Job Appointment: Full-Time, Regular

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7 am - 3:30 pm

Work Location: This position is primarily in person, with regular work conducted at field locations throughout the City. The primary reporting location is 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Limited remote work may be available based on operational needs and supervisor approval; however, any remote work must be performed within the states of Oregon or Washington.

Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Union Representation: This classification is represented by LiUNA Laborers' Local 483. To view current labor agreements, please visit here.

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:

The City of Portland is seeking skilled and dedicated Tree Inspectors to support a new, citywide effort to care for Portland’s public street trees. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is currently recruiting for two (2) Street Tree Maintenance Program Tree Inspectors, funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). This program will inspect and maintain approximately 330,000 public street trees, improving tree health, public safety, and neighborhood livability while reducing the financial burden on adjacent property owners.

These advanced professional roles involve the systematic inspection of public trees to evaluate tree health, structural integrity, and public safety risks. Tree Inspectors may perform on-site tree condition and risk assessments; create work orders for tree pruning, removal, and inoculations; and manage contractors working under City contracts. The role also includes collaboration with inter-agency bureaus, public utilities, government agencies, developers, property owners, contractors, and attorneys on program development and regulatory compliance.

This position requires extensive public communication and interaction, including the ability to understand and respect diverse perspectives, assess varying viewpoints, and exercise diplomacy. While Tree Inspectors often work independently in the field, they are also part of a collaborative team environment. Within PP&R, these positions operate under the guidance of the Tree Maintenance Operations Manager, Street Tree Maintenance Program Supervisor, and City Forester.

These Tree Inspector positions are located within the Portland Parks & Recreation bureau. The eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies in Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Permitting & Development.

As a Tree Inspector, you will:

• Perform timely evaluations, field assessments, and inspections for tree preservation, removal, pruning, chemical application, planting, and root pruning.
• Provide technical program and arboricultural expertise through clear and detailed written responses to diverse urban forest stakeholders.
• Respond to inquiries from residents, property owners, and internal stakeholders to provide education, assistance, and information on tree regulations and Street Tree Maintenance program delivery.
• Maintain accurate records of tree conditions, inspections, and actions taken. Learn and utilize the City tree management software to develop work orders and monitor contractor performance.
• Maintain positive, professional working relationships with City contractors to conduct arboricultural operations on trees in the public rights-of-way; hold contractors to account for good performance. Respectfully and firmly communicate needed corrections to contractors to achieve program results.
• Collaborate with TMO Supervisors, the Street Tree Maintenance Program Supervisor, the City Forester, other City infrastructure bureaus, and public agencies to develop and implement the City’s new Street Tree Maintenance program.
• Participate in fostering a positive and equitable work culture that values safety, diversity, inclusion, and productivity.

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 $9.2 billion and comprised of over 1.2 million park trees, 333,000 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. 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 has been a Tree City USA for 48 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, refugees, 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 who 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’s duties and responsibilities, day-to-day life in the role, reviewing the announcement, discussing how to apply, and answering any questions you may have about the position.

View Recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/VBJlHkgh1Ki2aD5W0vGNtZIfFFzGHwOkunc3pVFf3sHFtKIeL2LclEz1Vt5hQQr7.sIPBKGMuyKsitMKY 
Passcode: Z6Owx@!Z

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Amanda Hillebrecht, Senior Recruiter
Amanda.Hillebrecht@portlandoregon.gov
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Knowledge and technical expertise in inspecting and evaluating trees in an urban environment, including extensive experience performing whole tree and tree root inspections to detect hazardous conditions related to health, structure, insects, and disease.
2. Experience applying arboricultural best practices and principles of urban forest management and municipal tree care, including tree risk assessment, to independently evaluate urban trees and execute tree care decisions.
3. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse external and internal audiences, both verbally and in writing; ability to present information and recommendations clearly to non-technical individuals, exercising tact and diplomacy in interactions with colleagues, the public, contractors, and other stakeholders.
4. Experience interpreting work plans, reviewing professional reports, and utilizing modern database systems to accurately input and analyze data to manage workloads.

Applicant must also possess:

• A valid state driver’s license and an acceptable driving record at the time of hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintain and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP) certification within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a public pesticide applicator license or pesticide consultant license within nine months of hire. For more information about this certification, click here.

STEP 1: Apply online between February 2, 2026 – February 17, 2026

• 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.
• 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.
• You may use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please be sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of February 17, 2026

• 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 February 17, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): Early March 2026

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: March 2026

Step 6: Start Date: March 2026

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
Click 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