Crew Lead / Tree Climber

SavATree; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental

Paid time off

401(K) Savings Plan

Equipment Account

Flexible Spending Plan

Job summary

SavATree LLC is seeking a Crew Lead to guide a General Tree Care crew in outdoor environments across local properties. You will supervise pruning, removals, and safety protocols while ensuring high-quality service and client satisfaction.

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of pruning standards, tree species, and safe climbing techniques, with experience using bucket trucks and aerial lifts. CDL is a plus in a value-driven team setting.

Qualifications

• The candidate must enjoy outdoor work and have practical pruning knowledge.
• Experience identifying native and ornamental trees and shrubs is preferred.
• Ability to climb safely without spurs and operate tree-care equipment.

Responsibilities

• Work on a General Tree Care crew delivering high-quality pruning and removals.
• Perform cable bracing and other tree-care tasks with safe practices.
• Operate equipment safely and maintain equipment readiness for jobs.

Skills

Pruning practices

Tree species ID

Climb without spurs

Tree care safety

Chainsaw operation

Aerial lifts

Hazard awareness

Lowering techniques

ANSI standards

Team leadership

Tools

Bucket truck

Ropes & rigging

Ladders

Job description

Looking for a place where you can thrive?

SavATree’s mission is to take our passion for nature and keep this country’s outdoors beautiful and flourishing. Through our comprehensive tree, shrub, and lawn care we work hard to make sure our discerning customers have attractive, healthy and cared-for green spaces to enjoy. Over the last thirty years, we have opened new offices across the country, and we are looking for people who want to grow with us.

The General Tree Care Team are the muscle of our operation. These industrial athletes work together to provide high-quality tree care, helping to maintain and preserve the overall health of our clients’ landscapes.

In this role, team members have the opportunity to work outside and visit beautiful properties in their community. The Tree Care team applies expertise in climbing, pruning, and safety to ensure the health and well‑being of each client’s landscape.

The Crew Lead position is an additional level of specialty for select individuals who have demonstrated leadership qualities and received approval from the local branch management to provide direction in a work crew setting. Specific knowledge includes: TCIA Crew Leader Training Program, Crew Safety, Personal Safety, Hazard of Inexperience, and ability to check off levels equal and below.

What a day is like

Daily focus is working together on a General Tree Care crew to provide high quality tree care to our clients. The Tree Care Team is involved in all aspects of pruning, removals, cable bracing and other concepts related to tree care. Team members are able to safely operate all equipment and perform the assigned job tasks while also providing excellent service to our clients.

What kind of person are we looking for? Someone with:

• Experience with proper pruning practices including large shade trees and ornamentals
• Ability to identify native and introduced tree and shrub species and have a working knowledge of each species’ characteristics
• Ability to climb without spurs
• Experience with tree care safety standards
• Practical knowledge of chainsaw and equipment operation
• Experience with aerial lifts (bucket truck)
• Demonstrate additional competencies in all areas of knowledge for designated skill level.
• Communicate advanced understanding of all safety policies and procedures, including hazard tree identification.
• Utilize specialized equipment properly for climbing (ropes, saddle, ladders) along with all associated tools.
• Apply knowledge of branch collars and proper pruning cuts with total competence on chainsaw operations in small to medium difficulty (40-50’) trees.
• Employ ANSI A300 Pruning Standards and Terminology and ANSI Z safety.
• Demonstrate knowledge of different tree species and different techniques necessary for climbing each tree including Oaks, Maples, Dogwoods, Apples (Crab vs. Regular), Hemlocks, Pines and Spruce.
• Complete work exhibiting ability to raise a ladder, throw a rope, and safe techniques to climb into a tree.
• Set up safely with proper placement of lowering lines in a strong enough crotch, know when to attach a tag line, and engage proper lowering techniques.
• Know when to double crotch and use other appropriate techniques when working in trees.
• Able to drop trees, know when to use ropes for take down and identify potential need to use spikes.
• Perform aerial rescue if needed.

What is Essential:

• The desire to work outdoors
• Valid U.S. driver's license to operate company vehicles, CDL a plus
• Must be authorized to work lawfully in the U.S.

Why you might love working here:

• We have lots of training and development opportunities and support continuing education in the industry
• Our Tree Care Team works alongside some of the best trained and equipped teams in the industry, with an emphasis on quality and safety
• We offer competitive compensation and benefits up to $38hr based on exp, including health and dental, paid time off, 401(K) Savings Plan, Flexible Spending Plan, Equipment Account

We want everyone to be able to identify and achieve their own version of success, which means giving each team member the room and opportunity to grow. To ensure that everyone has the best chance to succeed, we invest heavily in training and continuing education. We make it easy for team members to reach out and get the help needed, even when it’s from the other side of the country. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where each team member has the resources and opportunities to advance his or her career and become a go-to subject matter expert. That’s why we often say that when you work here, you thrive here.

SavATree is an equal opportunity employer and a Drug Free Workplace

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.