- Arborist Technician Westminster
- City of Westminster, CO in Westminster, CO, United States
- jobs
- 1 month ago
jobs description
This is a skilled labor position involving knowledge and practical experience in the maintenance and identification of trees and shrubs common to the Denver metro area. Work involves responsibility for performing a variety of tasks with major emphasis on urban forestry maintenance duties. Employees will be required to use computers and iPads on a regular basis to complete work orders and maintain/update the City tree inventory database. Work is reviewed by a supervisor and through inspection of work while in progress and/or upon completion. Must have the ability to follow oral and written instructions and to be able to read and understand construction documents and develop and maintain maintenance schedules.
The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.
The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).
This position supports the goals of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, which enhances the quality of life for all Westminster citizens by providing diverse leisure, recreational, and informational services and resources; and acquiring, developing, and maintaining first-class parks, facilities, open space, and trails.
Every employee is accountable to:
• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences
GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:
• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product
Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of:
• Very technical skills involved in tree climbing, pruning and removal
• Tree identification
• Tree maintenance activities such as pruning and planting
• Tree and shrub pests and diseases and recommended control measures
• The general practices applied in the care and safe operation of a wide variety of urban forestry equipment
• Laws and regulations pertaining to operation of equipment upon roadways
• Work safety rules and procedures and follow ANSI Z133.1 Safety Standards
• Interact effectively with the public and other City employees
• Safely operate and train others in the safe operation of mechanical hand tools, and various urban forestry equipment
• Follow oral and written instructions
• Develop and maintain maintenance schedules
• Perform work without direct supervision
• Direct and set an example for a small group of seasonal employees in the accomplishment of a specific task
• Continue educational classes in urban forestry
Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks
1. Forestry-specific duties include:
• Maintains existing and future tree plantings in parks, open spaces and other facilities within the City
• Performs very technical skills related to tree climbing, pruning and removal
• Safely climbs trees to prune and remove, as well as teach this skill to lower-level employees
• Selects, purchases and plants trees throughout the City's parks and open space system
• Occasionally acts as a lead worker for a small group of seasonal employees
• Maintains and updates the City's tree inventory database
• Assists with Arbor Day, Tree City USA, and other programs related to urban forestry
• Inspects trees for insect, disease, and plant health care issues and makes recommendations for plant health care treatments and applies pesticides as needed
2. Operates various types of heavy and light equipment, including:
• Woodchipper, grapple truck, dump trucks, truck/trailer combinations, skid steer loader, and attachments, and power and hand tools
• Urban forestry equipment to plant trees, grind stumps, and install other landscape improvements
3. Supervises and trains other employees in the safe and efficient operation of heavy and light equipment, tools, and vehicles
4. Works a flexible schedule as operations dictate, available to work weekends leading groups of volunteers, and able to work on-call duties as needed
5. Maintains regular and punctual attendance
Driver's license requirements are:
• Possesses a valid driver's license, operates a City motor vehicle in a safe and responsible manner including driving in all-weather conditions
• Possesses or is able to obtain a Colorado Class B Commercial Driver License within six (6) months of employment
Other Duties and Responsibilities
1. Performs snow removal at public facilities on rotational basis
2. Assists with hazard tree analysis and tree inventory system
3. Inventories, maintains and recommends purchase of equipment
4. Advises coworkers and citizens regarding proper cultural practices in regard to the field of arboriculture
5. Takes on-call duty as necessary for snow removal, other weather-related events or planned City events
6. Assists with set-up and teardown of annual holiday displays
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.
Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:
• Graduation from high school or completion of GED
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in urban forestry and experience in the operation of a wide variety of light and heavy equipment and tools used in the tree care industry
• Able to identify trees and shrubs
• Ability to safely climb trees and be able to teach climbing skills to other employees
• Experience and proficiency working with Microsoft programs such as Outlook, Excel, Access, Word and PowerPoint, as well as ability to learn the use of GIS tools
• Must possess a valid driver's license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment
• Must obtain Colorado Department of Agriculture certified operator's license with the Ornamental Pest Control category within one year of hire
• Must possess or be able to obtain a Colorado Class B Commercial Driver's License within six months of selection to the position; candidate hired for this position will be subject to federally mandated drug and alcohol testing and be required to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical every two years
• Obtain International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist certification within first year of employment
• Must obtain International Society of Arboriculture Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist certification within first two years of employment
• Must obtain International Society of Arboriculture Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) within first two years of employment
Preferred:
• Experience with GIS software and GPS field units
Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Physical Requirements
Work is physical in nature and requires sufficient physical strength and stamina to:
• Climbing trees and working safely in trees
• Bending, balancing, crouching, stooping, lifting, reaching, standing, walking and sitting due to the physical nature of planting trees and shrubs
• Occasional lifting of up to eighty (80) pounds from ground to waist to move materials and supplies
• Occasionally sit while driving to work assignments and performing office tasks; frequently stand and constantly walk on uneven terrain in all weather conditions to safely complete assigned tasks
• Occasional squatting, twisting, climbing, and balancing to inspect assigned areas and perform snow removal
• Frequent light/firm grasp to properly use tools and equipment; occasional fine manipulation used to perform office duties; constant handling to use safely use machinery and heavy equipment
• Occasional stepping up and/or down to enter and exit vehicles and climb ladders; constant actuate mechanism to safely operate heavy equipment and vehicles
• Standard near and far binocular acuity and color vision
• Standard hearing
• Wear a respirator and other protective gear while applying pesticides
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is occasionally performed indoors and constantly outdoors with frequent exposure to extreme temperatures. Maintenance and repair are performed year-round on busy City streets where loud noise and traffic may cause a distraction. Work is very physical in nature and requires a great amount of physical exertion in extreme conditions. On-call duty on a rotational basis is also required for emergency maintenance and snow removal.
• Frequent exposure to noise levels that may cause distractions; sufficient physical stamina to withstand fatiguing elements involved in operating light and heavy equipment in adverse weather conditions
• Occasionally applies pesticides and other chemicals for plant health care
Required Materials and Equipment
Operates light equipment such as pick-up truck, small dump truck, horticultural hand tools, pruners, chainsaws, tree sprayers, shovels, snow blowers, 20-foot trailers, backpack sprayer, and other equipment as necessary.
Heavy equipment operation may include bucket trucks,, grapple truck, aerial lifts, front-end loaders, chippers, and truck and trailer combinations. Depending on the project, may also utilize small tools such as hammers, saws, measuring tape, levels, drills, and power tools to complete assigned responsibilities. Because of the use and exposure to loud machinery, constant noise levels, pesticides and chemicals, safety glasses, earplugs, safety shoes, spray and dust masks, and chemical suits are used.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history and when applicable, credit check, driver's license record, and education verification
• Pre-employment drug screen
• Pre-employment physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
Westminster CO United States