Biologist (Arboriculture) [Arborist]

Job Description

Are you passionate about trees? Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference in a busy, public-facing organization? Put your skills to work in an urban forestry environment. As a Biologist (Arboriculture), you will focus on planting and caring for trees and woody plants. Help maintain and grow this vital collection.

About Us

Smithsonian Gardens, part of the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, extends the Smithsonian’s museum experience in a public garden setting with over 180 acres of outdoor gardens including 15 public exhibition gardens, plus interior displays. Living collections include a tree collection, a nationally accredited orchid collection, and a display collection.

With a collaborative, forward-thinking staff, Smithsonian Gardens engages people with plants and gardens, informs on the roles both play in our cultural and natural worlds, and inspires appreciation and stewardship.

Duties & Responsibilities

As a Biologist (Arboriculture) [Arborist], you’ll:
• Monitor and maintain tree health across Smithsonian museum grounds
• Perform pruning, removals, and risk assessments using industry best practices
• Support tree planting, soil care, and integrated pest management
• Collaborate with horticulturists, landscape architects, and museum staff to ensure safety and sustainability
• Update our tree database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, integrating arboricultural field data to meet evolving program needs.
• Assist in preparing contract documentation, including statements of work, purchase requests, and bid abstracts, to support arboriculture services.
• Serve as a key arboricultural specialist within Smithsonian Gardens

Education and Experience

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic qualifications:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

For more details on qualifications for the position, please see the full listing on USAJobs at the following job announcements: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/867855100 and https://www.usajobs.gov/job/867854900

Additional Information

Please see the job announcements on USAJobs for additional information how candidates will be evaluated, benefits, and more.

Application Instructions

Use https://www.usajobs.gov/job/867854900 for
Individuals with Disabilities, Government Wide/Status Only, Land Management, Military spouses, Family of overseas employees, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista, Special authorities, Veterans;

Use https://www.usajobs.gov/job/867855100 for
All U.S. Citizens