Stormwater - Urban Forester

Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Lebanon. Applicants must use their own personal email address when applying. If you are using someone else's email address, your application will be rejected. A completed application is required for your application to be considered and reviewed by the hiring manager. Do not leave blanks and do not skip the application questionnaire. Please ensure you are filling out all your work history.

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK

Assists the Stormwater Coordinator with performing professional forestry and environmental functions within the Stormwater Department. Leads tree protection initiatives, this includes coordinating recovery efforts, creating public communications, answering general questions from the public, reviewing landscaping plans and working on City beatification and environmental conservation activities for the City of Lebanon.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITES

Included the following but are not limited to:

• Create and administer the City's Forest Preservation Management Plan for forest preservation lands.
• Serve as the primary reviewer of landscape and stream buffer plans for new developments to ensure plans are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Engage in-field inspections to ensure landscape plan compliance and other related compliance issues.
• Coordinate vendor and City staff lead tree removal program within City parks, public open spaces and other areas as assigned. Provides guidance and training to field staff on matters related to arboriculture.
• Perform tree planting and establishment activities as part of environmental improvement projects.
• Create regular public communication and education initiatives about tree preservation, riparian buffers, and other similar items.
• Perform enforcement activities related to trees, riparian buffers, and landscape on public and private property.
• Answer questions and provides general forestry, and environmental-related information to the public and the development community via phone, email & in person, interpreting overall plans, City projects, and ordinances.
• Work with various volunteer groups to coordinate environmental-based projects.
• Prepare and administer grants for forestry and environmental-based initiatives.
• Act as staff liaison to the Planning Commission. Develop or support new and current initiatives, including managing special projects, grant applications, and organizing events.
• Attend and participate in professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of forestry, as well as related fields.
• Meet with applicants about development proposals.
• Project work will include completing existing vegetation surveys, forest stand delineations, tree appraisals, arborist site inspections and construction meetings, and preparing and providing technical expertise for tree preservation/conservation/invasive species management plans and entitlement and site plan submissions.
• Provide experienced based input on various urban forestry topics, technologies, protocols, and industry developments.
• Design and implement beautification projects on rights-of-way, parks, and other City properties.
• Research and develop city landscape and open space design guidelines.
• Local travel within city limits is required.
• Candidate must demonstrate consistent and dependable attendance to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Knowledge of related computer hardware and software (GIS, MS Office, etc.)
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the public and other employees.
• Ability to deal with the public with tact and diplomacy.
• This job may involve identifying plants and evaluating the health of trees and other plants.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret necessary computer related reports and documents. Ability to write reports and specifications for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to various boards, committees and groups.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures.

EDUCATION

High school diploma or GED required.

An associate or bachelor's degree in Forestry, Environmental Planning, Natural Science, or a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of two years of relevant work experience is required. Experience in forestry, planning, or related fields, as well as experience with GIS-related computer hardware and software, is desirable.

EQUIVALENCY

An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position may be considered

DRIVERS LICENSE

Must have a valid Tennessee Driver's License.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

This job may require attendance at the City Council meeting, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and other special meetings as directed by Engineering Director.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee often uses hands and fingers to manipulate measuring devices or read job data sheets. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus and ability to read small blueprint materials.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Duties are primarily performed in the office environment.

Employee utilizes general office equipment including fax machine, copy machine, computer and calculator. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in outside weather conditions and is exposed to cold, hot, wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when around loud mechanical equipment.

It shall be the responsibility of the City of Lebanon Executive Director of Planning and Engineering to assess the type(s) of reasonable accommodations which may be necessary to allow the individual to perform the essential functions of this role and to provide such necessary reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the provision of reasonable accommodations if doing so will impose an undue hardship on the employing agency or a direct threat to the safety of himself/herself or others.'

Some work is performed outdoors and requires ability to move about construction sites. Incumbents must have the ability to walk remote and primitive terrain for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions to undertake responsibilities. Incumbent must be capable of performing laborious tasks over extended periods of time. Incumbents are exposed to dangerous equipment and to heat, cold, rain, noise and other adverse conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance. Responsible for proper operation of departmental vehicle and other tools.