Job Details

City of Portland - Forestry Foreperson

About the City of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities:

The Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is comprised of 160 full-time and over 250 seasonal staff dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Portland, Maine. They achieve this by operating cultural venues, running community programs (including Before and After School, Swim Lessons, and Senior Adult programs), and maintaining public buildings, waterfront infrastructure, 70 parks, 40+ miles of trails, 13 cemeteries, and 30 playgrounds. Their diverse team, including Park Maintainers, Lifeguards, Event Managers, Horticulturalists, and many others, works collaboratively to provide spaces and opportunities for social connection, recreation, and community development.

Job Summary:

Are you a leader who thrives in the outdoors? Do you believe that healthy trees are the heart of a vibrant city?
The City of Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is looking for a dynamic and experienced Forestry Foreperson to lead our tree care operations. This is a working supervisory position that directs and coordinates the on-site field and tree care operations throughout the City. This position's work assignments involve specific areas of expertise and knowledge of urban forestry including but not limited to tree inspection, planting and care of shade and ornamental trees, guiding a safe work environment and job performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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• Ensures worker and public safety by following relevant ANSI Z133 and A300 tree care standards.
  
• Inspects work to ensure conformance with engineering specifications and standards and makes necessary adjustments in assignments and methods to correct deficiencies.
  
• Conducts risk tree assessments, guidance and instruction of required pre-work job briefings with the ability to plan and assign work.
  
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the public, private sector contractors, City departments, supervisors, and employees to effectively obtain satisfactory work output.
  
• Oversees certain Winter Operations assigned to the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department, including plowing of city parking lots, park roads, and city sidewalks.
• Provides instruction to individuals and crew in terms of equipment usage and safety in accordance with local and state regulations.
  
• Investigates complaints or issues raised by the public.
  
• Maintains appropriate records of work performed, employee time, equipment and material usage, and other pertinent data.
  
• Oversees maintenance schedules of equipment within the section and conducts minor mechanical service and repair of forestry related equipment, such as sharpening chainsaws, changing stump grinder teeth, aerial lift service requirements.
  
• Makes minor mechanical adjustments to equipment, such as changing belts, blades, spark plugs and points.
  
• Oversees and organizes the work of volunteer groups.
  
• Considerable knowledge of the hazards and applicable safety precautions of work.
  
• Ability to work with a diverse population.

Requirements of Work:

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• Extensive education, training and demonstrated arboricultural experience performing the required work, including operation, safety and maintenance requirements of related forestry equipment including aerial lift, log truck, brush chipper, stump grinder, and chainsaws.
  
• Knowledge of all related safety standards pertaining to urban forestry including ANSI z133, A92, B56 and A300 standards, and electrical hazards awareness training.
• Proficient in modern tree climbing systems, techniques including ability and instructing skills.
  
• Expertise and knowledge of northeast tree species and tree pruning objectives, control measures of invasive species (such as Winter Moth, Browntail Moth, Dutch Elm Disease, Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid).
  
• Knowledge of tree and landscape planting standards.
  
• Advanced computer skills including GIS tree inventory, data collection, including City Works and ArcView software (or similar).
  
• Interpret and effectively carry out written and oral instructions
  
• Prioritize and schedule work including opening, closing, planning, responding to work requests, record keeping, 'Dig Safe' systems protocols
  
• Responds to related tree emergencies and participates in Supervisory on-call coverage and departmental winter operations.

Experience and Training Desired:

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• At least 5 years experience as a municipal or commercial arborist.
  
• Completion of post-secondary education such as an associate degree or greater in forestry or related fields.
  
• Possess positive supervisory and training experience in the field of arboriculture.
  
• Meets or exceeds the standard requirements of Arborist III position including EHAP (Electrical Hazard Awareness Program) training.

Necessary Special Requirements:

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• Must possess a valid First Class or Master Maine Arborist License with both Landscape & Utility categories, Maine Pesticide Operator's License with Outdoor Ornamentals (3A) and Right of Way Vegetation Management (6A) categories.
  
• First Aid & CPR Training required
  
• Must possess a valid Class B driver's license in good standing.

Expected Hours/Schedule:
40 hours/week (days 6:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.).

Applications accepted until August 21, 2026

Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a union position, Supervisors Union Grade 26(M) with a starting pay range of $31.05/hr up to $36.17/hr, based on relevant years of experience.

For more information about compensation with the City of Portland, please refer to the union specific pay plans and agreements.

The City of Portland prides itself on its outstanding benefits and collegial and mission-driven work environment.
City benefits include:

• Free employee health insurance with the completion of wellness incentives
  
• Thirteen paid holidays
  
• Sick, vacation, and personal leave
  
• Life, dental, vision and income protection insurances
  
• Choice of retirement plans, including a pension plan
  
• Use of City recreation facilities
  
• Fitness Reimbursement
  
• Discount on professional development programs through USM and Thomas College

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please email Human Resources at jobs@portlandmaine.gov or call 207-874-8624.

The City of Portland believes that to do our best work, our employees need to reflect the diverse, vibrant community we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to celebrating all dimensions of diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 207-874-8624 or email hrinfo@portlandmaine.gov.

To apply, visit https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=130&sreq=2&form=1000&desc=FORESTRY%20FOREPERSON