Job Details

Arborist Position

Make an impact on Honolulu's urban forest! The Department of Parks and Recreation, Urban Forestry Division, is hiring an Arborist located in Honolulu to play a vital role in protecting and caring for the trees and palms that shape our city's parks, streets, and public spaces. Combine technical skill with meaningful, hands-on service while preserving the natural canopy that keeps our communities safe, beautiful, and resilient. If you love working outdoors, want stable public-sector career growth, and care deeply about the environment and the people who enjoy it, this is a place where you can truly make a difference.

What you will do:

• Oversee and administer tree-pruning and palm-trimming contracts, ensuring work quality, compliance, and safety.
• Maintain inventories, review equipment needs, stay current on arboriculture best practices, and provide training or technical guidance to staff and volunteers.
• Monitor and assess the condition, cultural needs, and maintenance requirements of trees and palms across City parks, streets, and landscaped areas.
• Inspect, climb, prune, and treat treesincluding applying pesticides or herbicidesto maintain tree health and mitigate hazards.
• Investigate public inquiries, tree-related incidents, and damage claims; prepare reports and recommend appropriate actions.
• Other related duties as needed for this position

Special working conditions:

• Work schedule: M-F, 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• May be required to work after hours, on nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Requires climbing trees using ropes and saddles and performing physically demanding tasks.
• Responds to emergency tree-related incidents, including work performed: in extreme or inclement weather, near fallen trees, damaged electrical lines, or poor visibility conditions, in traffic areas or off-road locations.
• Serves as Disaster Response Worker during declared emergencies.

The City has great benefits and opportunities apply today! If you qualify for the position, your name will be eligible for further consideration for the current vacancy, as well as future vacancies with this job title.

Applications must be submitted online by December 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time to be accepted. Actual salary will be commensurate with applicable experience, pending approval.

Enjoy excellent employment benefits including generous time off (up to 21 vacation days, 21 sick leave days, and holidays), comprehensive health coverage, retirement plan, career development, and much more! View details about all our available benefits.

Some notifications will be sent via e-mail. You are responsible for monitoring instructions and correspondence from this office by checking your email account in a timely manner. To ensure proper delivery, please make sure you: use a valid e-mail account; verify your e-mail address is entered correctly on your GovernmentJobs account; are subscribed to e-mail notices; check your spam folders; and add ...@honolulu.gov and ...@governmentjobs.com to your contact list. Notifications may also be sent via text message if opted into the service. Data and text messaging fees apply.

At the time of application, you must be a citizen, national or permanent resident alien of the United States or a non-citizen eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment.

Education requirement: A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in horticulture, landscape architecture, or a closely-related field. Work experience may be substituted for the required bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis. The education requirement must be met at the time of application. Education obtained outside of the United States must be comparable to a degree earned at an accredited college/university in the United States. In order to receive credit for the education, proper documentation, e.g., a foreign credential evaluation (FCE), must be provided. We also reserve the right to request further information about your academic program, evidence of comparability, or an original transcript.

Verification requirement: In order to be given credit for your education, clearly list your education credentials on your application. As part of the hiring process, you may be asked to furnish documentation to verify your education to satisfy this education qualification requirement. If available, please attach an electronic copy of your diploma and/or official transcript which shows the embossed seal or applicable FCE to your application. Or mail a photocopy of your documents to the following address: Department of Human Resources, 650 South King Street, 10th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Copies will not be returned. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. All information on your documentation must be legible and complete in order to be given credit. If you do not have your documentation to verify your education at this time, please note that if selected for the job, you will need to furnish verification documents in order to move forward in the hiring process.

Experience requirement: Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of arboriculture, horticulture or landscape architecture, one of which must have demonstrated technical knowledge, research and application of arboricultural practices, including training or experience in tree climbing utilizing climbing saddles, safety ropes and appropriate tools.

Competencies and skills needed:

• Knowledge of advanced arboricultural or horticultural principles, practices, and techniques relative to the field of arboriculture; identification and methods of eradicating and controlling plant diseases and pests; and research practices and techniques.
• Ability to plan, direct, and supervise programs involving horticulturally sound techniques and procedures in the breeding, propagation, cultivation, and maintenance of woody plants; survey, evaluate, and monitor site plans, area plantings and displays; identify insects and plant diseases and prescribe proper control; prepare clear and concise reports; and climb trees utilizing saddles, safety ropes, and appropriate tools.

License requirement: Prior to appointment: Valid Driver's License (Type 3), Pulmonary Function Test, Hearing Conservation Program test. Prior to completion of probation: International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist credential, First Aid/CPR/AED certificates, Certificate for Commercial Applicators of Restricted Pesticides. All required licenses and certifications must be maintained on a current basis during the course of employment in the position.

Examination process: Education and Experience Evaluation: In addition to meeting the above minimum qualifications, your application will be further evaluated. Your score will be based on the quality and quantity of your education, experience and/or other related job requirements and competencies applicable to the position. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being rejected or your receiving a lower score. Examination weight: Education and Experience Evaluation 100%.