Public Works Department August 2015

PublicWorksDepartment

ARBORIST I

GENERALSTATEMENTOF DUTIES

Employees in this position performskilledandroutinelaborinthe careofCity-ownedtrees, shrubs,andrelatedplants. They providea high levelofcustomer service to bothinternalandexternalcustomers.This position also doesrelatedworkasrequired. Snowremovaldutiesarealsoperformedasneeded. Dutiesareperformedunder thedirectionofthe ForestrySupervisor.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THECLASS

The workinthisclassinvolvesthe performanceofa variety oftasksintree andshrubcarewhichincludespruning,planting, removal,pest control,fertilizing,andtreepreservation.Generalassignmentsarereceivedfromthe Forestry Supervisor,butemployeesinthisclassareexpectedto exercisesomejudgment inselectingworkmethodsandinplanningdetails.Workisperformedunder thesupervisionofa supervisor,whoinspects workinprogress,andoncompletionfor conformancewithspecifications. Examplesofequipmentoperatedareropesandsaddles, aerial lifts, stumpgrinders, woodchippers, chainsaws, front-endloaders, tractors,anddumptrucks.Thisemployeemayberequiredto leadother arborists or seasonal workers inthe completionoftasks.

ILLUSTRATIVEEXAMPLES OFWORK

Adheres to City philosophy statement, mission, and City values.

Integrity - Demonstrated ability to act in the best interests of the City, engage in open and honest communication, and follow through on commitments.

Responsibility - Demonstrated ability to take initiative and responsibility, and anticipate and act to prevent and solve problems.

Respect - Demonstrated ability to show respect for others regardless of differences, and ability to be direct and cooperative.

Teamwork - Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, collaborating to achieve organizational goals.

Results - Demonstrated ability to work independently with general supervision, accept responsibility for assigned work, seek feedback, and learn from mistakes.

Complies with safety policies and procedures in work settings (to include high-risk environments.)

Plantsandstakesnewtrees.

Removestrees and performs stump-grinding.

Performsdiagnosisofinsectordisease-infestedtrees.

Spraysorinjectsinsect ordisease-infestedtrees.

Identifiesandinventoriesexistingtrees.

Seedsandsodsvariousareas.

Plowsandsaltsstreetsduringsnowremovaloperationsusingheavy equipment requiringa CDLlicense.

Respond tocitizeninquiriesandrequestsforinformationinarespectfulandinformativeway.

Inspectsfor treequalityanddefectsanddeterminesproper felling, pruning,planting,bracing, chemicalapplication,andtree removalneeds,asrequired.

Determinesproceduresorequipment tousebasedontraining.

Ensuresthat propersafetyproceduresandpersonalprotectiveequipment areusedfor theprotectionofpedestrians, traffic, andcrewmembers.

Maintainssimplerecordswithregardstoboth laboractivitiesandmaterialsutilized.

Worksinprecariouspositionsat considerable heightsabove groundwhilecompletingwork.

Safelyoperatesa variety ofvehiclesandequipmentincludingaerialboom trucks,brushchippers,front loaders,stumpgrinders, dumptrucks, treeclimbingsaddlesandropes,ladders, chainsaws,powerpruners,anda variety ofhandtools.

Loads,unloads,and maneuversa variety ofmaterialssuchasbrush, limbs, mulch, andother itemsasrequired.

Performsappropriatepost-treepruningclean-up ofjob sites, suchasrakingandsweepingtreedebris.

Loads,unloads,and maneuversa variety ofmaterialssuchasbrush, limbs, mulch, andother itemsasrequired.

Performsappropriatepost-treepruningclean-up ofjob sites, suchasrakingandsweepingtreedebris.

Caresfor equipment andtoolsthroughproper maintenance.

Readsforms,instructions,labels, andother informationregardingtreeevaluationandjobsheets, equipmentoperation,andproduct application.

Caresfor equipment andtoolsthroughproper maintenance.

Readsforms,instructions,labels, andother informationregardingtreeevaluationandjobsheets, equipmentoperation,andproduct application.

REQUIREMENTS

Ability to respond to emergency situations, such wind, rain, snow and ice storms, which may cause damage to the City’s urban forest.

Ability to perform duties safely according to established safety practices and procedures.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, government officials and the general public.

Ability to accept and share responsibility for the satisfactory completion of assigned duties.

Ability to perform duties in a manner consistent with the City’s organization philosophy statement.

Demonstrate excellent customer service skills with internal and external customers in high stress environments—to include citizens in need of immediate assistance.

Ability to perform duties effectively in extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions.

Ability to perform the specific assignments in urban forestry preservation and care.

Skill in exercising judgment.

Ability to function in an independent work setting and in a team.

Ability to make decisions in accordance with City policies and local laws.

Ability to accept and share responsibility.

Ability to be responsible in the performance of work with respect to the mission of the organization.

Knowledge of safety and occupational standards and hazards.

Abilityto safelyoperatea variety ofvehiclesandarboriculturalequipment suchasaerialboom trucks, dumptrucks,brushchippers,front-endloaders, stumpgrinders, treeclimbingsaddlesandropes, ladders, chainsaws,powerpruners,anda variety ofhandtools.

Ability to operate and maintain snow and ice removal equipment.

Ability to work extended shifts (up to 12 hours)—to include night shift--during snow operations with little advance notice.

Physical condition necessary to perform the duties of the job, including bending, climbing, and lifting.

Ability to lift items as heavy as 70 pounds and carry a 70 pound object a distance of up to 20 feet (for example, lift a salt spreader and install it on the back of a dump truck).

Abilityto acquire within 30 days of employment, andmaintainaClassB CDLwithairbrakesandtankerendorsementissuedbytheState ofIllinois.

Abilityto determineproperworkproceduresandequipment tobeutilized,basedonexperienceandtraining.

Ability to use computers and mobile devices to read electronic maps, schematics, and blueprints related to trees on City right-of-way.

Abilitytoreadsiteplans.

Abilityto inspect trees anddiagnosedisease,insect, andother tree-relatedproblems; andrecommendsolutionsincludingproper felling, pruning, planting, bracing,chemicalapplication,andtree removal.

Additional knowledgeofsafetyproceduresusedinthe arboriculture field.

Must also possessphysicalabilityto:

  • Workeffectivelyinprecariouspositionsatconsiderableheightsusingequipmentsuchasa chainsawweighingupto20pounds.
  • Load,unloadand maneuvera variety ofmaterialssuchasbrush, limbs, andmulchweighingupto 150pounds.

ACCEPTABLEEXPERIENCEANDTRAINING

An Associate’s degree in Forestry, Horticulture, or a closely related field is required; however, substantial work experience may be substituted for the educational component of this position. Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Horticulture, or a closely related field is preferred. Some work experience in the field of Arboriculture is preferred, but not required.

ADDITIONALREQUIREMENTS

Possession of, or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B without air brake restriction, as issued by the State of Illinois; Illinois Commercial Driver’s License regulations allow for the transfer of CDL’s from active duty military units within 120 days of separation with appropriate documentation. See the Illinois Secretary of State website for specific instructions.

Possession of or ability to obtain by the end of the employee’s probationary period, certification for the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) modules 100, 200, and 700.

This position requires considerable driving and a safe driving record will be criteria for candidate selection.

Possessionof or ability to acquire within 12 months of employment,InternationalSociety ofArboriculture (ISA)Certified Arborist designation.

IllinoisOrnamentalandRight-of-way PesticideApplicatorsLicensewithin12 months ofemployment.