NYC Parks Seeks Director of Forestry
Posted on January 1, 2023
Position Title:
Director of Forestry
Position Summary
NYC Parks helps bring together people from all over our great city. From the iconic Central Park to neighborhood playgrounds, we own and operate some of the most exemplary green spaces in the world. At NYC Parks, our mission is to plan resilient and sustainable parks, public spaces, and recreational amenities, build a park system for the present and future generations, and care for parks and public spaces.
The mission of Forestry, Horticulture and Natural Resources (FHNR) is to protect, restore, expand and manage New York City’s natural spaces and green infrastructure to maximize their benefits and promote their value within and outside of the urban ecosystem.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
• Under general direction, manage all phases of the care and preservation of street and park trees throughout the borough.
• Oversee supervisors, climbers and pruners, foresters, horticulture staff and other field and administrative staff as required.
• Manage in-house and contracted street and park tree maintenance programs including inspections, pruning, tree and stump removal,
sidewalk repair around trees, pest and diseases and tree protection. Prioritize all forestry work to accomplish agency goals.
• Lead borough storm emergency response efforts to safeguard human health and property, clear streets and sidewalks of tree debris and mobilize additional non-forestry crews and equipment as required. Supervise storm emergency contractors if such contracts are activated. Be on-call for immediate assessment and management of storm related emergencies.
• Oversee forestry office operations including the accurate and timely use of ForMS relating to service requests, inspections, work orders and reports. Work with ITT and other forestry divisions on continued development of ForMS and associated software.
• Analyze and utilize data to properly allocate resource and prioritize work.
• Perform staff development and training of agency and/or volunteers regarding tree maintenance and preservation, hazard and storm damage assessment, pests and diseases of trees and forestry equipment operation.
• Represent the borough and/or the Agency, when appropriate, to articulate and enforce Parks’ tree protection policies in the planning, design and construction phases of Parks Capital and other public and private construction projects.
• Prepare briefings, reports, evaluations, budgets and correspondence related to Parks’ borough forestry program. Provide regular
updates on the status of various projects and programs and ensure that projects are advanced in a timely manner.
• Direct tree pest and disease management programs, including inspecting for and responding to Dutch elm disease infections.
Maintain self and staff familiarity with new pests, including directing inspections of host trees and reporting as required.
• Perform restitution as per the NYC Tree Valuation protocol and Local Law 3 of 2010 before issuing tree removal permits.
• Coordinate with Central Forestry & Horticulture on tree planting permits and contracts, grants and other urban forestry and
sustainability projects in the borough. Coordinate with NRG on reforestation projects within the borough.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with major study in horticulture, arboriculture or landscape architecture and four years of full-time, paid experience in horticultural work of which two (2) years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial or executive capacity
or
2. A satisfactory equivalent. However, all candidates must have at least a high school diploma or evidence of having passed an examination for a high school equivalency diploma and one year of supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial or executive experience as described above.
Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service. New York City residency required for all other candidates.
PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS
1. Master’s degree with specialization in horticulture, forestry, natural resource management or a related subject, or at least 5 years of experience in one of these fields.
2. I.S.A Certification, A.S.C.A. Registered Consulting Arborist and/or New York State Pesticide License.
3. Strong knowledge of agency structure and divisions and/or government operations.
4. Excellent writing, supervisory, administrative and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ForMS database.
5. Valid New York State driver license.
Salary: $110,000 - $120,000 plus excellent benefits
Work Location: Overlook, Queens
Apply
Apply by: 01/13/2023
For external applicants, please apply through www.nyc.gov/careers
1) Go to www.nyc.gov/careers/search
2) Search for Job ID#: 565181
For details about NYC Parks: www.nyc.gov/parks
References will be required upon request.
THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS AN INCLUSIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND PROVIDING A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT BASED UPON ANY LEGALLY PROTECTED STATUS OR PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEX, RACE, COLOR, ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, VETERAN STATUS, GENDER IDENTITY, OR PREGNANCY.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF: (212) 504-4115