Job Detail

Arborist Assistant

Location: Ithaca, NY
Salary: Refer to United Auto Worker (UAW) union contract

https://cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CornellCareerPage/details/Cornell-Botanic-Gardens-S06-Gardener-Arborist-Assistant_WDR-00041891-1

Culture of Inclusion and Community Standards

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values 

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.    

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell.  These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success.

Department Background

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being.

Cornell Botanic Gardens is a living plant museum comprising over 3,800 acres of University land in three major areas: the Botanical Gardens, Arboretum, and Natural Areas. An administrative unit of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell Botanic Gardens manages and protects these areas to support teaching and research at Cornell University; to preserve habitats and rare/endangered plants; and for public use for learning and recreation.

Rewards And Benefits

Competitive compensation, generous time-off, and great benefits …More on Cornell Benefits.

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

This position is full-time (39 hours) position. The Arborist Assistant will work as part of the Arborist team under general direction provided by the Arboriculture Supervisor (Arb Supervisor). This role will assist the Arb Supervisor and Arborist with general arboriculture tasks, care of the accessioned woody plant collections, hazard tree program in both the cultivated collections and campus natural areas, and other duties as assigned.

Daily work will include but is not limited: tree removal assistance, pruning, planting, amending soil, clearing brush, weeding, mulching, mowing, raking, and edging. Report plant health or safety concerns to the Arb Supervisor. Ensure that all safety protocols and procedures are met, and best management practices as laid out by the botanic gardens’ Landscape Management Plan and International Society of Arboriculture are adhered to. Assist with the care of gardens and natural areas throughout Cornell Botanic Gardens with direction provided by Arb Supervisor and other horticulture and natural areas staff where appropriate, both independently and as part of a team. Check both plant identification and interpretive labels and notify plant records manager of any missing tags. Complete status change sheet recording plant movements into and out of the specified collections, as well as reason(s) for plant loss and failure. Operate small-scale power equipment. Other gardening related duties as needed. Substantial manual labor is involved, requiring physical fitness and awareness of safety issues. Subject to working in weather related extremes of high and low temperatures, snow, and rain for extended periods. May be exposed to bees/stings and other environmental allergens. This position requires some weekend and holiday hours and occasional extended hours as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years of directly related work experience required.
• Demonstrated horticultural skills including experience operating motorized landscape equipment as well as a variety of hand tools.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Excellent interpersonal (oral and written) skills and willing to interact with a diverse range of staff, visitors, and students.
• Proven ability to work effectively and positively as a member of a team as well as independently. Reliable, trustworthy, and able to follow directions in an environment where safety is a top priority.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing independent judgment and problem solving to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
• A strong customer service orientation while providing a helpful and friendly approach to serving the campus community.
• Motivated to learn and takes initiative to be proactive.
• Physical fitness, manual dexterity, and the ability to lift heavy objects and move more than 75 pounds.
• Ability and willingness to work under varying climatic conditions (heat, cold, precipitation, etc.).
• Ability and willingness to work in an environment that utilizes pesticides as a pest management tool.
•  ISA Tree Worker Climber Specialist certification, or the ability or acquire within 18 months of employment.
• Able to report to work outside of the regularly scheduled shift to address time-sensitive operational needs, or to assist with departmental emergencies, or to deal with issues of public safety.

Preferred Qualifications

Associate’s degree in horticulture or related field.

Successful completion of formal coursework in landscape care and operations, arboriculture, horticulture, agronomy, integrated pest management (IPM) and equipment operation.

Experience in the care of woody plants.

Application Procedure:

Interested parties should submit a resume and cover letter describing qualifications online at https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your resume and cover letter in either Microsoft Word or PDF format. In the experience section of your application, use the "Drop Files Here" box to manually drag document(s) into your application. For a more detailed description and instructions on how to apply online, please click here.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

University Job Title:

Gardener S06

Job Family:

United Auto Workers

Level:

S06

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

Refer to Union Pay Rates Link Below

Remote Option Availability:

Fully Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Bert Whalen

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Current Employees:

If you currently work at Cornell University, please exit this website and log in to Workday using your Net ID and password. Select the Career icon on your Home dashboard to view jobs at Cornell.

Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter.  You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected].

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected].

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2023-12-18

---

Back to Job Listings