Job Description

Assistant City Forester (Manager, Forestry)

Location: Fort Collins, CO
Salary: $78,531.00 - 130,885.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)

POSITION TITLE: Manager, Forestry   (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)
REQUISITION #: req8068
DEPARTMENT: Parks
LOCATION: PARKS MAINTENANCE SHOP
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $78,531.00 - 130,885.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $92,000.00 - 115,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
SELECTION PROCESS:  Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 4/14/2025 .

You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check and motor vehicle report required .

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement + company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance 
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability 
• Wellness program, workout facilities 
• Employee/family onsite health clinic 
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read  Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Job Summary

The Manager of Forestry is a critical role in the City of Fort Collins Parks Department and reports to the City Forester.  The Forestry Team focuses on urban forest growth by protecting the urban canopy, ensuring a balanced approach to urban development, prioritizing tree preservation and enhancing community resilience through the implementation of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan.  This plan is intended to mitigate heat, improve climate resilience and foster equitable access to urban tree canopy for all community members and visitors. 

This role is unique and special for a community the size of Fort Collins.  The Manager of Forestry exercises all facets of urban forestry including, but not limited to, tree preservation and protection policy to boots-on-the-ground working with development and capital improvement projects, insect and disease management, strategic planning, as well as building relationships with other departments and external entities or organizations. In addition, this position supports municipal and land use code enforcement and leads and supports three (3) amazing Forestry Sr Specialists in their roles and responsibilities.  

The ideal candidate brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the tree care sector, urban forestry and arboriculture. To be successful in this role, candidates must be passionate about urban forestry and the positive impacts that trees have in the community.  Candidates should at least have a college degree or equivalent work experience in Forestry, Arboriculture or related field.  A master's degree is preferred yet not required.  Candidates should have at least five (5) years of experience in supervision and a minimum of seven (7) years of urban forestry experience.     

This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Fort Collins's urban forest, ensuring that our community's trees thrive for generations and supports the overall health, sustainability, and resilience of the community.  While it is expected that this work is primarily done on-site so to be present and highly communicative with their team, there may be occasions when hybrid work may be accommodated. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Acts as the City Forester in the absence of the City Forester.
• Supervises classified, seasonal and contractual employees.
• Oversees and participates in Forestry’s asset management/inventory system.
• Manages, assists, or oversees Forestry-related projects including development review, contract development and implementation, inspections, and tree health management including the Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan.
• Interacts with citizens and other groups to promote the City’s urban forest management strategic goals and objectives.
• Initiates, directs, and participates in Forestry Division educational outreach efforts to internal and external customers.
• Assists the City Forester with developing, managing and the long-range planning of the biennial Forestry budget.
• Works with local arborist licensing candidates; educating them on Forestry Arborist Licensing process and requirements.
• Leads or assists in detecting and/or responding to Municipal Code violations.
• Manages to build a cohesive team through mentoring, providing learning opportunities, and assigning duties to aid in employees’ growth.

Management Responsibilities

Yes

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Must have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write or verbalize management plans.
• Must comply and exhibit the ability to promote safe practices under all circumstances.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills; must effectively develop and maintain good working relationships with community members, employee’s, co-workers, contractors and other internal and external customers.
• Ability to use, or learn to use, tools related to implementing and updating Forestry’s asset management/inventory system.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, chemical labels, best management practices, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Must be able to make decisions in the office or field without direct supervision.
• Must have the ability to effectively supervise classified, contractual and hourly employees.
• Must have solid understanding of and the ability to implement current urban forest management practices and standards with the resources allotted.

Required Qualifications

Minimum

Preferred

College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees 

Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Arboriculture or related field.

A Master's degree is preferred.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in urban forestry. A minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience required.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Valid Colorado driver’s license is required. International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist is required.

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities.  Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body.  The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

BACKGROUND CHECK AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT REQUIRED

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, For contractors, Work experience placement, Bank staff, Seasonal work, Local area, Immediate start, Trial period, Flexible hours,

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