Job Detail

Forestry Specialist

Location: New Albany, Ohio
Salary: $28.77-$36.32 Hourly

Description

This position assists the City Forester in maintaining the city's trees through removal, planting, pruning, cultivating and caring for city trees and shrubs. As a member of the public service team, they will assist in public service department work such as snow and ice removal when needed.

Examples of Duties

The following duties and responsibilities are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive; other duties or responsibilities may be required and assigned.
 

• Prunes and removes trees using chain saws and pole saws or other appropriate equipment.
• Operates an aerial lift or climbs trees using ropes and saddle to prune or remove limbs.
• Operates machinery such as chipper, log loader and stump grinder.
• Maintains machinery and vehicles in proper operating condition by checking fluid levels, greasing parts and sharpening or replacing chainsaw and chipper blades.
• Performs safety inspections on ropes, saddles, chain saws and other equipment.
• Inspects work area prior to beginning work to ensure proper safety measures are in place such as considering electrical lines, proximity to street, traffic control, etc.
• Cleans worksite of debris upon job completion using rakes, brooms and shovels.
• Drives trucks to and from worksite, including commercial motor vehicles, which require a commercial driver's license.
• Responds to forestry related emergencies and the city's response to other weather emergencies and such as snow and ice removal; rotates being on-call for public service department. 
• Plants and maintains trees and shrubs on city property: prunes roots, performs root collar excavation, radial trenching, vertical mulching, and aeration to maintain healthy trees and shrubs; inspects trees and shrubs for signs of insects, disease or environmental stresses.
• Applies pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizer.
• Leads less experienced employees, such as seasonal or maintenance workers assigned to assist in special projects.
• Receives, processes, completes and maintains work requests and work orders.
• Participates in special events such as the Independence Day community celebration and Touch-A-Truck events.
• Completes daily reports of work activity.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Requires regular and predictable attendance.

 

Qualifications

The incumbent for this position must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and three (3) years of experience in pruning and/or removing trees using an aerial lift or through climbing using a rope and saddle. A certificate of completion of an approved tree climbing course from an institute recognized by the National Arborist Association or the International Society of Arboriculture may be used to substitute one year of experience required. A degree in arboriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture or forestry may substitute for one year of experience. An ISA certified arborist license is required within the first 12 months of employment. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain an Ohio commercial driver’s license, Class A with Air Brake and Tanker endorsements within year (12) months of employment.  Other requirements include the ability to maintain insurability under the city’s vehicle insurance policy.

Skill in: applying the methods and materials and using equipment required for arborist work; using hand tools and power equipment necessary for care and maintenance of trees and shrubs; accurately record and deliver information

Knowledge of kinds and characteristics of city owned trees; the safe and correct use of hand and power tools and equipment common to the work and the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the work

Ability to: exert physical effort in medium to heavy work involving lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling; stoop, bend, kneel, crouch and crawl; climb and balance; climb up, onto, and operate equipment using proper safety equipment; observe and control materials being moved while operating equipment; use peripheral vision to avoid hazards while operating equipment; judge distance effectively in operating all equipment; hear obstacles as they encounter the equipment and redirect the equipment; stand or sit for long periods of time; walk moderate distances to perform daily work; and, perceive and discriminate sounds, textures, odors, and shapes; understand and apply information related to the safe handling and application of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides; to understand and follow oral and written instructions; operate equipment outside regular work hours for special or emergency projects; work effectively being exposed to weather extremes, dust, electrical current, machinery, snow, cold, heat, wind, rain, etc.; stay attentive and work during first, second or third shift hours, when necessary to respond to snow/ice, weather events, or other special circumstances; use a computer, laptop or tablet to access work orders and record information; add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and measure data; comprehend and correctly use a variety of informational documents including reference books and manuals, requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, applications, plans, site plans, blueprints, and other reports and records; maintain personal composure and tactfully handle difficult situations and interpret questions correctly; stablish and maintain effective working relationships with others and behave in a friendly, understanding, helpful and professional manner with the general public, coworkers, and supervisors 

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