Location of Service: City of Knoxville Urban Forestry – 3131 Morris Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37909
About City of Knoxville Urban Forestry:
The City of Knoxville’s Public Service Department houses a municipal sector called the Urban Forestry Division. It was created in December of 2013 in order to develop a modern, progressive forestry program within the City. The Urban Forestry Division is responsible for the protection and maintenance of public trees and urban forest resources, as it upholds and implements the Tree Protection Ordinance and other applicable arboreal regulations, maintenance, and protocols.
POSITION SUMMARY:
- Report directly to Urban Forestry Specialist
- Position will be 90% outdoor tasks, 10% indoor tasks
- Maintain the City’s small tree nursery by monitoring irrigation, weeding, and planting trees from the nursery throughout the City
- Proper planting of public trees: digging, mulching, and staking
- Assist City tree crews on cyclical maintenance: pruning, spraying herbicide, and mulching
- Perform root excavations and girdling root removal
- Assist in up keeping records from various planting and maintenance projects within TreeKeeper, the City tree inventory
- Assist the City tree crews in the watering of young trees
- Assist in invasive species removal projects with City staff, contractors, and volunteers
- Assist the Urban Forester and other community partners in planning and coordinating volunteer workdays and planting projects for the City of Knoxville. – Assist in the supervision of volunteers, coordinating supplies and equipment, and engaging community organizations to participate in planting activities.
- Support Urban Forester on providing information, training, and professional advice to developers, contractors, city management and employees on tree related issues and projects
- Support Urban Forester on the development and implementation of programs and education events promoting proper tree maintenance
SITE PREFERENCES/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Class D drivers license and ability to drive large pick-up truck
- Excellent self-motivation and independent work ethic
- Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather (rain, snow, cold, hot)
- Some experience with and strong interest in tree identification and/or forestry, horticulture, geology, or other environmental studies
- Comfortable working with hand tools (shovels, handsaws, rakes, pitchforks, hand pruners, loppers, hand rakes)
- Comfortable working with herbicide
- Ability to lift and carry 40 lbs
- Ability to work 10 hour days (City works four 10 hour days and typically has 3 day weekends). Schedule should be consistent but can be flexible.
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.