Urban Forestry Strategist

Urban Forestry Strategist Salary $48.71 - $70.62 Hourly Location Lincoln, NE Job Type Full time/probationary or status Job Number 202600271 Department Parks and Recreation Department Division Administration Opening Date 05/01/2026 Closing Date 5/10/2026 11:59 PM Central Description Benefits Questions Job Posting Information The City of Lincoln's Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking Urban Forestry Strategist to help shape a greener, healthier, and more resilient community. As part of a dynamic team, you'll lead the implementation of major urban forestry initiatives, transforming long-range planning into on-the-ground results that improve quality of life for every resident. What You'll Do Lead day-to-day implementation of the City's urban forestry plans, canopy assessments, and strategic initiatives. Coordinate consultant teams and manage project schedules, deliverables, and performance. Translate planning and technical recommendations into actionable steps for City operations and capital projects. Serve as the primary liaison among Parks & Recreation Forestry, Lincoln Transportation & Utilities, Law, Planning, Sustainability, GIS, IS, and other City departments. Engage with nonprofits, neighborhood groups, agencies, and community stakeholders to advance shared goals. Represent the City in public meetings, advisory groups, and professional forums. Ensure alignment with municipal codes, environmental regulations, adopted plans, and City policies. Review development proposals and projects to support urban forestry objectives. Prepare clear, accessible reports, presentations, and communications for City leadership and the public.

Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Who You Are A relationship-builder who thrives in collaborative, cross-departmental work. Someone who can simplify technical information and bring people together around shared goals. Detail-oriented, organized, and proactive in tracking progress and coordinating projects. Passionate about sustainability, community resilience, and the long-term health of Lincoln's urban forest. Minimum Requirements Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public administration, natural resources or environmental sciences, engineering, architecture, planning; or field of study related to the assigned department; or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the desirable knowledge, abilities and skills. We value each City of Lincoln employee and one way we demonstrate this is by providing an attractive and competitive total compensation package that adds value to our employees' professional and personal lives. The following benefits are available for this position: Pay increases are available upon completion of the 6-month new employee probationary period, and annually thereafter based on performance. We encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering 20 days of vacation leave approximately 12 days of sick leave annually that you begin accruing upon hire; plus 11 paid holidays and 2 personal convenience days. All medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family begin the first of the month following hire, no need to wait! 30 days of Paid Parental Leave Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching. Up to 3 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave $70,000 of Life Insurance 401(a) Retirement Plan . If you make a 7% contribution, the City will contribute 9% Employer provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses that occur after you leave City employment.

Optional benefits include:

Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Allstate Voluntary Plans Supplemental Term Life Deferred Compensation Plans 01 I understand that applicants will be screened based upon the information listed on their application and their responses to all of the following Supplemental Questions. All employers, work and volunteer experience, and education described in the following Supplemental Questions must also be listed on the application. A resume cannot be used as a substitute for any part of the application or supplemental questions. I understand that failure to list all employers and education, and to describe related work duties on the application and Supplemental Questions could be cause for rejection based on insufficient information. Yes No 02 How many years of professional experience do you have in forestry, urban forestry, municipal government, environmental planning, project coordination, public administration, or a closely related field? No experience Less than 1 year 1-2 years 3-5 years 6 or more years 03 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 04 Which best describes your experience coordinating projects involving multiple government agencies/departments/boards, consultants, contractors, or external stakeholders? No experience Assisted with projects under close supervision Coordinated smaller projects or portions of larger projects Independently managed complex, multi-stakeholder projects Led multiple large-scale strategic or operational initiatives 05 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 06 Which best describes your professional experience with urban forestry, traditional forestry, arboriculture, tree inventory, canopy assessment, natural resource management, or related planning and implementation activities (examples may include municipal forestry, forest management, silviculture, conservation, tree planting programs, or strategic forestry initiatives)? No experience Limited exposure or support role only Moderate experience in one or more forestry-related areas Significant experience leading forestry, arboriculture, or natural resource initiatives Extensive experience overseeing large-scale urban, community, municipal, or traditional forestry programs or strategic implementation initiatives 07 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 08 Which best describes your experience working within municipal government structures, policies, or other public sector operations? No experience Limited familiarity Experience working with government processes occasionally Regular professional experience within local government or public agencies Extensive experience leading or administering within government systems 09 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 10 How much experience do you have leading community forums or meetings involving the public, advisory boards, or stakeholder groups? None Minimal participation Occasional presentations or attendance Frequent representation and communication responsibilities Extensive lead representative or spokesperson experience 11 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 12 Which best describes your experience interpreting or applying policies, codes, regulations, or compliance requirements? No experience Limited awareness only Assisted with policy or compliance processes Regular responsibility for compliance review or implementation Extensive expertise developing, administering, or enforcing compliance standards 13 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 14 How much experience do you have identifying project risks, compliance concerns, or operational issues and recommending corrective action? None Limited support role Occasional responsibility Regular independent responsibility Extensive strategic oversight and corrective planning experience 15 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 16 Which best describes your experience preparing reports, presentations, briefing materials, or recommendations for leadership, boards, elected officials, or the public? No experience Limited support role Moderate experience preparing internal materials Significant experience preparing professional reports and presentations Extensive experience preparing executive-level or public-facing materials 17 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 18 How would you rate your ability to communicate technical, regulatory, or data-driven information to non-technical audiences? No experience Limited experience Moderate experience Strong experience with regular responsibility Extensive expertise in public or executive communication 19 Please list the employers from your application and describe your work duties where you acquired this experience. If no, enter N/A. 20 Which best describes your experience using data systems, project tracking tools, GIS, or dashboards to monitor project performance? No experience Basic user only Moderate working knowledge Advanced professional use for tracking and analysis Extensive experience leading data-driven implementation or reporting systems 21 What is your highest level of education in natural resources management, urban forestry, arboriculture, environmental studies, public administration, planning, or a related field? High school diploma or GED Some college or technical coursework Associate degree Bachelor's degree Master's degree or higher Required Question Employer City of Lincoln/Lancaster County Address 555 South 10th Street, Room 302 Lincoln, Nebraska, 68508 Phone (402) 441-7597 Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/lincolnne/default.cfm