Director / Principal of Urban Forestry and Arboriculture

Ventura, CA
Full Time
Natural Resources
Senior Manager/Supervisor
Rincon Consultants is seeking a Director/Principal of Urban Forestry and Arboriculture to serve in a leadership role within our Natural Resources team. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned arboriculture and/or urban forestry professional to shape and lead complex projects across California. You’ll provide strategic guidance to clients on protected tree regulations, field assessments, mitigation planning, and urban forest program development—while mentoring staff and driving the growth of Rincon’s arborist services.

You will set strategic priorities and help expand Rincon’s statewide presence in this practice area, working closely with executive leadership and cross-disciplinary teams. You’ll provide strategic guidance to clients on protected tree regulations, field assessments, mitigation planning, and urban forest program development—while mentoring staff and driving the growth of Rincon’s arborist services.

This position includes a mix of office work and fieldwork and may involve periodic travel to project sites. The ideal candidate is confident managing complex urban forestry tasks, writing high-quality reports, and mentoring staff at a senior leadership level. You bring vision and passion to advancing nature-based solutions in urban settings and have a track record of influencing public policy, driving innovation, and securing strategic partnerships.

While this role may offer flexible work arrangements that can include a mix of in-office and remote work, our changing business needs will ultimately determine our level of remote-work flexibility. Additionally, to promote in-person collaboration and client teaming, we prioritize hiring those who reside within 50 miles of a Rincon office which currently includes: Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. The ideal candidate will be based in or near our Ventura office.

Overview of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Work and Project Management
  • Plan, conduct and review tree surveys, appraisals, and tree protection/replacement plans for CEQA and ordinance compliance.
  • Oversee and perform tree risk assessments following ISA and industry standards.
  • Lead and monitor oak and mitigation tree planting efforts, including reporting and compliance documentation.
  • Prepare and implement Urban Forest Management Plans (UFMPs) and support clients with tree policy and ordinance development, interpretation, and policy/compliance guidance. 
  • Perform tree impact analyses, pest and disease identification, sampling, and provide treatment recommendations.
  • Manage field teams conducting GIS- and GPS-based tree inventories, using platforms like ArborPro, iTree, and ArcGIS.
  • Coordinate with local and state agency staff, city/county arborists, contractors, tree commissions, advisory boards, and clients to guide project implementation and approvals. 
  • Provide technical oversight on tree-related deliverables prepared by Rincon’s urban forestry staff and arborists as well as peer reviews.
  • Manage moderate to complex, large-sized projects and programs.
  • Coordinate scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables while ensuring high-quality execution.
  • Ensure consistency, quality, and technical excellence across Rincon’s arborist services through leadership in standard setting and peer training.
  • Actively participate in industry coalitions, technical committees, and professional networks to position Rincon as a thought leader in urban forestry.

Business Development and Leadership
  • Lead development of Rincon’s Annual Arborist and Urban Forestry Program Business Plan.
  • Provide both technical direction and arborist team mentorship, encouraging collaboration and solution-oriented thinking.
  • Lead urban forestry business development efforts, including proposal preparation and client outreach.
  • Lead and provide strategic guidance on community education and engagement for urban forestry.
  • Integrate urban forestry into sustainability and resilience planning efforts (e.g., climate adaptation, carbon sequestration, heat mitigation).
  • Research and track grant programs and align funding opportunities with urban forestry goals such as canopy expansion, climate resilience, or environmental justice.
  • Support wildfire resilience services by integrating resilience goals and regulation compliance into urban forestry work.
  • Align urban forest strategies with parks and open space system planning.
  • Identify emerging trends and opportunities in the public and private sectors, shaping Rincon’s approach to urban forestry consulting across California.
  • Cultivate and maintain senior-level client relationships, contributing to client retention and multi-year engagements.
  • Collaborate with other Rincon service lines to integrate urban forestry into broader ecological restoration, environmental planning, and landscape-scale resilience projects.
  • Guide staff development and succession planning, building a strong talent pipeline within the urban forestry team.

This Job Might Be for You If You Have the Following:
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Horticulture, Environmental Science, Biology, Natural Resources, or a related field.
  • 12+ years of experience in arboriculture, urban forestry, or a related consulting role.
  • ISA Certified Arborist required; ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) and Board-Certified Master Arborist or Registered Consulting Arborist (ASCA) preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience preparing high-quality tree inventories, UFMPs, risk assessments, and consulting reports.
  • Familiarity with tree ordinance compliance, CEQA, and mitigation strategy development.
  • Proficiency in tree data collection tools, GIS applications, and strong technical writing skills.
  • Ability to lead teams in the field and office, coordinate with external stakeholders, and manage competing priorities across multiple projects.
  • Experience serving as a practice lead or principal-level consultant, with demonstrated ability to grow services and mentor cross-functional teams.
  • Confidence representing the firm in senior-level client and agency settings, public meetings, and professional forums.
  • Qualifications/Certifications
    • ISA Certified Arborist (current license required)
    • ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (desired)
    • ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist (desired)
    • ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (current qualification required) 

Rincon Consultants is an award-winning leader in providing quality environmental consulting services throughout California and is recognized as a ‘Best Environmental Services Firm to Work For’ by the Zweig Group. We partner with clients in sectors such as transportation, energy and infrastructure, sustainability, climate change, oil and gas, water, commercial, private development, and government. Our 500+ associates in 13 offices located in Northern, Central, and Southern California are dedicated professionals who combine their passion with our purpose. 

The base salary range for this full-time position is $150,000–$190,000, plus a generous benefits program. At Rincon, our salary ranges are based on market median of similar jobs, according to third party salary benchmark surveys. The base pay that is actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package, providing our valued employees with many benefits to enhance their well-being and financial security. Our health benefits include a range of options such as HMO, PPO, HDHP, and Health Savings Account choices, ensuring you have the flexibility to select the plan that best suits your needs.

Additionally, you can enjoy peace of mind with employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance, as well as dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. We prioritize your well-being by offering three weeks of vacation accrual in the first year, paid sick leave, and paid holidays, ensuring you have ample time off to rejuvenate. Planning for your future is made easier through our 401(k) / Profit Sharing Retirement Plan and bonus opportunities. 

Beyond the essentials, Rincon recognizes the importance of personal and professional growth, that's why we provide opportunities for professional development and mentoring. Our commitment extends to the community through Volunteer Pay for a Day, reinforcing the values of social responsibility. Moreover, we go the extra mile with additional perks like Flexible Spending & Dependent Care, Supplemental life insurance, Legal Shield, Identity Protection, Pet Insurance, and much more. Check out more details on our Rincon Consultants webpage here! 

Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.
 

Rincon Consultants, Inc does not accept unsolicited applicant/candidate resumes from search firm recruiters and/or temporary agencies that do not have a signed contract and specified work order with Rincon Consultants. Further, such resumes received will be deemed the sole property of Rincon Consultants and no fees will be paid in the event Rincon Consultants subsequently hires such individual. Rincon Consultants is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

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