Municipal Arborist & Beautification Coordinator

Minimum Education Required

High School Diploma/G.E.D.

License(s) Required

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist

Compensation

$60,000.00 - $60,000.00 / yearly

Hours Per Week

40

Number Of Positions

1

Job Description

The Municipal Arborist & Beautification Coordinator is responsible for professional and skilled work related to the management of the City of Newport’s urban tree canopy and the appearance, maintenance, and improvement of parks, rights-of-way, gateways, streetscapes, sidewalks, landscaped areas, and other public common areas. The position serves as the City’s primary technical resource for the planting, inspection, maintenance, preservation, and management of public trees and provides professional guidance regarding tree selection, pruning, removal, replacement, and long-term urban forestry practices.

The position also serves as a primary point person for City beautification efforts. The Coordinator proactively identifies maintenance and improvement needs; performs routine tree, landscape, vegetation, cleanup, and grounds work where practical; and coordinates larger or specialized work with Public Works, contractors, volunteers, and other partners. The position is expected to take an active, field-based approach to improving the appearance and condition of highly visible public spaces and major entry points into the City.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Conducts routine inspections of trees on City property, rights-of-way, parks, public grounds, and other municipal areas to identify hazardous, diseased, damaged, or declining trees and determines or recommends appropriate maintenance, treatment, removal, or replacement;

• Provides professional arboricultural guidance regarding tree species selection, planting, pruning, preservation, removal, replacement, soil conditions, tree health, and other urban forestry matters;

• Develops and maintains a digital inventory of City-owned trees and related records, including location, species, condition, maintenance history, recommended work, and replacement needs;

• Performs and coordinates proper tree planting, pruning, trimming, maintenance, and removal activities in accordance with accepted arboricultural practices and applicable safety standards;

• Identifies tree species, defects, pests, diseases, structural concerns, and hazardous conditions and assists in establishing priorities for corrective work;

• Coordinates tree removal, stump removal, large-tree pruning, utility-conflict work, and other specialized arboricultural services performed by City personnel, contractors, or outside service providers;

• Responds to storm damage, fallen trees, hazardous limbs, and other tree-related emergencies and coordinates appropriate response with Public Works and other agencies as necessary;

• Organizes and carries out tree-planting initiatives to expand and diversify the City’s urban tree canopy, including coordination with residents, volunteers, neighborhood groups, and partner organizations;

• Manages and supports the Newport Tree Board, including preparing materials, providing technical information, attending meetings, maintaining records, and coordinating follow-up activities;

• Responds to public requests and inquiries concerning City trees, tree maintenance, planting, landscaping, and related public-space conditions;

• Serves as the City’s primary coordinator for beautification, landscaping, and appearance of parks, rights-of-way, gateways and entry points, medians, streetscapes, sidewalks, landscaped areas, and other public common areas;

• Routinely inspects public spaces and major corridors to identify landscaping, vegetation, litter, maintenance, and general appearance issues and establishes or recommends priorities for corrective work and improvements;

• Performs routine grounds and landscape maintenance as needed, including trimming, pruning, planting, watering, weeding, mowing or cutting vegetation, clearing overgrowth, litter removal, and related activities;

• Monitors newly planted trees, landscaping, and other improvements to ensure appropriate watering, maintenance, establishment, and long-term care;

• Develops and implements landscaping and beautification improvements at prominent City gateways, major rights-of-way, medians, parks, and other highly visible public spaces;

• Identifies deteriorated, overgrown, poorly maintained, or otherwise unsightly public areas and coordinates appropriate corrective action;

• Coordinates larger-scale maintenance, cleanup, landscaping, tree work, and beautification projects with Public Works, other City departments, contractors, volunteers, neighborhood groups, and community organizations;

• Coordinates contractors and vendors performing tree care, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and related beautification work and monitors work for satisfactory completion;

• Develops seasonal planting, landscaping, maintenance, watering, and beautification priorities and recommends projects, materials, equipment, and improvements to City leadership;

• Assists with planning and implementing park and public-space improvements, including landscaping, trees, plantings, site amenities, and general appearance;

• Explores, develops, and, if determined feasible, assists in establishing and operating a City municipal tree nursery/tree farm at the City-owned landfill property in Wilder, Kentucky, to support long-term tree planting and replacement needs;

• Develops recommendations for the municipal tree nursery/tree farm, including species selection, propagation or procurement, irrigation, equipment, site improvements, maintenance requirements, anticipated production, costs, and operational needs;

• Maintains records, work plans, project documentation, inventories, and reports related to urban forestry, beautification, grounds maintenance, and public-space improvements;

• Safely operates and assists with the operation of chainsaws, chippers, bucket trucks, stump grinders, mowers, tractors, utility vehicles, hand tools, and other equipment used in tree, landscape, and grounds maintenance;

• Performs additional duties as assigned by City leadership.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent;

• Current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential;

• At least three years of progressively responsible professional experience in arboriculture, urban forestry, tree care, horticulture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, or a closely related field, including substantial hands-on tree care experience;

• Demonstrated knowledge of accepted arboricultural practices and safe operation of tree-care tools and equipment;

• Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work and to work independently in field settings;

• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills for working with residents, contractors, volunteers, community organizations, and City staff;

• Ability to use basic computer applications and maintain digital records, inventories, and documentation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in municipal arboriculture, urban forestry, public grounds maintenance, parks, or public-sector beautification programs;

• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or comparable tree-risk training;

• ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional;

• Education or training in arboriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscape management, natural resources, or a related field;

• Experience coordinating contractors, crews, volunteers, or community-based planting and beautification projects;

• Experience with tree inventory or geographic information system (GIS) software;

• Experience with nursery operations, tree propagation, irrigation, or management of a tree nursery/tree farm.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed in both office and outdoor environments, with substantial field work in varying weather and seasonal conditions;

• Regular local travel throughout the City and to City-owned properties, including the landfill property in Wilder, Kentucky;

• Frequent exposure to traffic, noise, dust, fumes, vegetation, insects, uneven terrain, moving equipment, and other hazards associated with trees, landscape, and roadside maintenance;

• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for plantings, community projects, meetings, or special events;

• Must be available for reasonable after-hours response to significant storm damage or hazardous tree conditions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Thorough knowledge of arboriculture, urban forestry, tree biology, tree identification, planting, pruning, preservation, removal, and tree-risk principles;

• Working knowledge of horticulture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, weed and vegetation control, watering, and seasonal plant care;

• Ability to recognize hazardous trees, defects, diseases, pests, and other conditions requiring corrective action;

• Ability to plan, prioritize, perform, and coordinate tree, landscape, cleanup, and beautification work across multiple public locations;

• Ability to safely operate tree-care, landscape, mowing, and grounds-maintenance tools and equipment and to follow applicable safety practices;

• Ability to coordinate effectively with Public Works, contractors, volunteers, community groups, property owners, and other stakeholders;

• Ability to identify opportunities for practical, attractive, and maintainable improvements to public spaces and City gateways;

• Ability to maintain accurate records, inventories, work plans, and project documentation and to communicate clearly both orally and in writing.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license and ability to operate City vehicles;

• Maintenance of ISA Certified Arborist credential throughout employment;

• Possession of, or ability to obtain within a reasonable period, any license, certification, or training determined necessary for assigned duties, including pesticide/herbicide application certification when required;

• Must be bondable.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS:

• Ability to frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, climb, reach, push, pull, and work on uneven ground for extended periods;

• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds and occasionally handle heavier materials or equipment with appropriate assistance or mechanical means;

• Ability to operate large and small power equipment, hand tools, motor vehicles, and grounds-maintenance equipment;

• Ability to work at heights and around bucket trucks, ladders, tree-care equipment, roadside traffic, and active work zones in accordance with applicable safety requirements;

• Ability to perform outdoor work in heat, cold, rain, humidity, and other inclement weather and tolerate exposure to noise, dust, fumes, odors, pollen, insects, and vegetation;

• Must possess the visual, hearing, mental, and muscular coordination necessary to safely perform arboricultural and grounds-maintenance duties.

Job Type

Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

Yes

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant

Yes

Background Check Required

Yes

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

73021