Arborist 2
Category: Classified
Pay Grade: C20
Job Code: 13536
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
JOB SUMMARY
This is a working supervisory role in the Urban Forestry operational team. The role requires advanced knowledge of arboriculture and effective personnel management. The Arborist 2 is responsible for overseeing and conducting a range of tree care practices, ensuring the health and longevity of urban forest trees, and managing work safety in a municipal setting. The role requires the ability to develop effective strategies to solve tree-related issues, and to manage and train subordinates. The Arborist 2 must communicate effectively with citizens, explaining work objectives in a courteous, confident, and tactful manner. The Arborist 2 reports to a supervisor or designee.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all-inclusive)
- Supervises Urban Forestry personnel, ensuring safe and efficient work practices;
- Develops and implements work plans for tree care, including pruning and removal, especially in tight spaces, along busy roadways, and near powerlines;
- Develops and implements pruning prescriptions to provide safe road and sidewalk passage while ensuring the health and longevity of urban forest trees;
- Ensures the safe and efficient operation of all Urban Forestry fleet equipment and trains subordinates in their use;
- Identifies a wide range of tree-related issues and develops effective plans to solve them;
- Communicates effectively with citizens, explaining work objectives in a courteous, confident, and tactful manner;
- Conducts performance reviews and staff training;
- Leads safety meetings and assists with training events;
- Assists with interviews for new staff;
- Maintains inventory and chemical output;
- Communicates and coordinates work with other departments;
- Performs other related job duties as assigned;
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Three (3) years of experience in arboriculture that includes lead worker, supervision, or supervisory training; or an Associate degree or two (2) years of directly related formal vocational or skilled technical training and at least one (1) year of experience in arboriculture that includes lead worker, supervision or supervisory training; or a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field and some arboriculture knowledge, that includes lead worker, supervision or supervisory training.
Special Qualifications (May be required depending on the area of assignment):
- Current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist at time of hire.
- Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Air Brakes endorsement at the time of hire.
- Assignment to work a variety of work schedules, including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
- Temporary Traffic Control Intermediate (TTC) certification within 6 months of hire.
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Public Applicator spray license with Right-of-Way category within 1 year of hire.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of tree biology, soils, fungi, pest identification, wood anatomy, wood decay, species identification, species profiles, green log weights, tree hazards, pruning principals, plant health care, equipment operations, tree climbing, and advanced arboricultural techniques.
- Ability to safely direct others and conduct performance reviews.
- Ability to develop and implement work plans for tree care, including pruning and removal.
- Ability to develop and implement pruning prescriptions to provide safe road and sidewalk passage while ensuring the health and longevity of urban forest trees.
- Ability to ensure the safe and efficient operation of all Urban Forestry fleet equipment and train subordinates in their use.
- Ability to identify a wide range of tree-related issues and develop effective plans to solve them.
- Ability to communicate effectively with citizens, explaining work objectives in a courteous, confident, and tactful manner.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS
The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
- Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
- Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
- Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
- Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
- Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on a transcription device.
- Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
- Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
- Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
- Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
- Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Incumbent works in an environment with heavy equipment and machinery that could result in bodily harm to co-workers or others. Work may take place under difficult environmental conditions such as exposure to poisonous plants and animals, and/or work in hot, rainy and /or wet conditions.