Job Detail

Forestry Crew Chief (Urban Forestry)

Location: Fort Collins, CO
Salary:

POSITION TITLE:  Crew Chief, Forestry   (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)
REQUISITION #:  req3859
DEPARTMENT:  Parks
LOCATION:  PARKS MAINTENANCE SHOP
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE:  Full-Time Regular
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE:   $52,685.00 - 87,808.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
SELECTION PROCESS:  Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 7/28/2021.
You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check, motor vehicle report and drug test required within 48 hours of offer.

CDL Drivers are required to register with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse at: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/

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The Community:  The City of Fort Collins sits nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains alongside the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. At 5,000 feet in elevation, residents enjoy a moderate, four-season climate, with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. With 174,800 residents, Fort Collins is Colorado’s fourth-largest city and spans 57 square miles. With the 20 year growth projection, the City of Fort Collins is expected to reach 255,000 residents.

The first people who hunted in this region arrived approximately 11,000 years ago, and Northern Colorado remains an integral part of the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations. European-American trappers and traders arrived by the early 1800s but rarely established permanent settlements. Gold and silver discoveries in the Colorado mountains in the mid-1800s and the prospect of land for farming and ranching attracted people from eastern cities and across the globe to the Colorado Territory, including what would become the town of Fort Collins; an agricultural colony that emerged from its founding days as a military fort. The expansion included the sugar beet industry's growth, which brought new residents whose descendants still live here today, including Mexican-American families from southern Colorado, New Mexico, and northern Mexico, as well as Germans from Russia. Since 1879, Fort Collins has been the home of the state’s land grant institution, Colorado State University, which currently enrolls 34,000 students. Along with the university, the city’s major high-tech and manufacturing companies and breweries attract new residents from all over the country and world. The community’s overall social diversity continues to grow.

There are abundant outdoor recreation opportunities available to the many residents who enjoy healthy lifestyles. The nearby Horsetooth Reservoir is a key attraction, as is the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway. The Downtown district provides many venues for live music, shopping, dining, and nightlife within the city. Fort Collins is widely considered the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado. The City has a strong appreciation for arts, culture, and entertainment. Various national organizations and magazines recognize Fort Collins as one of the best places to live in the nation.

The City’s long list of acknowledgements includes:  

• No. 5 Best Remote-Ready Cities: Livability.com Jan 2021
• Top 30 Creative Small Cities: CVSuite – May 2020
• No. 18 Safest Cities in America: SafeWise – April 2020
• No. 1 Best Place to Live: Livability.com March 2020
• No. 9 Most Fitness Friendly Places: SmartAsset – Dec 2019
• No. 7 Safest Driving Cities: Allstate – June 2019
• No. 4 Best U.S. Cities to Raise a Family: MarketWatch – April 2019
• No. 9 Best Performing Cities: Milken Institute – Jan 2019
• No. 3 U.S. Cities with Highest Economic Confidence: Yahoo – Nov 2018
• No. 2 Brain Concentration Index: Bloomberg – Nov 2018
• No. 1 City in America for Cycling: PeopleForBikes-May 2018
• Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award: Alliance for Innovation-April 2018
• The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-Nov 2017
• 18th Best City for Career Opportunities: SmartAsset – Sep 2017
• 3rd Best College Town to Live in Forever: College Ranker – July 2017
• 25 Best Towns Ever: Where to Live Now: Outside Magazine – June 2017
• No. 1 Stable and Growing Housing Market: Realtor.com-June 2017
• 11th Happiest City in America: Yahoo! Finance - March 2017
• No. 9 Top 150 Cities for Millennials Report: Millennial Personal Finance - Feb 2017
• No. 2 Best Cities for Small Business Owners: ValuePenguin – Feb 2017

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, and sick
• Retirement + company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance 
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability 
• Wellness program, workout facilities 
• Employee/family Onsite Health Clinic 
• Personal & professional learning opportunities including supervisory and leadership development; plus career mobility
• Collaborative work environment
   

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Job Summary

 

Works under the direct supervision of the Sr Forestry Supervisor. Directly oversees and assists with daily operations relative to tree management including tree planning, pruning, and removal operations. Coordinates, evaluates, and supervises personnel associated with tree planting, pruning and removal operations. Effectively trains forestry employees in: 1) safe climbing practices using rope and saddle techniques; 2) proper rigging techniques; (3) working with cranes on large tree removals; (4) proper structural tree pruning of small and medium size trees. Supervises a crew of three to four employees.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

 

• Develops work assignments, schedules and assigns crews to complete a variety of complex projects associated with urban forest management.
• Manages the TreeKeeper database inventory by collecting information and entering work records, work histories, and generates reports.
• Provides customer service by answering questions, providing information, and resolving customer concerns.
• Performs technical forestry functions; such as large tree pruning, structure pruning of small and medium size trees, large tree removal with traditional rigging and/or cranes, and planting of trees.
• Identifies defective trees, conducts evaluations, and recommends mitigation options.
• Operates aerial lifts up to 75 feet working height, grapples, brush chippers, chain saws, tree spades, and stump grinders.
• Trains Forestry crews in proper tree pruning and removal, rope and saddle climbing techniques, rigging for removals, crane removals, defective tree evaluations, safe work procedures, and proper operation/maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Provides information to both internal and external customers relative to arboriculture.
• Provides interpretation and guidance regarding City and department safety policies and procedures.
• Monitors and tracks employees time, authorizes leave, signs time sheets, and approves purchasing cards.

 

Management Responsibilities

Yes

 

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City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
• Experience building teams and implementing practices to lead others well in an inclusive, high-performance organization. Skill in integrating and synthesizing others’ viewpoints to build alignment of diverse perspectives to achieve results.
• Capable of creating conditions of emotional safety and demonstrates self-awareness and regulation in responding to others.

 

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills.
• Knowledge of tree or shrub species identification.
• Ability to perform maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other City departments, and other agencies.
• Tree pruning and removal skills.
• Ability to operate specialized tree maintenance equipment, such as an aerial lift device or grapple.
• Comprehensive knowledge of biology, soils, fertilization, proper planting techniques, support systems, insect and disease and industry safe practices.
• Ability to function in a favorable image through personal courtesy, conduct and appearance.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

 

Required Education

 

MINIMUM/PREFERRED	EDUCATION LEVEL
Minimum	Two or four year degree in Arboriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, or related field

 

 

Experience Requirements

• Six years of progressive experience in urban tree care with a strong focus on current arboricultural practices. Emphasis will be placed on technical knowledge and skills related directly to performing proper and safe tree pruning and removal of large trees; and structural pruning of small and medium size trees. Must be proficient in all aspects associated with urban tree maintenance and management.

 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

 

Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Class B - required, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist A - required, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Worker Climber Specialist - required, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or ability to obtain within six months

 

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

 

Crew Chief, Forestry

 

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The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities.  Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body.  The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to gender (regardless of gender identity or gender expression), race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age 40 years or older, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by law. For the purpose of this City policy “sexual orientation” means a person’s actual or perceived orientation toward heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality.

BACKGROUND CHECK, MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT AND DRUG TEST REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF OFFER.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

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