, repair, and landscape improvement projects throughout the Town—including parks, sports fields, stream corridors, and public spaces. This work directly supports the department’s mission to build community through people, parks, and programs by fostering safe, welcoming, and thriving natural environments.
This is an outdoor-focused role that involves working in varying weather and site conditions, with regular physical activity such as walking, bending, lifting, and operating tools and equipment. Under the general supervision of the Town Arborist, the Urban Forester exercises sound judgment, demonstrates initiative, and upholds the department’s core values: exceptional service, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, health and well-being, and continuous improvement.
Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Overtime as necessary and mandatory during emergency situations
All new employees must satisfactorily complete a background check. A conditional offer of employment may then be made contingent upon the successful completion of a physical exam that includes alcohol and drug testing.
This is a non-exempt position.
Duties and Responsibilities
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.
Essential Functions:
Instructs, trains, organizes, schedules and assigns work to Urban Forestry and Horticultural Town staff and Town contractors; maintains, updates and posts standards and policies; provides feedback to Town Arborist; recommends hiring, selection, promotions, demotions, disciplinary actions, or terminations.
Orders and procures all plant material including trees, shrubs, herbaceous, forbs and graminoid plants, seasonal plants, bulbs, seeds for green house production, topsoil soil, mulch, potting mix, tools, equipment for tree and landscape work.
Manages debris generated from staff and contract activities including wood chips reuse and disposal of wood, brush and landscape debris.
Creates and reviews work orders to ensure accuracy and compliance with assigned work tasks, policies and standards; prepares and processes reports, memos, etc.; responds to, and composes emails, telephone calls, and verbal inquiries.
Supports the management of contracted services to include but not limited to tree maintenance, irrigation, landscape maintenance, vegetation management, seasonal plant installation, tree installation, plant procurement.
Participates in maintenance of the trees, shrubs, landscape plants, streetscape planters, landscaped areas, seasonal plant displays and irrigation systems and other vegetation.
Participates in and leads a weekly safety meeting discussion with staff.
Attends the Town’s Tree Advocacy Committee monthly meetings when needed.
Uses a variety of computer software such as Tyler Munis, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Tree Plotter.
Maintains Pesticide application records, provide required State reporting.
Manage the Town’s Habitat Restoration Plan including volunteer events.
Liaisons, collaborates, and assists the Town Arborist and Superintendent of Urban Forestry, Horticulture, & Park Maintenance.
Collects, enters, updates data into the Town’s Tree inventory software.
Staff town tree planting events including volunteer events.
Assist the Town Arborist with staffing the Town’s Arbor Day celebration(s) and Urban forestry related events including managing the Town’s Habitat Restoration events.
Occasionally generates, updates and posts educational information to be displayed on the Town’s website and display kiosks. Rarely makes presentations to Town staff and the general public.
Oversees Greenhouse and facility operations, ensuring cleanliness, organization and overall maintenance.
Fleet Vehicle inspecting, servicing, generally maintenance oversight and facilitate servicing
Additional Duties:
Responds to resident’s questions/concerns/inquiries.
Works occasional weekends and evenings for Parks and Recreation Department special events. Currently, there are 4 mandatory Special Events that staff must work – Independence Day fireworks and festival, Halloween Parade, two of the Chillin’ on Church events.
Reports to work for snow, emergency response, and other emergencies as assigned.
Responds to emergency tree related queries and maintenance requests during and after hours.
Operates, demonstrates, and trains staff on a variety of equipment and/or tools pertaining to trees and grounds maintenance vegetation maintenance.
Guides, helps, and advises less experienced workers in all areas of job duties; fills in for Town Arborist as requested.
Uses a variety of tools such as tree climbing and rigging equipment, chain saws, hand tools, pitchforks, rakes, power shrub pruners, string trimmers, backpack sprayer, etc.
Performs related work as assigned.
Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts
Collects, classifies or formats data or information in accordance with a prescribed schema or plan to facilitate the identification and extraction of useful information.
People Responsibility:
Speaks with or signals to people to convey or exchange information of a general nature. Provides information, guidance or assistance to people that directly facilitate task accomplishment.
Asset Responsibility:
Requires responsibility and opportunity for achieving moderate economies and/or preventing moderate losses through the management of a small division; handles supplies of high value or moderate amounts of money consistent with the operation of a small division.
Mathematical Requirements:
Uses mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic, or geometric construction; may use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities, descriptive statistics, deductive geometry, plane and solid and rectangular coordinates; mathematical and classifications or schemes.
Communications Requirements:
Reads professional literature and technical manuals; speaks to groups of employees, other public and private groups; writes manuals and complex reports.
Judgment Requirements:
Responsible for long range goals, planning and methodologies. Decision-making is focus of the job, affecting entire organization and surrounding population; works in an unstable environment with frequent and significant changes in conditions.
Complexity of Work:
Performs supervisory work involving policy and guidelines, solving both people and work related problems; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures.
Impact of Errors:
The impact of errors is moderately serious, affecting work unit and may affect other units or citizens.
Physical Demands:
Performs work that involves lifting, shoveling, and carrying 50 to 75 pounds on an occasional basis and exerting 100 pounds of force on an infrequent basis.
Equipment Usage:
Leads or handles machines, tools, equipment or work aids involving moderate latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items.
Unavoidable Hazards:
Involves routine and frequent exposure to traffic; moving machinery.
Safety of Others:
Requires responsibility for the safety and health of others.
Minimum Training and Experience
Requires Bachelor’s degree or education and training equivalent to four years of college education in botany, forestry, horticulture or agriculture or closely related field
Requires a minimum of five years’ experience related to tree maintenance, plant health care, grounds management, or other closely related experience.
Special Certifications and Licenses:
Valid State Driver's License
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
Virginia Pesticide Applicators License Category 3-B (Ornamental), 3A (Turf)
Preferred Qualifications:
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Municipal Arborist Certification
Intermediate Work Zone Traffic Control from Virginia Department of Transportation
First Aid CPR, AED qualifications
Virginia Pesticide Applicators License Category 6 (Right of Way), 9
Certified Tree Care Safety Professional
Electrical Hazard Awareness Training
Virginia Certified Horticulturist through the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association
The Town of Vienna is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the Town of Vienna to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
127 Center Street, South
Vienna, Virginia, 22180
General Statement of Job
TOWN OF VIENNA PARKS & RECREATION
URBAN FORESTER (FULL TIME)PAY GRADE 120: $70,606-$113,675
The Urban Forester plays a key leadership role on the Town’s Urban Forestry and Horticulture team, working closely with the Town Arborist and the Superintendent of Urban Forestry, Horticulture & Park Maintenance. This position provides day-to-day, on-site guidance to staff and contractors to ensure the health, beauty, and sustainability of the Town’s trees, parks, landscapes, and green spaces.
Blending technical expertise, hands-on fieldwork, and team leadership, the Urban Forester actively participates in and oversees planting, maintenance, repair, and landscape improvement projects throughout the Town—including parks, sports fields, stream corridors, and public spaces. This work directly supports the department’s mission to build community through people, parks, and programs by fostering safe, welcoming, and thriving natural environments.
This is an outdoor-focused role that involves working in varying weather and site conditions, with regular physical activity such as walking, bending, lifting, and operating tools and equipment. Under the general supervision of the Town Arborist, the Urban Forester exercises sound judgment, demonstrates initiative, and upholds the department’s core values: exceptional service, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, health and well-being, and continuous improvement.
Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Overtime as necessary and mandatory during emergency situations
All new employees must satisfactorily complete a background check. A conditional offer of employment may then be made contingent upon the successful completion of a physical exam that includes alcohol and drug testing.
This is a non-exempt position.
Duties and Responsibilities
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.
Essential Functions:
Instructs, trains, organizes, schedules and assigns work to Urban Forestry and Horticultural Town staff and Town contractors; maintains, updates and posts standards and policies; provides feedback to Town Arborist; recommends hiring, selection, promotions, demotions, disciplinary actions, or terminations.
Orders and procures all plant material including trees, shrubs, herbaceous, forbs and graminoid plants, seasonal plants, bulbs, seeds for green house production, topsoil soil, mulch, potting mix, tools, equipment for tree and landscape work.
Manages debris generated from staff and contract activities including wood chips reuse and disposal of wood, brush and landscape debris.
Creates and reviews work orders to ensure accuracy and compliance with assigned work tasks, policies and standards; prepares and processes reports, memos, etc.; responds to, and composes emails, telephone calls, and verbal inquiries.
Supports the management of contracted services to include but not limited to tree maintenance, irrigation, landscape maintenance, vegetation management, seasonal plant installation, tree installation, plant procurement.
Participates in maintenance of the trees, shrubs, landscape plants, streetscape planters, landscaped areas, seasonal plant displays and irrigation systems and other vegetation.
Participates in and leads a weekly safety meeting discussion with staff.
Attends the Town’s Tree Advocacy Committee monthly meetings when needed.
Uses a variety of computer software such as Tyler Munis, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Tree Plotter.
Maintains Pesticide application records, provide required State reporting.
Manage the Town’s Habitat Restoration Plan including volunteer events.
Liaisons, collaborates, and assists the Town Arborist and Superintendent of Urban Forestry, Horticulture, & Park Maintenance.
Collects, enters, updates data into the Town’s Tree inventory software.
Staff town tree planting events including volunteer events.
Assist the Town Arborist with staffing the Town’s Arbor Day celebration(s) and Urban forestry related events including managing the Town’s Habitat Restoration events.
Occasionally generates, updates and posts educational information to be displayed on the Town’s website and display kiosks. Rarely makes presentations to Town staff and the general public.
Oversees Greenhouse and facility operations, ensuring cleanliness, organization and overall maintenance.
Fleet Vehicle inspecting, servicing, generally maintenance oversight and facilitate servicing
Additional Duties:
Responds to resident’s questions/concerns/inquiries.
Works occasional weekends and evenings for Parks and Recreation Department special events. Currently, there are 4 mandatory Special Events that staff must work – Independence Day fireworks and festival, Halloween Parade, two of the Chillin’ on Church events.
Reports to work for snow, emergency response, and other emergencies as assigned.
Responds to emergency tree related queries and maintenance requests during and after hours.
Operates, demonstrates, and trains staff on a variety of equipment and/or tools pertaining to trees and grounds maintenance vegetation maintenance.
Guides, helps, and advises less experienced workers in all areas of job duties; fills in for Town Arborist as requested.
Uses a variety of tools such as tree climbing and rigging equipment, chain saws, hand tools, pitchforks, rakes, power shrub pruners, string trimmers, backpack sprayer, etc.
Performs related work as assigned.
Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts
Collects, classifies or formats data or information in accordance with a prescribed schema or plan to facilitate the identification and extraction of useful information.
People Responsibility:
Speaks with or signals to people to convey or exchange information of a general nature. Provides information, guidance or assistance to people that directly facilitate task accomplishment.
Asset Responsibility:
Requires responsibility and opportunity for achieving moderate economies and/or preventing moderate losses through the management of a small division; handles supplies of high value or moderate amounts of money consistent with the operation of a small division.
Mathematical Requirements:
Uses mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic, or geometric construction; may use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities, descriptive statistics, deductive geometry, plane and solid and rectangular coordinates; mathematical and classifications or schemes.
Communications Requirements:
Reads professional literature and technical manuals; speaks to groups of employees, other public and private groups; writes manuals and complex reports.
Judgment Requirements:
Responsible for long range goals, planning and methodologies. Decision-making is focus of the job, affecting entire organization and surrounding population; works in an unstable environment with frequent and significant changes in conditions.
Complexity of Work:
Performs supervisory work involving policy and guidelines, solving both people and work related problems; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures.
Impact of Errors:
The impact of errors is moderately serious, affecting work unit and may affect other units or citizens.
Physical Demands:
Performs work that involves lifting, shoveling, and carrying 50 to 75 pounds on an occasional basis and exerting 100 pounds of force on an infrequent basis.
Equipment Usage:
Leads or handles machines, tools, equipment or work aids involving moderate latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items.
Unavoidable Hazards:
Involves routine and frequent exposure to traffic; moving machinery.
Safety of Others:
Requires responsibility for the safety and health of others.
Minimum Training and Experience
Requires Bachelor’s degree or education and training equivalent to four years of college education in botany, forestry, horticulture or agriculture or closely related field
Requires a minimum of five years’ experience related to tree maintenance, plant health care, grounds management, or other closely related experience.
Special Certifications and Licenses:
Valid State Driver's License
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
Virginia Pesticide Applicators License Category 3-B (Ornamental), 3A (Turf)
Preferred Qualifications:
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Municipal Arborist Certification
Intermediate Work Zone Traffic Control from Virginia Department of Transportation
First Aid CPR, AED qualifications
Virginia Pesticide Applicators License Category 6 (Right of Way), 9
Certified Tree Care Safety Professional
Electrical Hazard Awareness Training
Virginia Certified Horticulturist through the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association
The Town of Vienna is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the Town of Vienna to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
All full time permanent employees of the Town of Vienna contribute 5% of their annual salary to the Virginia Retirement System.
127 Center Street, South
Vienna, Virginia, 22180
Salary : $70,606 - $113,675