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Form of workJob Description
POSITION: Tree Climber/AKA urban Forester
DEPARTMENT: Department of Public Works/Forestry Division
HOURS: 40 hours per week
SALARY: PW10 - $1,143.44 - $1,224.51 (Union Affiliated Position)
Basic Function: Responsible for routine semi-skilled to skilled manual work in the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs in the care and control of the city, including pest control. Uses a variety of tools necessary to perform tree care and maintenance. Errors may result in substantial costs from failure to maintain the desired standard of municipal service or damage to equipment.
SUPERVISION: Works under the direct supervision of the Forestry Foreman.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Performs a variety of routine and repetitive tasks that are checked during and at completion for satisfactory performance.
- Performs functions which are well defined and limited in scope, but which may involve a choice of two or more alternative approaches.
- Work involves intermittent contact with the public and others beyond immediate associates but is for the purpose of providing information.
- Cuts down and removes trees and shrubs that are under the care and control of the city by using various tools and methods including but not limited to brush chippers, stump grinders, bucket truck, rigging ropes, and leverage devices.
- Climbs trees using rope systems, ladders, and/or a bucket truck to safely and skillfully trim and remove branches, limbs, or the treetops.
- Removes and disposes of stumps, clears, and removes brush, prunes brush, and other similar tasks.
- Operates manual saws, power saws, winches, sprayers, mowers, trimmers, brush cutters and other hand tools used in tree and shrub maintenance work.
- Assists in the preparation and application of tree care chemical solutions such as pesticides and herbicides for insect control, disease control, and eradication of noxious vegetation.
- Performs various tree and landscape care including but not limited to mowing, trimming, planting, pruning, and fertilizing.
- Performs routine maintenance and repairs to power saws and other tree working tools and equipment.
- Performs duties during regular work hours and during after-hour emergencies during inclement weather conditions, in the vicinity of power lines, and in high places.
- Sets up work zones by placing cones, work zone signage, and barricades as needed.
- Inspect work around power lines performed by utility companies or their contractors.
- Operate a snowplow and other snow and ice equipment to remove ice and snow from roadways, sidewalks and other surfaces in the care and control of the city as assigned.
- Provide ground support to other Tree Climbers.
- Participates in training activities and complies with tree care safety requirements set forth in ANSI Z133.
Environmental Conditions:
Indoor and outdoor environments with wide range of weather conditions, exposure to vibrations and noise; work on slippery or uneven surfaces. Work with electrical energy; work with and around heavy machinery; work in or near vehicle traffic; exposure to dust and fumes from motorized equipment; exposure to toxic chemicals; irregular working hours for inclement weather situations and other circumstances.
Physical Conditions:
- Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time; moderate to heavy lifting and carrying which includes the ability to lift to one hundred (100) pounds; pulling, reaching, bending, climbing, and kneeling; use of fingers, both hands and legs
- Required; must be able to distinguish colors and operate assigned vehicles. Work requires intermittent strenuous positions, which result in frequent strain and which periodically, must be performed under adverse weather conditions in the field.
Education Licenses & Experience Required:
- High School graduation plus two (2) years’ experience in public works activities and one (1) year of experience in related tree work preferred. Tree work experience may include groundman work or nursery work.[1]
- Possession of Massachusetts Pesticide License is preferred but must obtain within 6 months of employment.
- Possession of a Class B (C.D.L.) Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator’s License required, a new Employee must obtain within probation period.
- Possession of a Mass Hoisting Operators 2B License or ability to obtain within probation period.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, employees, or organizations.
KNOWLEDGE SKILL & ABILITIES:
- Excellent knowledge of arboriculture industry standards for tree care including pest and noxious vegetation control.
- Ability to apply knowledge and experience to Forestry Division duties and responsibilities.
- A written or field test may be required to demonstrate ability to climb and trim trees to Massachusetts Standard Practices. Test to be administered by the Tree Warden or designee.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
- Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s.
- Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurements, volume, and distance.
- Basic computer skills to maintain operational records.
REASONING ABILITY:
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to conduct instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
- Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Candidates who do not have 1 year of relevant tree work who are interested and meet other requirements and are willing to be trained will also be considered.
ADDRESS ALL COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES TO:
Human Resources Department, City of Medford – Room 204, 85 George P. Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155 or by email at jobs@medford-ma.gov
The City of Medford is committed to the full inclusion and consideration of all qualified individuals for its open positions, regardless of their race, gender identity religion, ethnicity, age, physical abilities sexual orientation, veteran status, or personal experience. It is the City of Medford’s goal to embrace diverse perspectives and welcome candidates from underrepresented groups to help make its vision a reality, by providing access to resources to all candidates and providing reasonable accommodations are needed to persons with disabilities.
