Seasonal Forester

Seasonal Forester

Salary

$22.00 - $25.09 Hourly

Job Type

Seasonal

Job Number

25EED52TF006

Closing Date

2/10/2025 11:59 PM Central

Description

Hennepin County's Environment and Energy department is seeking two seasonal foresters to assist with forestry work including tree care, planting, structural pruning, watering, and related maintenance for the county’s forestry program during the 2025 growing season. A portion of the work may also include assistance with maintenance, monitoring, surveying, or other field work efforts associated with other natural resource projects. Hennepin Country's forestry program’s goal is to ensure that the county's tree canopy is diverse, equitable, healthy, maintained, protected, and flourishing. Prior tree care or forestry knowledge is encouraged but not required; training to complete job tasks will be provided. Through these positions, the seasonal forestry laborers will have the opportunity to gain experience in community forestry at a county-wide scale. 

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program. 

Location and hours: 

These positions are based at the gravel bed nursery located outside of the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility at 1145 Shenandoah Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447. However, field work will be conducted at job sites throughout Hennepin County. These positions may occasionally make use of available workspace at the Hennepin County Environment and Energy office at 625 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55415. These positions will work an 8-hour shift between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.

About these position types:

These are temporary, seasonal positions (non-benefit earning) that may last for up to six months.

These positions are internally classified as Casual Laborer. 

Click here to view the job classification specification. 

In these positions, you will:

• Plant large trees on Hennepin County’s road and facility projects.
• Plant seedlings on large scale restoration projects. 
• Water newly planted trees along Hennepin County roadways and facilities.
• Maintain newly planted trees, including mulching, staking, and pruning. 
• Assist with the maintenance of the county's gravel-bed tree nursery. This may include watering, tracking inventory, caring for young seedlings, overall upkeep, weed control, and mowing. 
• Assist with planting new trees and site preparation for reforestation projects.
• Assist with inventorying and maintaining trees along county roads. 

Need to have:

• Valid driver's license and ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit.
• Ability to:
  • Work primarily outside and in rainy or snowy weather conditions and during low and high temperatures days.
  • Bend, stoop, and work on uneven terrain.
  • Lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Hand dig holes for trees.

Nice to have:

• Experience with:
  • Driving and operating pull-behind trailers.
  • Driving one ton and smaller pick-up trucks.
  • Pulling trailers with trucks.
  • Tree identification and collecting tree inventory data.
  • Tree care and other landscaping maintenance.
  • Identifying signs and symptoms of common tree diseases.
  • Planting and maintaining trees. 
  • Working outdoors and performing manual labor.
• Interest in learning about urban and municipal forestry and natural resource management. 
• Effective organizational, time- and task-management, and problem-solving skills.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Talent Acquisition Division
Hennepin County Human Resources Department
HR.ServiceCenter@hennepin.us 
612-348-7855