Street Tree Maintenance Supervisor I (Exempt)

Full Job Description

Job Appointment: Full-Time, Regular

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. 7 am-3:30 pm

Work Location: In person at 1120 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR 97204

Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

About this Position:

Join us as PP&R Urban Forestry’s Street Tree Maintenance Program Supervisor.

This position is funded as part of a historic investment in climate justice by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.

We seek to increase tree canopy and reduce urban heat in communities where trees are needed most: in low-income and low-canopy areas of the city, and in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.

The Supervisor will provide day-to-day operational leadership for the Street Tree Maintenance (STM) team, which manages the inspection, maintenance, and contract oversight of more than 330,000 city-owned street trees in the public right-of-way.

This position supervises a Program Coordinator and up to eight Tree Inspectors responsible for delivering thousands of tree inspections annually and supporting more than $10 million in tree maintenance contracts.

Working under the direction of the Street Tree Maintenance Supervisor II, who provides overall program management and strategic direction, this role focuses on direct supervision, work planning, and daily operations of the STM team.

You will hire, train, coach, and supervise staff to be proactive problem solvers and implement best practices in equity, public service, urban forestry, code enforcement, project management, GIS/database management, and contract management.

The Supervisor will work closely with program leadership to develop and implement work plans for large-scale street tree inspection and maintenance programs, manage contracts, ensure work meets City of Portland Title 11 Tree Code requirements and industry standards, and support communication and outreach.

With ambitious goals to maintain and improve the health, safety, and longevity of Portland’s street tree infrastructure, managing program operations, contractor performance, and consistent application of city tree regulations will be a primary focus.

We are seeking a supervisor skilled at mentoring and developing staff and contractor partners.

Because this program operates in a high-visibility regulatory environment, the ideal candidate brings experience supervising tree inspectors and applying municipal tree codes, along with a demonstrated ability to lead projects towards equitable outcomes.

As a Supervisor I, you will:

• Hire, train, supervise, assign work to, and guide the Street Tree Maintenance team, including full-time Coordinators and Tree Inspectors
• Oversee inspection programs that evaluate street trees for maintenance needs, safety hazards, and code compliance
• Manage large-scale tree maintenance contracts, including pruning, hazard tree removal, and related arboricultural services
• Supervise and support staff responsible for enforcing the City of Portland Title 11 Tree Code and communicating requirements to property owners and contractors
• Develop staff, team, and program work plans and project schedules
• Ensure that tree inspection and maintenance operations meet the highest industry standards in terms of best management practices, safety, and quality
• Develop and maintain operating procedures that guide consistent inspection practices, contractor oversight, and program delivery
• Apply an equity and anti-racism lens to all work to intentionally create equitable outcomes
• Manage communication and outreach to diverse stakeholders, including property owners, community members, contractors, and city bureaus
• Train and mentor staff on contractor management, including adherence to contract specifications, invoicing, and problem-solving
• Use inspection and operational data to evaluate outcomes and improve program performance
• Ensure team data and records are well managed using tools such as ArcGIS, digital work order systems, Excel, and Smartsheet
• Coordinate work with other City bureaus, contractors, and community partners to implement street tree maintenance programs
• Evaluate outcomes and refine our efforts for continuous program improvement and providing quality customer service

About Urban Forestry and Portland’s Forest:

Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland’s urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations.

Portland’s urban forest is valued at over $9.2 billion and comprises over 1.2 million park trees, 333,000 street trees and 2.9 million private property trees.

The Urban Forestry team is responsible for the overall management, stewardship, and improvement of this essential infrastructure.

Urban Forestry’s work includes delivery of sustainable and equitable forest services to all Portlanders; establishing and enacting best management practices, plans, policies, and technical standards for tree care and protection and urban forest expansion; implementing, enforcing, and proposing improvements to the City’s tree regulations; providing tree maintenance services including 24/7 response to tree emergencies on City properties and public streets; tree planting and expansion of urban forest services; measurement and assessment of urban forest coverage, health, and services; offering community education and stewardship programs; and oversight and support of the City’s volunteer advisory tree board.

Portland has been a Tree City USA for 48 years, a Tree City of the World, and the Urban Forestry program is accredited by the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists).

About the Bureau:
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugees, and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon, is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates who can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity

Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We’ll be talking about the position’s duties and responsibilities, day-to-day life in the role, reviewing the announcement, discussing how to apply, and answering any questions you may have about the position.

Topic: Meet & Greet: Street Tree Maintenance Supervisor I (E)

Time: Apr 7,202612:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting; https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81655385679

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Amanda Hillebrecht, Senior Recruiter
Amanda.Hillebrecht@portlandoregon.gov

Requirements

Applicants must describe in their supplemental question responses and résumé how their education, training, work experience and/or lived experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Experience managing urban forestry maintenance or inspection programs, including arboricultural standards, contractor management, and quality control.
2. Experience supervising or leading field and/or technical staff such as inspectors, arborists, or other urban forestry personnel, including hiring, training, assigning work, and managing performance.
3. Experience in planning and implementing operational programs or projects, including developing work plans, tracking progress, and evaluating outcomes.
4. Experience applying an equity lens to programs, services, or operational decisions.
5. Experience interpreting and applying municipal codes, regulations, or policies related to urban forestry or a similar regulatory environment.

Applicants must also possess:

• A valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• ISA Certified Arborist certification within the first 9 months of employment
• EHAP certification within the first 9 months of employment
• Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator or Consultant license within the first 9 months of employment

Qualifications

STEP 1: Apply online between March 30, 2026, and April 13, 2026

• Required Application Materials: Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

Application Tips:

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You may use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please be sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of April 13, 2026

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 20, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): May 2026

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: May 2026

Step 6: Start Date: June 2026

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations