Introduction
The City of Racine is seeking a qualified and motivated professional to serve as City Forester within the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Department. Forestry is a division of PRCS and plays a key role in maintaining the City’s natural assets, public safety, and overall quality of life.
Position Purpose
The Forestry Division is responsible for the management and long-term stewardship of Racine’s urban forest, which includes approximately 28,000 public trees and an additional 12,000 designated planting locations throughout the community. In addition to trees located along streets and within parks, the Forestry Division manages trees located on the Wustum Museum grounds, at the Racine Zoo, on three public golf courses, and within two municipal cemeteries.
Essential Duties
- Oversee and coordinate forestry operations, projects, and work programs, establishing priorities and standards for implementation by field staff.
- Implement a comprehensive tree maintenance program for all public trees.
- Develop and maintain a citywide tree inventory and Urban Forest Management Plan with measurable performance metrics.
- Maintain tree health records and support data-driven urban forestry practices. Recommend programmatic improvements and implement modifications.
- Plan, prioritize, and schedule inspection, maintenance, and removal activities based on risk, condition, and available resources, and asset management principles.
- Develop short- and long-term strategic goals for the urban forest, including canopy equity, climate resilience, species diversity, and invasive species management, and lead periodic updates to the Urban Forest Management Plan.
- Supervise, mentor, and evaluate permanent, seasonal, and temporary staff. Participate in hiring, performance evaluations, and employee development. Initiate corrective and disciplinary actions in accordance with City policies, procedures, and any labor agreements if applicable.
- Ensure compliance with applicable safety standards, including ANSI Z133, OSHA regulations, and City safety policies, and take corrective action when unsafe conditions or practices are identified. Promote a strong safety culture through training, inspections, and corrective actions.
- Provide training opportunities for staff and the public.
- Coordinate community forestry events and lead staff and volunteers in tree planting and maintenance efforts.
- Participate in the development and administration of the Division of Forestry operating and capital budgets. Monitor expenditures and ensure fiscal accountability. Apply for and administer grants. Create bid specifications, administer contracts, and monitor contractor performance to ensure compliance with specifications, schedules, and safety requirements.
- Serve as the primary technical advisor on urban forestry matters to City leadership, boards, commissions, and the public. Coordinate with utilities, developers, and internal departments on tree protection, removals, development review, and infrastructure projects.
- Interpret and enforce chapter 102 of city ordinance–Trees & Vegetation.
- Coordinate and lead storm damage and emergency response related to trees, including assessment, prioritization, and deployment of resources.
- Maintain availability for on-call duty as part of a rotation with other supervisors.
- In the absence of the Superintendent of Parks, the City Forester shall serve in an acting capacity for field operations, with authority over parks and forestry operational staff and emergency response activities, subject to overall direction of the Director.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Environmental/Working Conditions Of Position
This position functions in a combination of office, field, and vehicle-based work environments. Duties include office work, field inspections, site visits, and meetings with staff, contractors, and the public. The City Forester regularly conducts outdoor inspections and assessments throughout the year and may be exposed to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, precipitation, noise, dust, and uneven terrain.
The position requires travel throughout the City and occasional response to emergency or storm-related situations outside of normal business hours. While the City Forester provides professional and supervisory oversight of forestry operations, the position is not primarily assigned to routine manual labor or equipment operation.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in urban forestry, forestry, forest management, arboriculture, or a closely related field.
- Must possess at a minimum International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)Certified Arborist certification, or preferably ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional certification at time of hire.
- At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience working in urban forestry or arboriculture including a minimum three years of supervisory role.
- Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted Wisconsin driver’s license.
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience may also be considered.
Preferred Quailification
- International Society of Arboriculture Certified Urban Forest Professional certification.
- Possession of or ability to obtain Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator license.
.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required
- Strong leadership, managerial, organizational and planning skills.
- Strong written and verbal skills. The ability to make professional presentations to boards, commissions, community groups, and professional organizations.
- Proficiency with computers, tablets, and mobile technology, including urban forestry management software, GIS-based applications (e.g., Tree Keeper or similar), and standard office software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION:
Ability to work in an office setting and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, and to respond to emergencies or storm events, including working outside normal business hours
Equipment Used
The City Forester utilizes standard office and field equipment including computers, tablets, urban forestry management software, GIS-based applications, soil testing equipment, diameter (DBH) tapes, and related inspection and assessment tools. The position requires familiarity with arboricultural equipment commonly used by field staff, including chainsaws, aerial lift devices, stump grinders, brush chippers, and other forestry and landscape maintenance equipment, for purposes of supervision, training, safety oversight, and operational planning.
This job description is intended to identify essential duties and also illustrates other types of duties that may be assigned. It should not be interpreted as describing all of the duties that will be required of an employee or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments that an individual is required to perform. In addition to the responsibilities and duties listed, it is expected that employees maintain a consistent and reliable attendance record. Job descriptions are subject to revision at any time at the discretion of the Utility or City of Racine.
The City of Racine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
