The city of Portsmouth, NH is seeking an arborist professional who is accomplished and confident with their ability to maintain its urban tree canopy. The ideal candidate has sound decision making skills, with regard to both tree health and workplace safety and culture.  This is a skilled position involving the knowledge and responsibility to care for trees and shrubs. The successful candidate shall possess very technical skills involving tree pruning and removal while climbing and operating an aerial lift.  Incumbent is expected to understand project or task objectives, identify and execute the appropriate tasks, use tools correctly, and successfully complete assigned work with minimal instruction.

Performance is subject to review according to the City’s personnel plan through observation, reports, and the results achieved.

The City offers a generous compensation and benefits package that includes retirement, paid time off including vacation, holidays, medical & dental insurance, flexible spending account, professional development, career growth, longevity incentives, and more!

Please visit Work with us | City of Portsmouth for more information.

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to, or extension of, the position.

1. Acts as the field crew leader and may direct permanent, seasonal, and intern staff while in the field.
    
2. Possesses the ability to understand tasks, devise and implement a work plan.
    
3. Performs highly technical skills involving tree pruning and removal while climbing and operating an aerial lift.
    
4. Possesses an understanding of tree physiology and how to properly maintain tree health. Potential pruning applications include: infrastructure clearance, ornamental tree maintenance, storm damage, and removal of diseased or dead limbs.
    
5. Possesses an understanding of tree dynamics, physics, and rigging systems and how to properly remove a tree. Potential removal scenarios include: dead tree in park, and hazardous tree near structure or other target.
    
6. Proficient in the use of specialty equipment to include: aerial lift, chipper, grapple truck, stump grinder, spray/watering truck, chain saw, and air spade; specialty personal safety equipment to include rope, saddle, climbing system or device, and spurs; rigging equipment to include arborist block, pulley, friction brakes, GRCS, and mechanical advantage.
    
7. Proficient with a variety of industry standard knots and felling techniques.
    
8. Strong understanding of work safety practices identified in ANSI Z.133 Safety Standard, and the ability to identify and correct unsafe work practices performed by self or others.
    
9. Proper use of worksite personal protective equipment (PPE).
    
10. Inspects City inventory for insect, disease, and plant health care issues and makes recommendations for plant health care treatments. Use of plant health care tools such as compost tea brewer and application truck.

1. Inspects and performs preventative maintenance and basic repair of climbing gear, safety equipment, hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery.
    
2. Spring season planting operations include bare-root tree inventory storage and planting.
    
3. Seasonal projects include: porous pavement applications in downtown tree areas, stump grinding and associated clean-up.
    
4. Subject to respond to after-hour emergencies including tree storm damage caused by severe weather, City events, and all winter snow operations.

A candidate for this position should have a high school diploma or equivalent.  Minimum two (2) years of experience in urban forestry is required.  The candidate must be an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist. The candidate must also be an ISA Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist OR Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist, or have the ability to obtain within six (6) months after hire. An incumbent must possess, or obtain in 12 months, a valid Commercials Driver’s License, Class B and have no offenses which would prohibit or restrict insurability by any insurance carrier providing coverage to the City.