City of Elmhurst
Employment Opportunity
Assistant Superintendent of Forestry
Position Summary
Responsible for supervision of staff engaged in the care and improvement of the trees, turf and landscaping on the City’s grounds, easements, rights-of-way and parkways.
Essential Functions
- Oversees daily forestry crew fieldwork in carrying out scheduled forestry and grounds maintenance work and handling emergencies. Ensures crew compliance with prescribed City standards and verifies all work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Oversees program for trimming and removal of City trees.
- Determines the priority of daily work and assigns staff in accordance with priorities; investigates and prioritizes service requests.
- Promotes and maintains responsive employee, customer and community relations; handles complaints received from the public.
- Monitors City hired contractors regarding quality of work issues.
- Assists in development and administration of Division budget.
- Assists in development of long-term and short-term operating plans.
- Provides training to Forestry crew members in the use of equipment and in the proper application of standard Forestry methods and techniques.
- Ensures the maintenance of safe work areas and equipment; promptly corrects work hazards, as necessary.
- Maintains equipment in proper operating condition and arranges with Equipment Maintenance Division to have equipment serviced and/or repaired.
- Assists in evaluating employees on an annual basis.
- Participates in winter operations as shift supervisor; oversees salting, plowing and sidewalk crews.
- Oversees and organizes storm damage clean up, utilizing other divisions and outside resources as needed.
- Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit's service to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
- Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with public and staff; acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in forestry or a closely related field; AND three years of professional experience in forest management; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience as determined by Human Resources.
- Illinois class B commercial driver’s license (CDL).
- Illinois Pesticide Public Applicator License.
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.
Required Knowledge & Skills
- Principles and practices of employee supervision.
- Arboricultural practices and the policies, procedures, laws, and equipment use for urban and traditional forest maintenance, including tree inventory procedures, pest control practices, silviculture, landscape architecture, and forest ecology.
- Horticultural practices, including growing annuals, perennials, shrubs, roses, and ground cover, fertilization, pest control, and watering.
- Tree nursery management practices, including soil management, pest control, pruning, fertilization, transplanting, potting, watering, and mulching.
- Landscape maintenance practices including mowing, trimming, weeding, planter bed maintenance and turf management.
- Winter pavement maintenance practices including; salting, plowing and sidewalk removal techniques.
- Applicable computer software programs, such as tree inventory programs, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Elmhurst Connect (work orders), Tyler/Munis/Executime.
- Safety practices and procedures related to the work.
- Standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
- Techniques for managing a variety of City staff and vendors.
- Basic budgetary practices and terminology.
- Correct business English, including speech, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing and evaluating the work of others.
- Training others in policies and procedures related to the work.
- Applying forest, park, tree nursery, and landscape maintenance policies and procedures.
- Utilizing and maintaining record keeping and filing systems.
- Developing and maintaining accurate inventory control and billing records.
- Making accurate arithmetic calculations.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors, staff and others in the course of the work.
- Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
- Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
- Contributing effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives and activities.
- Effective communication skills in person, over telephone or via email.
- Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this role.
Salary and Benefits
Salary Range: $94,478-$141,718 DOQ. FLSA Status: Exempt. Benefits: Includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance (City contributes annually half the cost of the deductible to employee HSA), tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
Interested, qualified candidates are asked to submit a completed application and resume online at https://elmhurst.org/jobs . Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of background check, drug screen, and physical. Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 17, 2026.
The City of Elmhurst is an equal opportunity employer.
