Job Detail

City Forester (19864801)

Location: City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Salary: $101,400.00 - $123,240.00 Annually

THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA IS SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE CITY’S LEGACY OF AN URBANIZED FOREST, PARKS AND BEACH. 

First incorporated in 1916, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a community founded by artists and writers. Carmel-by-the-Sea is supported in its mission by the diligent efforts of dedicated, hardworking citizens and their elected and appointed officials. Residents take an active role in preserving the quality of life unique to this community.

Located in northwest Monterey County, California, along the Pacific Ocean, Carmel is a city rich in coastal resources, cultural heritage, and historical interest that attracts nationwide and international visitors. The City is renowned for its rich beauty and prides itself on its white sand beach, luxuriant landscaped bluffs, verdant urban forest, natural parklands, roadside greenbelts, and its dedication to the arts. The absence of formal sidewalks in the residential district contributes to the forest-like atmosphere, with its abundance of over 80 acres of parks located throughout the City.

The City Forester position reports directly to the Public Works Director.  The Division of Forest and Beach is responsible for the maintenance of and improvements to the urbanized forest, all City parks, Preserve lands, and Carmel beach. The Division manages over 13,000 trees growing on public property and provides staff support to the Forest and Beach Commission.  The Forester is responsible for:

• The urbanized forest – the City’s largest, most visible, and most important natural resources.  Both environmentally and aesthetically, the forest makes the City a better place to live and visit.  Each tree makes an individual contribution, but in concert with each other the trees become a forest – and a powerful influence on the community.
• Nine formally designated park, open space, and recreational areas. The parks and open space amount to over 68 acres of land.  In addition, the City has approximately 67 acres of other areas that can be considered an important open space resource but are not available for traditional park and recreation use.   Also, the City has a significant amount of unimproved right of way, a linear greenbelt, as well as miniature parks under the Division’s care. 

• The North Dunes -  located on the north end of Carmel Beach adjacent to the Del Mar parking lot at the foot of Ocean Avenue. This area comprises 8 acres of sand dunes and contains several special status species. Special plants of the North Dunes include the Tidestrom’s lupine, which is listed by the State of California and the Federal Government as endangered. 

• The Mission Trail Nature Preserve - a 34-acre park that encompasses three miles of hiking trails and a native plant garden. The Preserve’s habitats include a Monterey Pine forest, Coast Live Oak woodland, wetland, willow riparian corridor and a coastal prairie. The Preserve was designed as a nature park in 1979 for passive recreational use, including dog walking. The Preserve include the Flanders Mansion, the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden and the meadow off Martin Road.  The City has an active management plan to remove invasive plants, restore wetlands, and improve the trail system. 

Since the early 1900’s the care of Carmel’s forest and natural environment has resulted in the adoption of Ordinances, Resolutions and Policies relating to trees.  Taken together, these documents have successfully guided the City’s forest management program over the years.  However, since the measures were adopted at different times to address separate concerns, they lack a sense of overall cohesion.  The incumbent has an opportunity to work with our key stakeholders in providing direction on program goals, policies and staffing levels to maximize priorities and create a new paradigm for protecting, preserving, and rehabilitating the urbanized forest.

In addition, this position includes maintenance, preservation, capital improvements, beautification services, and coordinating assigned activities with other City departments, contractors, and outside agencies. The position receives general direction from the Public Works Director and exercises direct supervision over technical, maintenance, and administrative staff.

The successful candidate will be responsible for performing complex professional level tasks related to overseeing plans and operations of the Forest, Parks and Beach Division.  Critical to this position is the ability to communicate results, findings, and processes to the Director.  The incumbent will need to possess strong analytical, management and organizational skills, be able to handle multiple assignments and work well under pressure.  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking ability, as well as significant capital and operating budget experience are required.

JOIN THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM? Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying as four years of increasingly responsible experience in forest preservation including one year of supervisory or lead responsibility and equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in forestry, horticulture, or a related field.  Certification as an Arborist is required. 

The closing date for this recruitment is 5:00 pm, Friday, June 28, 2019.  To be considered, submit an on-line application, cover letter, resume and a list of three (3) professional references that will not be contacted until mutually agreed upon, through CalOpps.Org.  Following the deadline, applications will be screened in relation to the criteria indicated in this announcement.  Applicants with the most relevant qualifications will be invited to interview.

Job PDF: 

 City Forester_Job Announcement.pdf

Benefits

The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers its employees a generous benefit package, featuring family medical coverage, retirement, life insurance, plus 12 paid holidays per year.

• Salary range from $101,400-$123,240 depending on qualifications and experience.
• City Forester classification is an exempt position not entitled to overtime and/or compensatory time.

• Participation in a Governmental 457 Deferred Compensation (City contributes $25.00/monthly and match up to $50.00)
• Fully paid employee and dependent Dental Plan
• Fully paid employee and dependent Vision Plan
• Fully paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Flat Rate (80%) City paid medical contribution which may allow employees to select a fully paid health plan
• Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
• Voluntary Long Term Disability plan
• 12 annual paid holidays
• Two to four weeks vacation annually depending on years of service per MOA
• 80 hours of management leave for exempt positions (non-accruable)
• 96 hours annual sick leave
• Direct Deposit
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Healthcare and Childcare expenses
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $1,000 per fiscal year.

Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

• 2% at 60 formula for Classic Employees |One-year final compensation for 2% at 60 employees
• 2% at 62 formula for New CalPers Members (PEPRA) |Three-year final compensation for 2% at 62 employees only

Location

Public Works Corporation Yard Carmel by the Sea, 93921

Recruitment Contact

Contact phone: 

(831) 620-2017

Contact email: 

[email protected]

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