Arborist, Grade 23

Arborist, Grade 23

Salary

$78,929.00 - $126,097.00 Annually

Location

100 Edison Park Dr Gaithersburg MD 20878 USA

Job Type

Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-00515

Department

Department of Transportation

Division

DOT 50 Highway Services

Opening Date

09/25/2026

Closing Date

10/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $78,929 to $126,097, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (DOT) mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County. MCDOT supports its residents, commuters and visitors with transit options and infrastructure that provides seamless transportation services to the public.

The Division of Highway Services (DHS) manages the maintenance of all transportation infrastructure within the County right-of-way including more than 5,200 lane miles of rural, residential, and primary roadways, as well as nearly 1,000 miles of concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk. The Tree Maintenance Section manages an inventory of over 250,000 street trees and more than 200,000 trees in the rural areas. This position is designated as an Essential Position which will require the ability to work evening and weekends as well as working off-site accordingly.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Division of Highway Services (DHS), seeks a highly motivated and skilled Arborist for its Tree Maintenance Section. The Arborist is responsible for responding to residents' street tree-related service requests, inspecting street trees to identify maintenance needs, and assessing tree risk in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) risk assessment guidelines. The role includes prescribing appropriate maintenance to mitigate risks associated with structural defects, abiotic issues, and insect or disease problems, as well as planning and prioritizing work based on the level of tree risk and budgetary considerations. The ideal candidate possesses strong attention to detail, organizational and time management abilities, excellent oral and written communication skills, and thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Additionally, the position requires strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

What Youll Be Doing

The Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Services (DHS) seeks an Arborist to assist in the management of Montgomery County's street tree canopy and to provide customer service to the residents of Montgomery County. We are looking for a person who is adept at:

• Inspecting and diagnosing trees for disease, damage, risk to the public or private property, insect damage, abiotic stress and aesthetic appearance.
• Recommending treatment which is prioritized by severity of the risk posed by a tree and/or disease present; providing recommendations regarding location, size and kind of trees to be planted in the County right-of-way.
• Providing information to supervisors/management concerning the condition of the County's street tree population and workload.
• Updating the computerized tree management inventory with inspection results and prescribed work; meeting with representatives of other County and State agencies and public utility companies concerning street tree maintenance activities.
• Responding to citizens inquiries about trees by correspondence, phone and in person, explaining corrective measures which the County may take.
• Meeting with community groups to discuss the Counties tree maintenance and care programs and preparing educational material for public consumption
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Information:

Certification: This position requires a Certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). This certification MUST be uploaded along with the applicants submission. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of your application.

Essential: The individual selected for this position will be considered an "Essential Employee." Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave. This individual selected is REQUIRED to work overtime during inclement weather situations and emergencies, which may include overnight stays.

Flexible Schedule: The ability to work a flexible schedule and on is required.

Offsite Work: The candidate must be able to work off-site occasionally.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Some (one (1) year) professional experience diagnosing and prescribing treatment for tree problems/diseases.

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, forestry, environmental studies/science, entomology, or related field.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted.

License:

• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicants state of residence.

• Certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Medical Protocol: This position requires successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, which includes a limited physical examination and drug screening.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

• Describe your experience diagnosing biotic, abiotic, and structural defects; and evaluating tree risk in an urban forest setting.
• Do you have or have you obtained a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). If you do not have an active TRAQ are you able and willing to obtain one in the first year of employment?
• Describe your experience interacting with stakeholders such as community associations, government officials, and residents as a professional in your field of expertise.
• Describe your experience using digital tree inventory software or other asset management platforms such as TreeKeeper, ESRI, Cityworks, etc.
• Describe your experience using other software programs such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS.
• Describe your experience managing projects involving internal and external stakeholder, clients, and/or contractors.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

How many years of progressively responsible professional experience do you have in diagnosing and prescribing treatment for tree problems/diseases?

• No Experience
• 1 Years Experience
• 2 Years Experience
• 3 Years Experience
• 4 Years Experience
• 5+ Years Experience

02

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

03

Do you have a degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, forestry, environmental studies/science, entomology, or related field?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you certified as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)?

• Yes
• No

05

Applicants with a certification as an Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) MUST upload a copy of their certification at the time of application. Did you upload the required certification?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID Class C (or equivalent) drivers license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have or have you obtained a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). If you do not have an active TRAQ are you able and willing to obtain one in the first year of employment?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have experience diagnosing biotic, abiotic, and structural defects; and evaluating tree risk in an urban forest setting?

• Yes
• No

09

If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.

10

Do you have experience using digital tree inventory software or other asset management platforms such as TreeKeeper, ESRI, Cityworks, etc.?

• Yes
• No

11

If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.

12

Which option best represents your experience managing projects that involve internal and external stakeholders, clients, and/or contractors?

• I have extensive experience managing complex projects involving internal and external stakeholders, clients, and contractors, with consistent responsibility for coordination and decision-making.
• I have moderate experience managing projects that involve some internal or external stakeholders, clients, or contractors, with regular coordination responsibilities.
• I have limited experience managing projects that include stakeholder, client, or contractor involvement.
• I do not have experience managing projects involving internal or external stakeholders, clients, or contractors.

13

Which option best represents your experience using software programs such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS?

• I have extensive experience using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and ArcGIS, and I use these programs regularly to support my work.
• I have moderate experience using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, and at least some experience with ArcGIS.
• I have limited experience using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, or ArcGIS.
• I do not have experience using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, or ArcGIS.

Required Question

Employer Montgomery County (MD)

Address 101 Monroe Street

7th Floor

Rockville, Maryland, 20850

Phone 240-777-5000

Website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr