Job Detail

Director of Forestry

Location: Minneapolis, MN
Salary: $119,600.00 - $141,252.80

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is searching for a skilled Director to lead and oversee the Forestry Department for the MPRB, utilizing best practices for support and delivery of services within budgeted resources.  Director will lead, direct, and coordinate all aspects of urban forest management including customer service, forestry field operations, planning & analytics, outreach & community engagement, preservation practices, and research for that portion of the urban forest located in MPRB neighborhood and regional parks, on boulevards or the public rights of way, and on other city owned properties. Position oversees the department's $11 million budget and 74 staff members.  Work involves overall responsibility for planning, managing, directing, and implementing the mission, values and goals and objectives pertaining of the MPRB.

 

JOIN OUR CREW, WE NEED YOU:

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of one of the premier park systems in the United States. Our picturesque lakes, neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and diversified programming make the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play, and work!

Since 2013, MPRB is proud to be recognized among the top five urban park systems in the United States by the Trust for Public Land. It is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA)— one of three park agencies in Minnesota and fewer than 200 in the United States with this distinction for excellence in operations and service.

Learn more about the MPRB's history, leadership and structure. https://www.minneapolisparks.org/about-us/leadership-and-structure/

 

What You'll Do

• Responsible for overall management and strategic leadership of the Forestry Department to include effective planning and administrative work for all activities of the department utilizing best practices that fully support the current and future needs of the MPRB and are compatible with the Park Board’s mission and in compliance with all regulatory bodies.   
• Develop short- and long-term department procedures, work rules, objectives, and goals.   Evaluate programs, activities, and services to ensure they are meeting planned objectives using best practices.   
• Develop and maintain effective communications and relationships with other Park Board staff and Commissioners, public agencies, and the general public to assure effective representation, understanding, and coordination of department activities. 
• Prepare and administer Forestry’s annual budget.   Contributing components include the development and work towards performance goals; cost control activities; fee development; revenue and expenditure monitoring; sound fiscal control; vendor contract management; and effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, and facilities.
• Build an effective work environment which fosters leadership, collaboration, and partnerships to enhance community services, eliminate barriers, build alliances with key decision makers, utilize all available resources, and assure a seamless response to customer inquiries and requests for service.
• Manage and resolve labor relations issues such as grievances, disciplinary action, and conflict resolution.  Understand Contract language and provisions to ensure compliant, fair, and consistent applications of labor relations practices, and proactively identify and mitigate potential labor issues.
• Keep Assistant Superintendent promptly informed of matters as they relate to department and MPRB. 
• Assist MPRB in identifying and addressing the park and recreation needs of underserved and under-represented communities.

What To Bring

Need to Have:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Urban and Community Forestry, Forestry, Natural Resources, Arboriculture, or a closely related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Increasingly responsible experience in municipal or urban forestry: at least six (6) years.
• Experience in leadership, management, and administration: at least six (6) years.
• Increasingly responsible experience supervising others: at least six (6) years.
• Experience supervising unionized employees: minimum of three (3) years; 6 or more years preferred.   

Licensing Requirements: 

• Valid Driver’s License and safe driving record
• ISA Certified Arborist with Municipal Specialist endorsement within one (1) year of hire
• Tree Inspector’s License from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources within one (1) year of hire

Physical requirements:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
• Ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, pull, push, finger, feel, grasp, lift, talk, see, hear and perform repetitive motions.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle as incumbents are subject to local travel to and from work locations. Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements. The ability to remain in a sitting or standing position for extended periods of time.
• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Work is primarily performed in an office setting and requires some offsite visits to park locations and facilities.  Attendance required at some evening Board meetings/ other public meetings (approximately twice per month).

Skills Crucial to Success in This Role:  

• Extensive knowledge of all facets of urban forestry, including plant identification and selection for use and survival in urban soils; preservation, inventory, and maintenance; insect and disease control; nursery operations; and outreach and research.
• Best practices and processes for TRAQ, Forest Pest first Detector, Landscape Specialist licensure.
• Project management leadership on the wide variety of projects government bodies and private developers conduct and how those impact the urban tree canopy.  
• Contemporary principles and best practices of personnel management and supervision.
• Computer and software applications used in business settings, program management, and asset management.
• Outstanding customer service principles and practices in a diverse setting.
• Establish and maintain effective, respectful, and productive working relationships.
• Set appropriate priorities while coordinating multiple projects and meeting critical deadlines.
• Solve problems and effectively handle critical, controversial, and/or sensitive policy issues.
• Work in a team environment and adapt to changing conditions and situations.

 

Additional Information

FLSA Status: Exempt

Union Status: Non-Represented, Appointed

Accountable to: Assistant Superintendent of Environmental Stewardship 
 

Job Information Session:  A 30 minute Job Information Session will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:30PM CST via conference call.  This is your opportunity to ask questions about the position and to gain a better understanding of the selection process.  Interested parties are encouraged to attend by calling (612) 230-6594. 

Selection Process:

To apply for this appointed position, applicants must complete an online application with supplemental questions at www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs.  Applicants must attach a resume and cover letter to their application.  Late applications will be rejected.

What steps the selection process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We conduct panel interviews with finalist candidates (tentatively scheduled for afternoon of Wednesday, December 4, 2024 and on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at Minneapolis Park and Recreation headquarters building).  Top candidates will complete a Leadership Selection Assessment.  
• References, including verification of employment and work performance, may be considered.
• We conduct a background check and driver's license check.  Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, the applicant will be asked to sign an informed consent allowing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to obtain their criminal history in connection with the positions sought. View the MPRB Background Check Policy at https://www.minneapolisparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Background-Check-Policy.pdf (Download PDF reader).  Failure to provide consent to required pre-employment background check will result in withdrawal of job offer.  

Please note that HR reserves the right to limit the number of people invited to successive steps in the interview process.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board – a great place to play, work, and make a difference in the lives of others.

The MPRB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a tobacco-free workplace and park system.

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