Urban Forester

Job Description:

Urban Forester

Description

Introduction

Are you rooted in urban forestry and ready to lead with purpose? Here’s your opportunity to build an Urban Forestry Program from the ground up in a community that values its urban canopy!

The Scottsdale Parks & Recreation 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 relationship-driven, collaborative, and communicative 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 the ability to build trust, influence decisions, and work effectively with diverse stakeholders. 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.

Success in this role requires exceptional communication and people skills. You’ll need to translate technical arboriculture concepts into clear, accessible language, whether you’re explaining Arbor Day to a Kindergartener, guiding contractors through best practices, or presenting canopy strategies to city leadership. Your ability to connect with people is just as important as your ability to care for trees.

The ideal candidate will have an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Urban Forest Professional Certification and is a pro at:

• Overseeing daily operations, projects, and work orders
• Building partnerships across departments and with community groups
• Inspecting park assets and recommending tree care, pruning, planting, pest control, removals, and species selection
• Representing the department with credibility, empathy, and service-oriented leadership
• 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
• Communicating clearly and confidently with staff, contractors, residents, and leadership
• Coordinating community forestry events and leading staff and volunteers in tree planting and maintenance efforts
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing staff with patience and clarity

Effective June 14th the salary range for this position is $40.99-$55.36 per hour.

Anticipated starting salary for this position may be up to mid-point depending on candidate’s experience and internal equity. The mid-point for this position is $48.15 per hour.

The City of Scottsdale offers comprehensive benefits designed to support your personal and professional growth including:

• 12 Paid Holidays, including 1 Floating Holiday
• Vacation Accrual starting at 10.3 hours per month, available for use as soon as it’s earned
• Medical Leave Accrual at 8 hours per month, also available immediately after accrual
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, including behavioral health services
• City-Paid Basic Life Insurance equal to one year of your annual salary, with optional supplemental coverage
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $2,500 per year to help you continue your education
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)- a defined benefit pension plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions currently at 12%, including long-term disability coverage
• Post-Employment Health Plan, employer contribution of $10 per pay period to employee's PEHP
• Supplemental Retirement Options through Nationwide (457 plan)
• Pet Insurance to help care for your animals
• Bilingual Pay Compensation for eligible employees
• Employee Wellness Incentives to support your health goals
• Free Access to multiple city-owned fitness and recreational facilities

Please visit the Human Resources and Benefits Information page for more information.

Please note: Notifications regarding this recruitment and/or self-schedule interview invitations may come from GovernmentJobs.com; Please check your junk/spam folders regularly for these types of emails.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Essential Functions

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

Work Environment/Physical Demands

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

Full-Time Positions:
The City of Scottsdale offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday and medical leave as well as insurance for medical, dental, vision, life, short and long term disability insurance. For a more detailed overview of the employee benefits, click here .

Part-Time Positions:
The City of Scottsdale offers paid medical leave for part-time staff.

Commute Solutions Program
City of Scottsdale provides free Valley Metro Platinum passes to employees for the bus and light rail systems when commuting; a vanpool subsidy is also available. Employees can decrease stress, decrease wear & tear on their vehicle, and help the environment all at the same time.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
The City of Scottsdale is considered a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). You may find more information about the PSFL program by going to the Federal Student Aid website by clicking here .

Closing Date/Time: 6/29/2026 11:59 PM Arizona

Salary:

$84,406.40 - $114,004.80 Annually