Portland Courant

Tree Planting Specialist

We are currently hiring Tree Planting Specialist positions. The new hires will help manage urban tree planting and establishment projects.

Interview with Planting Program Coordinator Mari Aviles 

The Tree Bark Newsletter talked with hiring manager Mari Aviles (Planting Program Coordinator) to learn more.

Tree Bark

What skills do Tree Planting Specialists need?

Mari Aviles

Tree Planting Specialist positions need specific skills as a tree planting project manager. This skill set includes:

• Project management and delegation related to budgets, timelines, workplans, data, reporting, program performance, leading meetings, interagency communication, etc.
• Project management specifically related to urban tree planting and establishment projects and contracts
• Leading seasonal staff and volunteers
• Identifying appropriate urban tree planting locations
• Using and management of an ArcGIS database
• Conducting community outreach and managing property owner correspondence
• Working with diverse communities

For an all-inclusive list of skills, see the “What you’ll get to do” section of the job posting above.

Tree Bark

How can people gain these skills?

Mari Aviles

"I recommend folks attend in person and online trainings. Put that new knowledge into practice. While doing this, ask questions about the processes. Be open to new ways of doing things. It’s great to see that folks apply the gained knowledge in their professional work. Volunteering at events that provides the opportunities to run trainings. This is a great way to put that knowledge into practice.”

I would also recommend attending project management classes. Put the skills into practice in your regular work.

Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College offer some reliable courses, and they are open to the public.

There are also many resources focused on tree planting and maintenance. A great example are the videos and resource from Ed Gilman at University of Florida 

Don’t rely on online learning as your only source for tree knowledge and skill building.

Tree Bark

Do skills learned in forestry and restoration work prepare workers for urban tree planting?

Mari Aviles

Yes, much of the knowledge and skills from restoration work is transferrable. The field of urban forestry and arboriculture, while very specific, is also very diverse. It’s important that folks have experience in tree planting. This work can be very different than other focuses of urban forest management, such as tree risk assessment or tree removal work. Additionally, workers need to apply their experience toward urban settings with difficult growing conditions.

Tree Bark

Tree Planting Specialists also need experience working with diverse audiences. What experiences are you looking for here?

Mari Aviles

We want candidates who have led or initiated a plan to engage with specific audiences. Outreach efforts are usually not “one-size-fits-all.” Our team needs to be strategic and innovative in our outreach methods. We are looking for folks with experience creating or initiating new and exciting plans to connect with all members of the community. This work doesn't need to focus on urban forestry. We also consider peoples' lived experiences.

Learn More

Info Session - Tree Planting Specialist (Botanic Specialist II - Forestry) - Zoom

Original source can be found here