Arborist Technician – Urban Forestry- Public Works (3434) (169504)

City and County of San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

City and County of San Francisco is seeking an Arborist Technician to perform urban forestry maintenance, including removal of trees and vegetation, under general supervision. The role involves climbing, rigging, and operating arborist equipment to maintain safety and public spaces.

Requirements include a high school diploma, 3 years of journey-level experience, and California driver’s licenses. Apprenticeship substitution is acceptable; overtime hours may be required in certain conditions.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of verified journey-level tree work experience.
• Ability to climb trees and perform limb removals safely.
• Valid California driver’s license without restrictions.
• Completion of an Arborist Technician Apprenticeship is acceptable substitution.
• Proficiency with rigging systems and use of hand tools.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, and evaluate conditions of trees and other vegetation.
• Climb trees with rope and saddle or access with an aerial lift truck to remove dead, diseased, damaged, or unwanted limbs.
• Remove trees and grind stumps.
• Perform various types of technical rigging, including using blocks, ropes, and lowering devices.
• Tie various arborist knots and hitches for climbing and rigging systems.
• Operate chainsaws, handsaws, pruners, hedge trimmers, and other arborist tools.
• Operate arborist vehicles, brush chippers, stump grinders, and other towable equipment.

Skills

Tree climbing

Rigging

Safety awareness

Aerial lift operation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Three years journey-level tree work experience

California Class C driver's license

California Class B driver's license with no air brakes restriction

Arborist Technician Apprenticeship Program completed

Job description

Application Opening

Monday, October 26, 2026

Application Deadline

Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Monday, November 2, 2026, and will close any time thereafter.

Compensation Range

$90,142 - $123,448 annually

Appointment Type

Temporary-Exempt (TEX), Category 18. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer and shall not exceed 36 months.

Company Description

Public Works has a far-reaching portfolio with a $453 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,700-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront of addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

Please visit the “About Us” section of our website at https://www.sfpublicworks.org to learn more about the department’s core values, Racial Equity Initiative, leadership team, history, budget and more.

Public Works currently has three (3) vacancies for the position of Arborist Technician (3434) in our Operations Division within the Bureau of Urban Forestry.

Job Description

Under general supervision, as an Arborist Technician, you will perform various urban forestry maintenance tasks and duties which include the removal of trees and other vegetation while performing related duties as needed.

Important and Essential Duties

• Identify, assess, and evaluate conditions of trees and other vegetation.
• Climb trees with rope and saddle or access with an aerial lift truck to remove dead, diseased, damaged, or unwanted limbs.
• Remove trees and grind stumps.
• Perform various types of technical rigging, including using the use of blocks, ropes, and lowering devices.
• Tying various industry-specific arborist knots and hitches for both climbing and rigging systems.
• Operate Chainsaws, Handsaws, Pruners, Hedge Trimmers, and other arborist and horticultural hand tools and power equipment.
• Operate arborist vehicles, Brush Chippers, Stump Grinders, and other towable equipment.

Working Conditions

The nature of the work involves exposure to a high risk of physical injury to the employee and constant vigilance to public safety. Positions in this job code require considerable physical demands, and manual dexterity with frequent exposure to arduous and disagreeable working conditions, including inclement weather.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED or High School Proficiency Examination).

Experience

Three (3) years of verified journey-level experience as a tree work professional. Duties must have included climbing trees of considerable height for the purpose of removing tree limbs, treetops or entire tree in accordance with safety standards. Experience in pruning trees from a ladder is not qualifying experience.

License and Certification

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license at the time of application.

AND

Possession of a valid California Class B driver's license with no air brakes restriction is required upon completion of the probationary period.

Substitution

Successful completion of an Arborist Technician Apprenticeship Program approved and registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Note:

One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Condition of Employment: Valid Driver’s License

Applicants must possess a valid State of California driver’s license with no restrictions that would prohibit them from legally performing the essential functions and duties of the role.

What else should I know?

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Verification

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Note:

Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process.

The selection process will include an evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Depending on the number of applicants, the department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the department will move forward in the recruitment process.

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ)

Candidates may be required to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) as part of the employment application. This SQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications for this position. The SQ will be used to assist in evaluating if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all of the steps in the selection procedure.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Tara Stevens at [e-mail].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.