Job Description

The Position

Do you love working with trees, exploring the city, and connecting with communities? Work outdoors collecting data on Portland’s trees and assisting with our Yard Tree Giveaway Program!

Work Schedule: 7am - 3:30pm

• July – mid-September: Monday - Friday
• Late September – November: Tuesday - Saturday
• November – January: Monday - Friday

Work Location

One position will be based at

Delta Park: 10910 N Denver Ave, Portland OR, 97217.

All other positions will be based at

The Portland Building: 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204 through Mid- September, t hen switch to Delta Park : 10910 N Denver Ave, Portland OR, 97217.

Field work will occur in various neighborhoods across Portland. City vehicles will be provided for transportation to field sites.

Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of this position's benefits.

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

About This Position

This is not a desk job! You will spend much of your time outside, in all conditions, learning about and planting trees in the city.

As a Planting Programs Assistant, you will work with a team of people committed to caring for Portland’s trees and growing a more equitable urban forest. You will learn how to identify tree species and collect data on tree health, support tree giveaway events, and plant young trees for the public. An ideal candidate will have excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

In this position you will communicate with Portlanders of all backgrounds. Candidates who speak Spanish or languages other than English are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Get To Do

• Collect data on trees planted by Urban Forestry in parks, along streets, and in yards, using a mobile app.
• Manage data and inspect records in spreadsheets and databases.
• Deliver, plant, and monitor hundreds of trees around Portland; driving is a large component of this job.
• Interact in-person with diverse residents and provide them information on young tree care.
• Communicate with diverse customers by phone, text, and email to coordinate visits and answer questions.
• Plan efficient driving routes for monitoring and tree planting deliveries.
• Help people register for the Yard Tree Giveaway over the phone; answering the phone and talking to people about trees is a large component of this job.
• Deliver and plant hundreds of trees in the fall rain or shine.
• Support Yard Tree Giveaway events by loading tools and trees, setting up event locations, and staffing the events.

About The Bureau

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugees, and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon, is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates who can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity

Come meet the hiring manager and the recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 840 1155 1222

Have a question?

Contact Information

Cierra Maceo, Recruite r

***email_hidden***

To Qualify

The Following Minimum Qualifications Are Required For This Position

• Experience communicating with and providing customer service for people with culturally diverse backgrounds, through multiple forms of communication.
• Experience working with trees including activities such as planting, maintenance, or conducting tree assessments.
• Experience collecting data in the field.

Applicant Must Also

• Be at least 18 years of age by July 1, 2026
• Have the ability to regularly work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Have the ability to stoop, bend, sit, stand, and walk over uneven terrain; to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Available to work Saturdays in the fall.
• Possess a valid state driver's license and an acceptable driving record

Although not required, you may have one or more of the following:

• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Vietnamese, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, or Cantonese.

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between April 20, 2026 – May 4, 2026

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

Application Tips

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training, and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflect your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You may use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please be sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of May 4, 2026

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of May 11, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late May 2026

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: June 2026

Step 6: Start Date: July 2026

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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