Senior Municipal Arborist Specialist #2408-255300-01

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

• Supervises four (4) Municipal Arborist Specialists.
• Enforces the Charlotte Tree Ordinance by issuing Notices of Violation and assessing civil penalties/fines.
• Co-manages the City’s tree planting program including management of planting contractors.
• Supports development/management of the group’s urban forestry best management practices. Serves as lead on managing group’s documentation protocol.
• Supports Tree Maintenance Supervisor and participates in emergency on-call storm response program. Position is considered essential personnel for emergency situations and high-profile projects. May be required to work non-standard or overnight work shifts as needed.
• Provides quality customer service during extensive interaction with citizens, local arborist companies, developers, homeowner groups, community agencies, and other governmental agencies in carrying out local tree ordinances, urban forest polices, and procedures.
• Assists the Assistant City Arborist and Program Coordinator with tree canopy management, Canopy Care Program, and education initiatives.
• Manages tree maintenance contractors for the Canopy Care Program.
• Reviews/inspects Capital development plans/sites. Coordinates with Planning Design & Development Urban Forestry workgroup during the land development process for the protection and preservation of right-of-way trees. 
• Supports urban forest pest/disease programs for street trees and helps coordinates research programs on City trees.
• Attends evening and weekend events as required.    
• Prepares and maintains documents, work records, and reports
• Supports General Services and Landscape Management’s safety training goals and serves on the Safety Committee.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Requires thorough knowledge of plants, trees, and shrubs indigenous to North Carolina and the southeastern U.S. 
• Considerable experience in landscape operations, especially in planting, tree maintenance, equipment operation, and tree risk assessment.
• Knowledge of pesticide and fertilizer application.
• Good working knowledge of tree maintenance operations. Uses this knowledge in tree pruning and maintenance, storm cleanup, and damage assessment.
• Knowledge of tools, equipment, and materials used in the arboricultural/urban forestry industry.
• Knowledge of basic designs and principles for planting within roadways and urban environments.  
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Good public speaking skills with the ability to make quality presentations.
• Ability to read and interpret civil site plans, soil test results, or other technical reports.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to successfully prioritize multiple projects and complete projects within project deadlines with minimal supervision. 
• Experience managing people and supervising contractors.
• Requires a current driver’s license and a good driving record. Class B Commercial Driver License preferred. 
• Requires ISA Certified Arborist certification and Tree Risk Assessment qualification or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
• Requires good computer skills (Windows, Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Requires work in adverse weather conditions any time of the day or night.

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Arboriculture, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, or related field and five (5) years of management and supervisory experience in a related field.  Local government experience. Certification as an ISA Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment qualification. Class B Commercial Driver License. 

• High school graduate or equivalent with seven (7) years of experience or an Associate degree with five (5) years of experience in Horticulture, Arboriculture, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, or related field; or equivalent combination of education, work experience, and relevant industry/job specific knowledge, skills, and/or certifications may be considered

• $60,577 - $75,721 Commensurate with experience

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.