Urban Forester at City of Coconut Creek – Coconut Creek, Florida

When you come to work for the City of Coconut Creek, although you’re assigned an employee number, you’re not treated like one. With an average of 10 years of service (some as many as 30-plus!), our employees know they can transform their careers in Coconut Creek, the “Butterfly Capital of the World.”

The City of Coconut Creek has been spotlighted as one of the “Best Cities to Live in America” by Money Magazine and a Top Ten Place to Live in Florida by Movoto and NerdWallet. Our City is home to the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Butterfly World, and the Coconut Creek Promenade. Every one of our business owners and 61,000 residents rely on our awesome 400+ employees. As the City’s Urban Forester, you’ll play a visible, lasting role in shaping Coconut Creek’s identity, protecting and growing the community’s tree canopy and shaded streets for generations to come. Are you ready to be one of us?
If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of others and serving the public; if you are innovative, progressive, dedicated, and looking for a workplace where you belong, consider applying to join our Coconut Creek family.

Performs senior and/or lead-level technical or specialized work in the Resilient Design and Development department. Performs and coordinates landscape and zoning inspections, development plan review (including site plans and related documents), permitting, code enforcement, and other duties related to landscaping to ensure compliance with the City's Land Development Code. Work is performed under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude in the use of initiative and independent judgment. Position relies on experience and exercises independent judgment to determine the best approach by using and interpreting policies and procedures.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the classification. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

• Represents the department regarding development review for tree and landscape-related matters; reviews development applications (including site plans, plats, and rezoning) for compliance with tree preservation, landscape, and zoning requirements; prepares written comments and recommended conditions of approval, and participates in City meetings to present and discuss findings
• Coordinates special projects and activities including Arbor Day and Tree City USA
• Creates educational brochures, flyers, presentations, and articles
• Handles citizen inquiries and facilitates problem-solving with residents, developers, property managers, and homeowner’s associations (HOA’s)
• Performs plan review for planning, building, and engineering permitting
• Performs landscape and zoning inspections on new construction projects
• Performs field inspections; processes and issues tree removal permits
• Serves as the lead technical resource for ensuring conformity and consistency among field team members regarding City rules, regulations, and ordinances, and in particular, landscape, zoning, and tree preservation codes and regulations
• May supervise and coordinate the activities of landscape inspectors, including determining procedures and work schedules, issuing instructions, and assigning duties
• May advise homeowners and developers on matters of a horticultural nature concerning the condition of landscaping
• Performs other duties as assigned and/or required

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by three (3) or more years’ experience in landscape installation, construction supervision, and project management.
Must have a state of Florida driver’s license and have Landscape Inspectors Association of Florida (LIAF) certification and Florida Association of Code Enforcement (F.A.C.E.) certification level I. Must be an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.

*The City reserves the right to consider alternate combinations of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of local trees, palms, plants, turf, and proper horticultural and arboricultural care and practice.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel)
• Skilled in providing good customer service
• Ability to read, review, and interpret landscaping plans and specifications against code required elements
• Ability to multi-task while working with tight deadlines and shifting priorities
• Ability to quickly and independently learn new software
• Ability to organize work for timely completion
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to use critical thinking skills to arrive at solutions and suggest improvements to processes
• Ability to clearly communicate and understand information in English, both orally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Ability to regularly attend work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort usually involving some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Usually involves some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, walking or standing. Tasks may involve extended periods of time standing and/or walking.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Tasks are regularly performed inside and/or outside with potential for exposure to adverse conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, fumes and/or poor ventilation, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature, and noise extremes, machinery and/or moving vehicles, vibrations, electric currents, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, gases or chemicals, oils and other cutting fluids, violence and/or disease, or pathogenic substances.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors.