Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Forester

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Forester leads the planning, stewardship and management of trees and green infrastructure in urban and suburban environments. This role develops and implements strategic canopy goals, conducts tree inventories and risk assessments, enforces tree-related ordinances, manages planting and maintenance programs, supports storm response, coordinates contractors and volunteers, and communicates with the public and stakeholders to enhance urban tree health, resilience and equitable canopy distribution.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Arborist / Crew Lead
Parks Technician or Groundskeeper
Environmental Technician or GIS Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Forester / Chief Urban Forester
Urban Forestry Program Manager
Director of Parks, Natural Resources, or Environmental Services

Lateral Moves:

Landscape Architect (with urban forestry focus)
Natural Resources Planner
Tree Risk Assessment Specialist / ISA Trainer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and manage comprehensive citywide tree inventory projects using industry-standard software (e.g., i-Tree, TreePlotter, Street Smart) to collect, validate and analyze structural, species, size and condition data to support decision-making and canopy targets.
Conduct detailed tree risk assessments and hazard evaluations on public trees, documenting defects, likelihood of failure, and consequences to recommend mitigation actions such as pruning, cabling, removal or targeted monitoring.
Develop, implement and maintain urban forest management plans that set canopy goals, planting priorities, maintenance cycles, diversity targets, and long-term funding strategies aligned with municipal objectives and climate resilience initiatives.
Oversee and coordinate tree planting programs including species selection, site assessment, planting specifications, contractor and volunteer supervision, site monitoring, and survival analysis to maximize establishment and equity across neighborhoods.
Prepare and review construction and development plan submittals for tree impacts, manage right-of-way and private development permit reviews, and enforce municipal tree protection ordinances and specifications during projects.
Manage contract procurement, bid specifications, contractor selection, contract administration and on-site oversight for tree care, planting and stump grinding services to ensure adherence to ANSI A300 standards and municipal performance metrics.
Monitor and respond to pest and disease issues (e.g., emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, oak wilt), coordinate treatment and removal prioritization, develop integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and communicate mitigation plans to stakeholders.
Use GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS) to map canopy cover, priority planting zones, risk hotspots and demographic overlays; generate spatial analyses and visualizations to inform equity-based planting and maintenance plans.
Develop and manage budgets for urban forestry programs, including forecasting maintenance costs, capital planting budgets, grant allocations, and revenue from tree mitigation fees; prepare budget proposals and monitor expenditures.
Write and administer grants, technical reports, and funding proposals to secure state, federal and private funds for planting, stewardship and education programs; track grant deliverables and reporting requirements.
Create and maintain standard operating procedures, maintenance specifications, pruning standards and inspection checklists in accordance with ISA, ANSI and municipal guidelines to ensure consistent service delivery.
Coordinate and lead emergency storm response and rapid assessment teams, develop pre-storm preparedness plans, contract surge capacity, prioritize hazardous removals, and communicate public safety information post-storm.
Supervise, mentor and train field crews, contract crews and volunteer groups; develop training curricula in tree pruning, planting, tree climbing safety, pesticide application, and proper use of equipment to ensure safe, compliant operations.
Liaise with internal departments (public works, planning, utilities, parks, transportation) and external stakeholders (residents, neighborhood associations, developers, utility companies) to integrate tree management into broader city projects and policies.
Design and deliver community engagement and public education initiatives, such as workshops, tree steward programs and school partnerships, to build public support and increase awareness of canopy benefits and proper tree care.
Perform site assessments and develop species selection and planting plans tailored to site constraints, soil conditions, overhead utilities and long-term structure to reduce maintenance costs and conflicts.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date tree maintenance and inspection records, service requests, work orders and performance metrics in CMMS or tree management databases to support accountability and transparent reporting.
Evaluate and recommend ordinance updates, fee schedules, and policy changes to improve tree protection, streamline permitting, and align urban forestry practice with climate adaptation and equity goals.
Coordinate invasive species management and native understory restoration projects to improve urban forest health, biodiversity and ecosystem services like stormwater mitigation and pollinator habitat.
Partner with utilities to coordinate vegetation management near overhead lines, negotiate trimming standards, and develop strategies that balance public safety with canopy preservation.
Lead outreach to commercial property owners and developers to promote private property tree retention, sustainable landscaping practices and incorporation of large-stature trees into site designs.
Monitor industry best practices and emerging research in urban forestry, tree biology and climate-adaptive planting to update management practices and staff training accordingly.
Prepare, present and defend urban forestry program updates, budgets and technical recommendations to elected officials, advisory boards and community groups; translate technical findings into accessible policy guidance.
Establish performance metrics and conduct program evaluations (survival rates, canopy change, service delivery times) to continually optimize operations and report outcomes to stakeholders and funders.

Secondary Functions

Maintain inventory and GIS data integrity; support ad-hoc data requests and generate analytical summaries to inform planning and outreach.
Contribute to the department’s strategic initiatives for climate resilience, tree equity, and green infrastructure integration.
Participate in municipal planning reviews, interdepartmental working groups and public meetings to represent urban forestry interests.
Support volunteer coordination for tree planting and stewardship events; provide hands-on guidance and safety briefings.
Assist with development and implementation of education campaigns, publications and digital content that promote tree care best practices.
Participate in procurement processes, evaluations and contract negotiations for equipment, supplies and professional services.
Identify opportunities for cross-departmental grant partnerships and collaborative projects to multiply program impact.
Perform occasional field work including planting, pruning, and inspections to maintain familiarity with operational realities and training needs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

ISA Certified Arborist (or equivalent credential) and/or ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) — recognized arboricultural certification for tree management and risk evaluation.
Proficiency with urban tree inventory and management software (i-Tree, TreePlotter, ArcGIS/ArcGIS Online, QGIS) for data collection, analysis and mapping.
Strong experience conducting tree risk assessments, defect identification, decay evaluation and using standardized risk rating systems.
Knowledge of ANSI A300 pruning standards, Z133 safety standards, municipal tree ordinances and construction mitigation practices.
Plant health care expertise including pest and disease identification, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and experience coordinating treatments or removals.
Experience developing and implementing urban forest management plans, canopy assessments, planting palettes and species diversification strategies.
Grant writing and grant management experience, including development of proposals, budgets, and performance reporting for public and private funding sources.
Contract administration skills: writing scopes of work, preparing bid documents, evaluating proposals, and managing contractor performance and compliance.
GIS spatial analysis and cartography skills for mapping canopy cover, priority planting sites, and risk areas; ability to produce professional maps and story maps.
Budget preparation and financial management for operational and capital urban forestry programs, including cost tracking and forecasting.
Familiarity with storm response protocols, emergency tree hazard triage, and coordination of rapid response crews.
Competence with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), CMMS/work order systems and data visualization tools for reporting.

Soft Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills; able to translate technical findings into clear, persuasive messages for elected officials, community groups and residents.
Strong leadership and team management abilities, including coaching, performance reviews and fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Community engagement and public outreach aptitude; comfortable leading public meetings, workshops and volunteer events.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to prioritize work under competing demands and make data-driven operational decisions.
Conflict resolution and diplomatic negotiation skills when balancing resident concerns, developer interests and municipal requirements.
Project management skills: schedule coordination, milestone tracking, stakeholder management and timely delivery of program objectives.
Attention to detail for inspections, permit reviews and policy compliance while maintaining a strategic view of program goals.
Adaptability and resilience in emergency situations (storms, pest outbreaks) and in shifting municipal priorities.
Collaborative approach to working across departments, agencies and utilities to achieve shared outcomes for canopy and infrastructure.
Cultural competency and equity-minded practice in program design, ensuring underserved communities benefit from planting and stewardship investments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture or related discipline preferred for senior-level positions.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Forestry
Forestry / Forest Science
Environmental Science / Natural Resources
Horticulture / Plant Science
Landscape Architecture
Geography / GIS

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in urban forestry, municipal tree programs, arboriculture, or related roles (mid to senior level). Entry-level positions may start at 1–3 years; senior roles often require 7+ years.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience managing municipal or large-scale urban forestry programs, leading inventory and canopy assessments, administering contracts, supervising crews, conducting tree risk assessments, and producing public-facing reports and presentations. Certification as an ISA Certified Arborist and/or TRAQ and experience with GIS and i-Tree are strongly preferred.