Forestry & Natural Resources Coordinator

Forestry & Natural Resources Coordinator

Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Salary: $61,657.18 - $86,293.74

SUMMARY:

The City of East Lansing maintains over 10,000 publicly owned trees. With the help of contracted arborists and your supervisor, you’ll plan and manage maintenance, care, removal, and planting of street and park trees. Responsibilities include overseeing large-scale planting and pruning contracts, resolving on-site challenges, coordinating with construction crews, and communicating forestry activities to residents. You’ll also inspect storm damage, investigate resident concerns, guide long-term canopy planning, and protect existing trees through ordinance enforcement.

While major arboricultural work is completed by City crews or contractors, you’ll remain hands-on by performing select young-tree training, treatments, and other tree health care. You’ll also help train staff in chainsaw safety and proper planting and pruning practices to ensure consistent citywide standards. The position operates under the direction of the Environmental Sustainability and Resiliency Manager.

This role combines established responsibilities with freedom to innovate. You’ll be encouraged to explore new ideas and lead creative projects that enhance East Lansing’s urban forest. Whether it’s developing public education initiatives, piloting new planting strategies, or collaborating with other City departments and community partners, you’ll have the flexibility to make the position yours. As part of the Environmental Services team, you’ll occasionally support broader sustainability initiatives such as climate action, stormwater management, and recycling.

This is a highly visible, public-facing position, collaborating with internal and external partners and community groups to promote the benefit of trees in urban areas as well as provide technical expertise and guidance for municipal operations. The position requires an individual that possesses the appropriate technical expertise as well as exceptional problem solving and people skills, tactful communicative ability, and substantial flexibility and composure.

You’ll join the team at an exciting time, with new projects on the horizon focused on reimagining and strengthening East Lansing’s urban forest through planning, public engagement, and strategic investment. This includes a new grant-funded initiative to develop a downtown tree canopy revitalization plan — a chance to shape how trees contribute to the character, comfort and resiliency of the downtown core.

ABOUT US

East Lansing, home to Michigan State University, is a dynamic community of nearly 50,000 residents with historic neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and a vibrant downtown. You’ll be part of the team that keeps it all running. The Department of Public Works & Environmental Services (DPW) manages streets, sanitation, water, sewer, trees, and more—with staff dedicated to making East Lansing a great place to live, study, and work.

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY?

• Competitive salary with annual cost-of-living increases
• Hybrid pension plan with an annual City contribution equal to 10% of salary, plus a 457(b) Plan
• $1,000 annual employer contribution to a post-employment Health Care Savings Plan
• 14 paid holidays and 25 days of paid time off
• 30-day paid parental leave for birth or adoption
• No-premium health coverage (or receive a $200 monthly buyout if covered elsewhere), with family dental and vision plan premiums fully covered by the City
• Life insurance equal to 2x annual salary, with optional supplemental coverage, plus long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for pre-tax health and dependent care expenses
• Employee Assistance Program offering free and confidential counseling for employees and their families
• Eligibility for “Public Service Loan Forgiveness” after ten years in public service
• An ever-changing work environment—each day in Public Works brings new challenges that keep your work fresh, engaging, and meaningful
  

FSLA Status: Exempt

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences, forestry, horticulture, or a related field is preferred. However, applicants without a degree but with relevant arboriculture experience are encouraged to apply. Certification as an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist—or the ability to obtain certification within 12 months of hire—is required. The ideal candidate will also possess, or can obtain, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) and a Michigan Pesticide Applicator Certification.

Successful candidates will demonstrate strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills; comfort working both outdoors and in public settings; and familiarity with Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Excel, and Word. The role requires coordination with contractors, collaboration across City departments, and communication with elected officials and the public.

Miscellaneous Information

In addition to the City application, please submit the following: copies of degrees, copies of applicable certifications, three professional references. Application materials can be downloaded:

Download General Employment Application (PDF)

The materials are in PDF form and may be filled out electronically, saved to your computer and e-mailed as an attachment to Human Resources. Or, the application may be printed out, completed and mailed to:

City of East Lansing
Attn: Human Resources
410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823
E-mail: [email protected]