Forestry Supervisor

FORESTRY SUPERVISOR

Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department

About the City of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities:

The mission of Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is to enhance the quality of life through people, parks, and programming while creating lasting memories for the people of Portland and its visitors.

The Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is made up of a team of 160 full-time staff, and 250+ seasonal and on-call staff who work together to improve the quality of life in Portland, Maine.

Our staff creates opportunities for social connection and community development by operating and programming our City cultural venues such as Merrill Auditorium and Portland Expo, and running community programs such as our popular Before and After School programs, Swim Lessons, Basketball Leagues, Therapeutic Recreation, and Senior Adult programs. By maintaining our City public buildings, waterfront infrastructure, piers, and our network of 70 parks, 40+ miles of trails, 13 Cemeteries, and 30 playgrounds, we provide places where people can come to connect, exercise, recreate, and create community. Our staff operates community centers, pools, Portland Skatepark, Riverside Golf Course, Troubh Ice Arena, and 2 municipal stadiums where we host youth and adult sports, 3 minor league sports teams, and community events.

Our team of staff is comprised of Park Maintainers and Lifeguards, Event Managers and Child Care Workers, Horticulturalists and Arborists, Food Service Workers and Ice Arena Operators, Park Rangers and Project Managers, Golf Pros and Custodians, Referees and Electricians, Coaches and Trades Workers, Playground Technicians and Plow Operators, Cemetery Maintainers and Theater Techs, along with support staff in Human Resources, Finance, and Admin. Even though the job titles and tasks of our individual staff members vary widely, we all work side by side, day in and day out, to make Portland a better place to live and visit.

Job Summary:

The City of Portland, Maine seeks a dynamic, experienced leader in the Forestry Division for the Department of Parks, Recreation & Facilities. 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:

• Ensures worker and public safety by following relevant ANSI Z133 and A300 tree care standards.

• 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.

• 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.

• Considerable knowledge of the hazards and applicable safety precautions of work.

• Ability to work with a diverse population.

Requirements of Work:

• 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).

• Advanced computer skills including GIS tree inventory, data collection, including City Works and ArcView software (or similar).

• Responds to related tree emergencies and participates in Supervisory on-call coverage and departmental winter operations.

Experience and Training Desired:

• 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.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• 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.

• Must be First Aid & CPR certified

• Must possess a valid Class C driver's license in good standing.

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

Applications accepted until July 11, 2025

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

Salary & Benefits:

This is a union position, Supervisors Union Grade 28(M) Step 1 $30.91 up to step 6 $36.68/hour, based on prior relevant work experience.

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 ... or call ....

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 ... or email ....

Type : INTERNAL & EXTERNAL

Group : SUPERVISOR

Job Family : PARKS & RECREATION

Posting Start : 06/27/2025

Posting End : 07/11/2025

Details : Job Description