City of Oakland
The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, on the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.
Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department, Parks and Tree Division? The City of Oakland Public Works Department, Parks and Tree Division, is responsible for the maintenance of:
Over 130 city parks and public grounds
More than 2,300 acres of street, park, and plaza landscaping, including scenic Joaquin Miller Park and Lake Merritt
56,000 street trees citywide
Plus many other objectives outlined in Oakland’s Urban Forest Plan.
This is a great time to join our team! The Parks and Tree Division is currently recruiting to fill one (1) Tree Supervisor II position. Your unique experience and perspective will play an important role in our continued success. We are looking for a candidate who can plan, organize, and direct the City of Oakland's urban forestry program; develop operational and administrative policies; work collaboratively with others, and adapt to challenging conditions, including responding to tree-related emergencies.
Are you interested in leading an urban forestry program in a diverse and dynamic city? If you enjoy working outdoors, engaging with the community, and making a positive impact, the Tree Supervisor II position with the City of Oakland may be the perfect opportunity for you!
We are looking for someone who is:
Experienced in planning, managing, and evaluating an urban forestry program, using work management systems to prioritize work, assess workloads, and advocate for staffing and resources.
Skilled at selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating staff who oversee crews and inspection teams, providing guidance on safety practices, arboricultural procedures, and City ordinances.
Skilled at coordinating and integrating work across departments and programs, building strong relationships with internal partners, contractors, community groups, and other stakeholders.
Able to manage operations during emergencies or short staffing, including directing emergency tree response efforts and reallocating resources as needed.
Knowledgeable in arboricultural safety standards and compliance, ensuring safe work practices, monitoring work quality, and holding staff and contractors accountable.
An effective communicator and public representative, responding to public inquiries, engaging community groups, collaborating with the City Attorney’s Office, reporting to City Council, investigating tree-related claims, and serving as an expert witness when needed.
Proficient with administrative and operational systems, including work management, contract, fiscal, and HR systems, and reviewing and analyzing staff-prepared reports.
Analytical and forward-thinking, with experience researching grant funding, investigating tree-related claims, and contributing to short- and long-term urban forest planning.
What you will typically be responsible for:
Providing daily direction, guidance, and resources to staff while monitoring workflow and team performance.
Preparing and managing zone-based work schedules to ensure timely and efficient completion of tree maintenance activities.
Supervising, training, coaching, and evaluating staff, including serving as second reviewer for division wide performance plans.
Using City Works to plan, schedule, document, and analyze routine and emergency tree maintenance and response efforts.
Developing and executing special projects, including tree planting, root pruning, stump removal, and large tree removals.
Read the complete job description by clicking City of Oakland Tree Supervisor II Class Specification.
Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
Working for the City of Oakland.
A few reasons you might love this job:
You and your team will work outdoors citywide, enjoying Oakland’s moderate climate, diverse neighborhoods, and unique urban forest.
Your work will directly improve environmental health, public safety, and the quality of life for Oakland residents while supporting equity-focused urban forestry initiatives.
You will be part of a supportive, mission-driven team that values professionalism, service, and helping employees succeed.
You will play a key leadership role in shaping and sustaining Oakland’s tree canopy for future generations.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
You will need to address citizen complaints regarding fallen trees and other tree-related service requests.
You may face resource and staffing challenges that limit your operational capacity.
You will need to be organized to keep up with reports, division budget changes, and keep track of numerous work assignments.
Competencies Required:
Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative)
Adaptability
Analyzing & Interpreting Data
Building & Maintaining Relationships
Critical Thinking
Decision Making
Legal & Regulatory Navigation
Managing Performance
Oral Communication
Professional & Technical Expertise
Professional Integrity & Ethics
Safety Focus
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:
Education:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade and 8 units from an accredited college or university in forestry, horticulture or botany. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in arboriculture, horticulture, forestry or botany may be substituted for two years of work experience.
Experience:
Six years of progressively responsible experience in an urban forestry program including two years of supervisory experience.
License or Certificate:
Possession of a valid Certified Arborist Certificate from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is required at time of application, and must be maintained throughout tenure of employment.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License, Class C, to be maintained throughout the tenure of employment with the City of Oakland.
The Recruitment Process: The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam) (weighted 100%), which will be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The structured interview will be conducted as a one-way video interview, where you will record your responses to a set of questions. You will have seven days from the time you receive the interview link to complete and submit your video responses. The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of January 19, 2026.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?
Work/Life Balance:
37.5 hour work weeks
15 paid holidays
Vacation:
2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement:
CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health:
The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental:
Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision:
VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave:
Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation:
457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k) plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.
*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA.
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Cynthia Ng, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at cng@oaklandca.gov.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, on the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.
Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department, Parks and Tree Division? The City of Oakland Public Works Department, Parks and Tree Division, is responsible for the maintenance of:
Over 130 city parks and public grounds
More than 2,300 acres of street, park, and plaza landscaping, including scenic Joaquin Miller Park and Lake Merritt
56,000 street trees citywide
Plus many other objectives outlined in Oakland’s Urban Forest Plan.
This is a great time to join our team! The Parks and Tree Division is currently recruiting to fill one (1) Tree Supervisor II position. Your unique experience and perspective will play an important role in our continued success. We are looking for a candidate who can plan, organize, and direct the City of Oakland's urban forestry program; develop operational and administrative policies; work collaboratively with others, and adapt to challenging conditions, including responding to tree-related emergencies.
Are you interested in leading an urban forestry program in a diverse and dynamic city? If you enjoy working outdoors, engaging with the community, and making a positive impact, the Tree Supervisor II position with the City of Oakland may be the perfect opportunity for you!
We are looking for someone who is:
Experienced in planning, managing, and evaluating an urban forestry program, using work management systems to prioritize work, assess workloads, and advocate for staffing and resources.
Skilled at selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating staff who oversee crews and inspection teams, providing guidance on safety practices, arboricultural procedures, and City ordinances.
Skilled at coordinating and integrating work across departments and programs, building strong relationships with internal partners, contractors, community groups, and other stakeholders.
Able to manage operations during emergencies or short staffing, including directing emergency tree response efforts and reallocating resources as needed.
Knowledgeable in arboricultural safety standards and compliance, ensuring safe work practices, monitoring work quality, and holding staff and contractors accountable.
An effective communicator and public representative, responding to public inquiries, engaging community groups, collaborating with the City Attorney’s Office, reporting to City Council, investigating tree-related claims, and serving as an expert witness when needed.
Proficient with administrative and operational systems, including work management, contract, fiscal, and HR systems, and reviewing and analyzing staff-prepared reports.
Analytical and forward-thinking, with experience researching grant funding, investigating tree-related claims, and contributing to short- and long-term urban forest planning.
What you will typically be responsible for:
Providing daily direction, guidance, and resources to staff while monitoring workflow and team performance.
Preparing and managing zone-based work schedules to ensure timely and efficient completion of tree maintenance activities.
Supervising, training, coaching, and evaluating staff, including serving as second reviewer for division wide performance plans.
Using City Works to plan, schedule, document, and analyze routine and emergency tree maintenance and response efforts.
Developing and executing special projects, including tree planting, root pruning, stump removal, and large tree removals.
Read the complete job description by clicking City of Oakland Tree Supervisor II Class Specification.
Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
Working for the City of Oakland.
A few reasons you might love this job:
You and your team will work outdoors citywide, enjoying Oakland’s moderate climate, diverse neighborhoods, and unique urban forest.
Your work will directly improve environmental health, public safety, and the quality of life for Oakland residents while supporting equity-focused urban forestry initiatives.
You will be part of a supportive, mission-driven team that values professionalism, service, and helping employees succeed.
You will play a key leadership role in shaping and sustaining Oakland’s tree canopy for future generations.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
You will need to address citizen complaints regarding fallen trees and other tree-related service requests.
You may face resource and staffing challenges that limit your operational capacity.
You will need to be organized to keep up with reports, division budget changes, and keep track of numerous work assignments.
Competencies Required:
Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative)
Adaptability
Analyzing & Interpreting Data
Building & Maintaining Relationships
Critical Thinking
Decision Making
Legal & Regulatory Navigation
Managing Performance
Oral Communication
Professional & Technical Expertise
Professional Integrity & Ethics
Safety Focus
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:
Education:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade and 8 units from an accredited college or university in forestry, horticulture or botany. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in arboriculture, horticulture, forestry or botany may be substituted for two years of work experience.
Experience:
Six years of progressively responsible experience in an urban forestry program including two years of supervisory experience.
License or Certificate:
Possession of a valid Certified Arborist Certificate from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is required at time of application, and must be maintained throughout tenure of employment.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License, Class C, to be maintained throughout the tenure of employment with the City of Oakland.
The Recruitment Process: The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam) (weighted 100%), which will be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The structured interview will be conducted as a one-way video interview, where you will record your responses to a set of questions. You will have seven days from the time you receive the interview link to complete and submit your video responses. The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of January 19, 2026.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?
Work/Life Balance:
37.5 hour work weeks
15 paid holidays
Vacation:
2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement:
CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health:
The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental:
Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision:
VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave:
Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation:
457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k) plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.
*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA.
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Cynthia Ng, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at cng@oaklandca.gov.
#J-18808-Ljbffr