Salary: $44.29 - $57.57 Hourly
Location : Blaine, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 164
Department: Public Services/Public Works
Division: Public Works
Opening Date: 02/28/2025
Closing Date: 3/14/2025 4:30 PM Central

Description

The City of Blaine is seeking a dedicated and experienced City Forester to oversee, develop, and implement a comprehensive community forestry program that ensures the health and sustainability of urban trees and natural landscapes. This role is responsible for the management of city-owned trees, tree disease control, reforestation projects, and the preservation of native habitats. The City Forester will also provide expertise and guidance to developers, contractors, residents, and City staff on tree-related matters, ensure regulatory compliance, and lead public education initiatives. This position works under the direction of the Public Works Streets Supervisor and provides continuous supervision to Full-Time and Seasonal Forestry Staff within the Public Works Department.
Examples of Duties

Develop and recommend long-term forestry resource management plans and programs, covering reforestation, shade tree disease and pest control, ecological systems restoration, inventory and assessment, maintenance, and innovative forestry practices.
Manage and oversee the City's tree disease program, including developing procedures, communicating with property owners, identifying and removing diseased trees, ensuring compliance with City ordinances, and taking enforcement actions when necessary.
Provide expertise in urban forestry to inform and guide ecological system-focused habitat restoration goals and initiatives for public property.
Supervise and manage tree contractors and consultants, including soliciting and reviewing quotes and bids for public forestry projects.
Develop and implement a comprehensive tree care program for trees located on public property and within street rights-of-way. This includes addressing safety and sightline concerns, inspecting public trees for maintenance and removal needs, and advising tree care crews.
Hire, train, and supervise assigned forestry staff.
Manage and coordinate public reforestation efforts.
Oversee tree-related planning and surveys for road reconstruction projects in collaboration with the City's Engineering Department, as well as private development review and permitting.
Provide technical assistance and respond to inquiries from residents, City staff, and outside agencies regarding tree-related matters.
Assist in public education efforts, including managing Arbor Day activities and ensuring the City receives the Tree City USA designation.
Oversee the Forestry section of the Public Works budget.
Coordinate with external contractors and other governmental agencies on behalf of the City.
Research, prepare, and manage grant opportunities for forestry projects.
Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Supplemental Information
Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Horticulture, Natural Resources, or a related field.
1-3 years of experience in forestry (preferably municipal), including supervisory experience.
MN DNR Tree Inspector's license within six months of hire.
ISA Certified Arborist or SAF Certified Forester within six months of hire.
Valid driver's license in the State of Minnesota.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in forestry, horticulture, natural resources, or a related field.

We offer an excellent comprehensive benefit package for full time employees. Including paid vacation, sick leave, medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement benefits, educational assistance, employer paid employee assistance program, Flex Spending, Post Retirement Health Care, optional deferred compensation and short term disability.
For 2025, the City contributes $1,540.00 per month for each full-time employee to apply towards the benefits offered through the cafeteria plan if electing medical coverage. For 2025, the City contributes $714.44 per month for each full-time employee if medical coverage is waived. The City's contribution is pro-rated for part-time employees.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
The City of Blaine offers a full cafeteria plan. All full-time probationary and regular City employees are eligible to participate. Single coverage is part of the core, but if the employee so elects, he/she may include his/her dependents on a family policy. Employees may choose from five options under HealthPartners. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following date of hire for both employee and employee+ policies. The following are the monthly premiums for each plan:

HealthPartners (1/1/2025)

Group #5602

$30 Co-Pay 100%

$3300 HDHP/HSA

$3300 RX HDHP/HSA

$5000 RX HDHP/HSA

$2500 HSA Aggregate

Employee

$1,244.56

$934.56

$959.06

$875.56

$955.06

Employee + Child(ren)

$2,489.06

$1,868.56

$1,918.06

$1750.56

$1,910.06

Employee + Spouse

$2,613.56

$1,962.06

$2,014.06

$1,838.06

$2,005.56

Family

$3,235.56

$2,429.06

$2,493.06

$2,275.56

$2,482.56
DENTAL INSURANCE
Single dental insurance is part of the core, but family dental insurance is available. All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible. This dental insurance becomes effective on the first of the month following date of hire. The monthly premiums for single and family coverage is:

PLAN SINGLE DEPENDENT/FAMILY
HealthPartners $57.75 $113.07

LIFE INSURANCE
Basic life in the amount of $50,000 is part of the core. All full-time probationary and regular City employees are provided with a term life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy.

PLAN RATE
Lincoln Financial $8.50

ADDITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE
Available for family members of all full-time probationary and regular employees at low group rates from Lincoln Financial and/or PERA Life. Specific regulations apply.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
All active full-time employees who work 40 hours a week are eligible to participate in the long-term disability (LTD) plan.

RETIREMENT
Retirement benefits are those of a coordinated plan which combines the benefits of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) with regular Social Security benefits. The employee contributes 6.50% of total annual earnings to PERA. The city contributes 7.50% of the employee's annual earnings to PERA. The employee also contributes the mandatory social security contribution which is matched by the City.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
All regular full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement upon satisfactory completion of approved work-related educational courses offered by accredited institutions.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
All regular full-time employees may participate in an Employee Assistance Program through HealthPartners at the City's expense. In certain instances, this benefit extends to the employee's immediate family as well.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible to participate in a pre-tax savings program through payroll deduction.
HEALTH SAVING ACCOUNTS and/or FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible to participate in the City's pre-tax health savings account and/or flexible spending accounts for medical/dental/vision expenses and/or dependent care costs. Specific rules and regulations govern use and eligibility.

POST EMPLOYMENT HEALTH CARE SAVINGS PLAN (HCSP)
The city has implemented the Minnesota State Retirement System HCSP, which requires employees to save money on a pre-tax basis to pay medical expenses and/or health insurance premiums after termination of public service.

HOLIDAYS
The following eleven paid holidays will be observed by the city, New Year's Day, ML King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Floating Holiday.

VACATION
Vacation leave is accrued by all regular full-time employees.

SICK LEAVE
Sick leave is accrued by all full-time employees at the rate of four hours per pay period with a maximum accumulation of 960 hours. A minimum of one hour must be used per occurrence.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
All probationary and regular employees are eligible for bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member. Employees may convert up to four days of sick leave per occurrence.
01

Do you have a valid drivers license?

02

Do you have a Minnesota DNR Tree Inspector's license?

03

If your response to Question 2 is no, are you willing to obtain a Minnesota DNR Tree Inspector's license within six months of hire?

04

Are you an ISA Certified Arborist or SAF Certified Forester?

05

If your response to Question 4 is no, are you willing to become ISA or SAF Certified within six months of hire?

06

Do you have at least one year of experience in forestry, including supervisory experience?

07

Do you have a bachelor's degree in Forestry, Horticulture, Natural Resources, or a related field?

08

Do you have at least three years of experience in forestry, including supervisory experience?

Required Question

City of Blaine, MN

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