Horticulture Arborist

Spring Grove Cemetery & Funeral Homes; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Spring Grove Cemetery & Funeral Homes is seeking a Horticulture Arborist to support the Horticulture and Grounds team. Responsibilities include pruning, planting, disease recognition, and coordinating outside tree work with arborists and the Director.

The role requires safety training and physical readiness for outdoor conditions. As part of the grounds team, you will maintain equipment, assist with floral and wreath placements, and help with interment and nursery activities.

Qualifications

• Requires High School diploma or equivalent.
• Certification by passing the Certified Arborist Exam is required or pursued.
• Minimum of one year grounds experience, preferably in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and arborist work.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with customers in-person, electronically, and on the phone.
• Repair, fertilize, water, prune trees and woody plants; remove dead or diseased trees.
• Maintain and update Woody Plant Collection on a yearly basis.
• Plant and transplant woody plants: hole preparation, backfilling, staking, pruning, watering, mulching.
• Recognize diseases and insect problems; apply appropriate treatments.

Skills

Strong communication

Independent worker

Customer first

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Certified Arborist Exam

Tools

Chainsaws

Loader

Mini Skid Steer

Aerial lift

Chipper

Climbing/rigging gear

Job description

Summary/Objective

The position of Horticulture Arborist is established to perform support and assistance to the Horticulture and Grounds team at Spring Grove.

Primary Duties

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The following duties are an overview of the primary duties and responsibilities of the Horticulture Arborist and should not be considered an all-inclusive list.

Customer Service: Spring Grove Cemetery

• Communication both verbal and written
• Interface with customers in-person, electronically and on the phone
• Ability to work in all weather conditions
• Repairs, cables, fertilizes, waters, and prunes trees and other woody plants; removes dead, diseased or declining trees and woody plants, removal may include the use of a chain saw.
• Update Spring Grove’s Woody Plant Collection on a yearly basis
• Plants and transplants woody plants to include hole preparation, backfilling, staking, pruning, watering, and mulching.
• Develop skillset to recognize disease and insect problems of trees and woody plants to apply appropriate treatments.
• May assist in various maintenance activities as required including planning and scheduling outside contracted work while prioritizing various jobs across the cemetery.
• Coordinate outside tree work with arborist team and Director with proper follow-up for accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintains records of work performed.
• Be on-call for major storms during weekends and be prepared to help grounds with cleanup such as chainsaw/loader work to clear roads for weekend services.
• Assists in maintaining tree inventory records.
• Identifies potentially hazardous trees and other tree-related problems.
• Perform weekly grounds cleanup for debris
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Performs work with but not limited to: Chainsaws, Loader, Mini Skid Steer, Aerial lift, chipper, and climbing/rigging gear.
• Will be trained in Aerial rescue and certified in CPR/First Aid.
• Maintain all equipment, under your responsibility is in good, working order, report any issues to maintenance team to correct malfunctioning equipment.
• Develop and train team members on proper pruning and landscaping techniques
• Assist with all floral display planting and maintenance of annual beds
• Maintain plant labels and section labels
• Assist and guide Public Relations tours, seminars, various societies, etc. as needed
• Assist with floral placements and Wreath placements throughout the cemetery
• Provide assistance to the Interment crew as needed
• Assist with chemical application and inventory
• Provide Winter/Fall assistance, (Leaf removal, Snow removal and other miscellaneous duties)
• Assist with nursery and cold frame monitoring
• Install ground cover, trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, annuals, turf, roses, and other plant materials
• Provide maintenance for all items including but not limited to - irrigation, pruning, fertilizing, chemical applications, removing, staking, transplanting, transporting
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.

Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; climb ladders at different heights; and reach with hands and arms.

Extensive physical activity. Requires strenuous physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects over 50 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time Non-Exempt position. Business days and hours of work are:

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Required to work one Saturday per month

Travel

Local travel may be required between campuses for support.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent Preferred.
• Must have or obtain certification by passing the Certified Arborist Exam.
• Minimum of one year grounds experience, preferably in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and arborist work.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Must have ability to work independently and have good problem-solving skills.
• Displays a “Customer First” attitude.

This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of accountabilities, duties, responsibilities of requirements. Any individual may be required to perform any other job-related activities or functions requested by his/her manager, subject to reasonable accommodation. The Spring Grove Family reserves the right to modify this job description to reflect changes in essential job duties made necessary by changing organizational needs, subject to reasonable accommodation.