ARBORIST I (OPEN)

City of Cincinnati; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Cincinnati is seeking a motivated Arborist I to join the Cincinnati Parks team. This entry-level position involves performing essential tree care operations under the guidance of experienced arborists. Responsibilities include tree pruning, removal, and pest management. Applicants should possess knowledge of tree identification and maintenance techniques, along with the ability to operate necessary equipment safely. Opportunities for professional growth and certification are available.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in landscaping, horticulture, or tree care required.
• Knowledge of tree maintenance techniques and equipment usage.

Responsibilities

• Perform tree pruning, removal, planting, and pest management.
• Support experienced arborists in maintenance of public trees.

Skills

Tree identification techniques

Basic mathematics

Communication

Education

ISA Certified Arborist

Ohio State Pesticide License

Tools

Chainsaws

Hand tools

Chippers

Stump grinders

Job description

Under direct oversight, the Arborist I perform general tree care operations, often amongst a team of experienced arborists conducting skilled arboricultural work within City of Cincinnati rights-of-way, parks, and other public properties. The Arborist works under the daily guidance of the Lead Arborist, often as a ground person supporting those working in the maintenance of street and public trees. This work includes tree pruning, removal, planting, pest/disease management, and stump grinding. Other job-related duties are assigned as required.

Additional Details
Cincinnati Parks isseekingadriven and dynamicindividualthat is interestedingettinginto the tree care industry toapply to ourentry-levelArboristIposition. The Arborist I willwork as part of a team ofexperiencedarborists, gaining on-the-jobexperienceperforminggeneral tree care operations withintheCity of Cincinnatialongrights-of-way,parks, and other public properties. The ArboristIwillwork under the daily guidance of the Lead Arborist, often as a ground person supporting those workingaloftin the maintenance of street and public trees.In thisposition, you willhave opportunities tolearnand practice treepruning, removal, planting, pest/disease management,rigging operations, climbing,and stump grinding.Other job-related dutiesmay beassigned asrequired.(Illustrative only. Any one position may not require all the listed KSAs nor do the listed examples include all the KSAs which may be required.)

Knowledge of:
Tree identification techniques and general knowledge of both native species to the Cincinnati region and common species/cultivars in the local nursery industry, including their best use, common issues, and characteristics to inform their placement and use in the urban environment.
Basic tree maintenance techniques including the physics and dynamics of tree felling, proper pruning practices to maintain a healthy structure, shape, and clearance needed to promote their long-term development.
Equipment used in general tree maintenance (i.e., chainsaws, hand tools, chippers, stump grinders, etc.), as well as their proper usage/maintenance, safety procedures, and corresponding personal protective equipment (i.e., helmets, earmuffs, goggles, gloves, etc.) as defined within the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) A300 industry standards.
Plant healthcare-related to trees, including a basic understanding of common diseases, insects and nutrient deficiencies and their corresponding treatments.
Usage/purpose of liquid and granular fertilizers to improve plant healthcare.
Basic mathematics (adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division) is sufficient to mix pesticides, fertilizers, and other materials.
Tree inventory methods and basic data collection.

Skill to:
Perform all tree maintenance to industry standards.
Knot-tie for rope and saddle operations, use of ropes and cables for limb and tree removal.
Maintain and plant trees in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) best practices and standards.
Safely and proficiently operate power equipment (chipper, aerial lift, chain saw, stump grinder, drill, metal grinder, etc.), hand tools (hand saws, loppers, pickaxe, sledgehammer, shovel, hoe, etc.) and common arboriculture tools (ropes, wedges, rigging equipment, etc.) in accordance with ANSI A300 industry standards.
Perform basic maintenance of all equipment (i.e., power tools, hand tools, PPE, and vehicles) to ensure safe and proper working conditions prior to use.
Drive a truck with trailer and/or chipper attached.
Perform emergency response duties during and after storms to manage down trees and branches impacting the flow of traffic and/or threatening the safety of pedestrians.

Ability to:
Maintain a positive attitude and communicate effectively with fellow staff and the public.
Maintain a sharp focus, dedicated situational awareness, and consistent communication with crewmembers to ensure a cooperative and safe working environment, especially when setting up work sites, driving truck with chipper, operating equipment, managing ropes within the work site, working aloft and within densely populated and/or high traffic areas.
Work collaboratively as a team member to ensure safe working conditions for fellow staff, team members working aloft in the practice of tree care, and the public, specifically in relation to communication and management of site conditions (e.g., Vehicular, and pedestrian traffic, etc.).
Make logical and safety focused decisions both in the care of public trees and maintenance of a safe working environment for staff and the public.
Understand oral and written instructions.
Read at a level sufficient to understand instructions to guide daily workload and ensure proper utilization of pesticide, herbicide, and equipment.
Collect tree inventory data (e.g., tree species, current condition, and site details) utilizing a graphic information systems (GIS) cloud-based platform to geospatially locate individual trees managed by the department.

Each applicant must have two years of experience in landscaping, horticulture, or tree care.

Acceptable experience includes the practical use of knowledge regarding pruning, fertilization, installation and establishment, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, cabling and bracing, climbing, or other services that directly relate to arboriculture. Examples of experience sources include, but are not limited to Tree care companies, Nurseries, Landscape companies, Municipalities, State forestry agencies, Utility companies, Academic arboriculture/horticulture departments (for instructors), Horticulture/extension programs (for advisors), Consultancies, and Pest control providers (for advisors and applicators).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Must have a valid Driver's License.

Must successfully acquire the following within the twelve (12) month probationary period:
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist
• Ohio State Pesticide License Category
Category (6a) - Ornamental Plant Pest Control
Category (4a) - General Forest Pest Control

Failure to obtain and maintain an Ohio State Pesticide License and ISA Certified Arborist credential in the probationary period will result in termination of employment. Must be willing to work irregular hours and/or be on rotation for callouts to respond to emergency tree hazards after hours and on weekends.

MILITARY EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION
Military education and experience in the tree care industry or a related field may be substituted for college level course work at the lower and upper division baccalaureate and graduate levels and apprenticeship training at the vocational certificate level on a case-by-case basis based on the American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide recommendations.

Note: This position requires passing a Civil Service examination as part of the selection process. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will receive further instructions on how to complete the exam.


Environmental Conditions:
Indoor and outdoor environments; exposure to office computers screens; exposure to extremes in weather conditions; work around moving vehicles; operate heavy equipment tools and machinery; work on slippery or uneven surfaces; exposure to pesticides, automobile exhaust, and noise; exposure to poison ivy; work at high elevations regularly.

Physical Conditions:
Duties require maintaining physical condition necessary for tree climbing, sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time; moderate and heavy lifting and carrying; must be able to do general heavy manual labor; must be able to distinguish colors and make visual assessments; must be able to operate assigned vehicle and equipment.