The PositionJob Appointment: There are three positions. Two are regular positions. One is limited term, with a term of two years from the date of hire. There is potential for the limited term position to become permanent in the future.
Persons appointed to limited term positions will be designated as limited duration employees whose appointment shall not exceed two (2) years except for the extension of grants or funding from outside sources. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. 7am - 3:30pm
Work Location: In person at Urban Forestry, 10910 N. Denver Ave., Portland, OR 97217. There is opportunity for limited remote telework. These positions are predominately in person. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington.
Benefit: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.
Union Representation: PROTEC17. To view this labor agreement, please click here.
Most commonly new employees start at step 2 - $40.18 per hour
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.
Position Summary: Our Tree Planting Program is growing! We are hiring three Senior Tree Planting Specialist (Botanic Specialist II-Forestry) positions to increase the number of urban trees we plant, establish, and monitor. These positions will have a significant impact on the future of Portland! We are striving to triple the number of urban trees we plant and establish in a few short years. Our goal is to coordinate the annual planting of 10,000 trees, with a focus on large, native, and evergreen trees in the right-of-way, private property, and parks.
Our program focuses on increasing tree canopy coverage in underserved communities. These include Black, Indigenous, People of Color, low-income, immigrant, and refugee communities. Our citywide tree planting strategy guides this effort.
Senior Tree Planting Specialists (Botanic Specialist II-Forestry) are lead positions in the Botanic Specialist-Forestry classification and serve as project managers and staff leads. These positions manage complex urban tree planting and establishment programs, including the Yard Tree Giveaway program , Learning Landscapes program , and Free Street Trees program . Each project step requires close coordination with partners, such as other city workgroups, contractors, and community groups. Senior Tree Planting Specialists lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of their programs.
Though not supervisors, Senior Tree Planting Specialists serve as leads for support staff and provide training, guidance, feedback, and mentorship. They help train colleagues and contractors, delegate tasks, and provide feedback on performance.
Senior Tree Planting Specialists work in the field and the office, all year round. Examples of field work include finding planting locations, leading planting events, inspecting trees for quality control, and meeting contractors on site. Examples of office work include leading planning meetings, analyzing data, and preparing reports.
Successful Senior Tree Planting Specialists have excellent communication, collaboration, and organization skills. They are flexible and eager to solve issues. They are motivated to promote environmental justice and collaborate with diverse communities. When it comes to trees, they are proficient in urban forestry practices. They also enjoy sharing their knowledge in accessible ways and are eager to continue learning.
We are seeking candidates with diverse skills and experiences. If you have experience building strong connections with community groups, marginalized populations, and others who are often excluded from government programs, we encourage you to apply. Additional language skills beyond English are also valued.
Private trees and street trees - two Senior Tree Planting Specialist positions
one regular position
one limited term, two-year position
These Senior Tree Planting Specialist positions will lead our team’s efforts to expand tree planting and establishment efforts on private property and along City rights-of-way. Assignments will include either the Yard Tree Giveaway program or the Free Street Trees program .
Learning Landscapes trees - one Senior Tree Planting Specialist position
one regular position
This Senior Tree Planting Specialist position will lead our Learning Landscapes program . This program partners with schools to increase canopy coverage near fields, playgrounds, buildings, and where students learn and play. This role fosters school partnerships, working with teachers and facilities staff to create site designs based on school needs and urban forestry best practices. This position collaboratively plans school planting events and leads students and volunteers to plant trees. This role also manages contractors who provide establishment care for each tree for three years. Additionally, the Senior Tree Planting Specialist works with the Portland Parks & Recreation Youth Conservation Crew team to guide youth crews to care for school trees during summer months. This unique role requires additional skills in event planning, volunteer management, and working with youth.
If you would like to be considered for the Learning Landscapes Senior Tree Planting Specialist position, please answer the additional Learning Landscapes supplemental questions.
What you'll get to do:- Manage tree planting programs to increase canopy coverage in underserved communities.
- Manage tree planting and establishment contracts. Assign work to contractors, train and mentor contractors, inspect work for quality, request corrections, and problem solve.
- Conduct field work to evaluate tree planting sites, inspect planting and establishment work, and monitor tree health.
- Create planting and establishment plans, including species selection, contractor instructions, schedules, and maps using ArcGIS and TreePlotter.
- Mentor and train support staff to survey locations, inspect nursery stock, plant trees with volunteers, and inspect contractor tree plantings. Create project schedules, check work quality, and provide coaching and feedback.
- Coordinate with property owners, contractors, and community partners.
- Communicate with the public by responding to concerns, providing customer service, presenting at public meetings, and fostering partnerships with community groups.
- Ensure highest quality tree procurement, planting, and establishment outcomes. Empower colleagues, contractors, nurseries, and volunteers to meet the same standards.
- Document each process by making standard operating procedures and contractor progress reports.
- Collect and interpret tree data in software, including Excel, ArcGIS, and TreePlotter, to track and communicate program progress.
- Create reports and maps to share information with contractors, community partners, and colleagues.
About Urban Forestry and Portland’s Forest:
Urban Forestry 's mission is to manage and ensure Portland’s urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Portland’s urban forest is valued at over $6 billion and comprised of over 1.2 million park trees, 218,000 street trees and 2.9 million private property trees. The Urban Forestry team is responsible for the overall management, stewardship, and improvement of this essential infrastructure system. Urban Forestry’s work includes delivery of sustainable and equitable forest services to all Portlanders; establishing and enacting best management practices, plans, policies, and technical standards for tree care and protection and urban forest expansion; implementing, enforcing, and proposing improvements to the City’s tree regulations; providing tree maintenance services including 24/7 response to tree emergencies on City properties and public streets; tree planting and expansion of urban forest services; measurement and assessment of urban forest coverage, health, and services; offering community education and stewardship programs; and oversight and support of the City’s volunteer advisory tree board. Portland is a Tree City USA for 46 years, a Tree City of the World and the Urban Forestry program is accredited by the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists).
About the Bureau:Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugee and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public.
PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.
View Recording Here
Passcode: v?k8M5=3
Meeting ID: 829 3299 3093
Have a question? Contact Information:
TroyLynn Craft
Senior Recruiter
troylynn.craft@portlandoregon.gov
To QualifyThe following minimum qualifications are required for this position: Experience leading urban forestry projects, such as site evaluation, tree procurement, tree planting, young tree pruning, and/or tree establishment.
Experience working effectively with underserved groups (such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, low-income, immigrant, and refugee communities) and communicating cross-culturally.
Experience managing projects with multiple partners and diverse interest groups, such as community partners, contractors, and property owners to meet program goals and deadlines.
Experience using GIS or similar software to collect and manage data for projects, reports, and maps.
Applicants must also possess: - A valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record .
- The ability to perform both office and outdoor work in all weather conditions.
- T he ability to sit, stand, and walk over uneven terrain.
- The ability to stoop or bend.
- The ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
The Recruitment ProcessSTEP 1: Apply online between August 5 - August 26, 2024 Required Application Materials: - Resume
- Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials:
If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment. Application Tips: - Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
- Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis : Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
- Do not attach any additional documents.
- Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 26, 2024 - An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
- Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
- Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of September 2, 2024 - Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late September - Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.
Step 5: Offer of Employment: Mid-October Step 6: Start Date:- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change. Additional InformationClick here for additional information regarding the following:- City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action EmployerA Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee BenefitsWe offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to
- Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
- Carrot Fertility
- Wellness Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Short- and Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Retirement
- Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), includingcontributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
- Family Medical Leave
- City Paid Parental Leave
AND SO MANY MORE!Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers .
Closing Date/Time: 8/26/2024 11:59 PM Pacific