SENIOR CITY FORESTER

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

SR. CITY FORESTER

DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & SANITATION (DSS)

Bureau of Forestry

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Grade: G-6; Salary: $79,260

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

These positions are open to the general public and to all current city employees covered under the terms of the City's collective bargaining agreement with the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - (BARGAINING UNIT #01, 03, 04, 05). Only employees currently in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Under general supervision, the class performs fully functioning professional urban forestry work and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Develops and manages Tree Planting, Insect Control, and Street Tree Inventory programs
• Prepares contract specifications and request for proposals for tree planting, insect control, and street tree inventory projects performed by private contractors and consultants
• Supervises subordinate staff on tree planting, plan review, and tree assessment projects
• Coordinates and monitors activities of landscaping contractors ensuring work conforms to specifications and plant materials meet City quality standards
• Reviews and approves payment invoices for work performed by contractors
• Drives to nurseries and selects trees for mass planting projects throughout the city, tree planting and removal inspections, project reviews, tree appraisals, etc.
• Coordinates and conducts field surveys to inspect trees, tree infrastructure, and other plant material to determine quality, rate of growth and insect and disease damage and develops specific maintenance and pest control programs to correct problems found
• Leads development and implementation of the Bureau's training program to include training manuals and materials, and individual and class instruction
• Leads the development of the City's Urban Forest Management Plan by working with the Deputy Commissioner and Operation staff, as well as community members, non-profits, arboretums and other municipal agencies
• Reviews, develops, and coordinates landscape plans for the planting, maintenance and removal of trees and other plant material
• Develop protocols and standards based upon the most current industry standards and practices.
• Identifies, defines, and develops funding sources to support existing and planned program activities and leads the development, writing, and submission of grant proposals to federal, state, and private funding agencies
• Reviews construction and building plans for compliance with the City's landscape and tree protection ordinances
• Conducts tree assessments and appraisals when trees are proposed to be impacted or have been impacted by construction activities
• Enforces the municipal code as it relates to the protection of City trees such as code violations issued when trees are damaged by construction activities, permits issued for tree planting or removal, etc.
• Provides arboricultural and horticultural advice to the general public
• Participates directly on cooperative horticultural programs with other municipal agencies, arboretums, non-profit groups and local community organizations
• Works with utility companies and municipal agencies excavating on the City's parkways to protect trees from damage
• Prepares informational materials on the bureau's programs
• Assists in the preparation of the annual budget
• May testify in court as an expert witness on tree and landscape issues

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location: 2352 S Ashland

Days/Hours: Monday-Friday; 6:00 am - 2:30 pm

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE.

MINIMUM QUALFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, or a directly related field, plus two (2) years of work experience in the care and maintenance of trees and shrubbery, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher in Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, or a directly related field, plus one (1) year of work experience in the care and maintenance of trees and shrubbery

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required
• Must be certified as an Arborist within six (6) months of hire date

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Juris Doctorate degree program.

NOTE: You must provide your transcripts or diploma/degree at time of processing.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a writing exercise. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written part of the interview will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

Application Evaluation: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on an eligibility list in lottery order. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor