ARBORIST II

About the role

The Arborist II performs skilled arboricultural work amongst a team of experienced arborists, within City of Cincinnati rights-of-way, parks, and other public properties. The role involves climbing or utilizing an aerial lift to remove dead and dangerous trees, and regularly performing structural pruning to uphold the long-term integrity of public trees. Additional responsibilities include stump removal, tree planting, pest/disease management, emergency response during and after storms to remove trees and hazards, and other maintenance of public trees.

Responsibilities

• Climb or utilize an aerial lift to remove dead and dangerous trees
• Regularly perform structural pruning to uphold the long-term integrity of public trees
• Work aloft, either with rope and saddle or utilizing an aerial lift
• Assist with traffic control or in rigging operations
• Plant, maintain young trees in accordance with ISA best practices
• Perform emergency response duties during and after storms
• Manage dynamic weight loads of tree parts in relation to rope strength, equipment used, angle of fall, and distance to the ground
• Operate power equipment and hand tools in accordance with ANSI A300 industry standards
• Maintain all equipment prior to use
• Drive a truck with a trailer or chipper attached
• Operate aerial lift and climb at considerable heights
• Communicate effectively with fellow arborists, ground crew members, staff, and the public
• Make logical and safety focused decisions both in the care of public trees and to maintain a safe working environment for staff and the public
• Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to Arborist I and support staff
• Perform aerial rescue of fellow arborist working aloft

Requirements

• One year of experience as an Arborist I
• Two years of climbing experience with a tree service company or similar organization performing all aspects of tree maintenance
• ISA Certified Arborist credentials and an Ohio State Pesticide license, category 6a (Ornamental Plant Pest Control) and 4a (General Forest Pest Control)
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Class-B
• Ohio Commercial Driver License
• Ability to work irregular hours and be on call to respond to emergency tree hazards

Qualifications

• Knowledge of tree climbing techniques, modern climbing and rigging equipment, aerial rescue techniques, and proper usage/maintenance of power equipment and hand tools
• Basic mathematics and physics calculations for safely managing dynamic weight loads of tree parts
• Tree inventory methods and data collection
• Tree identification techniques and knowledge of common diseases, insects, and nutrient deficiencies
• Basic plant healthcare and treatments
• Understanding of ANSI A300 industry standards and ISA best practices

Skills

• To perform all tree maintenance to ISA and ANSI A300 industry standards
• To climb proficiently at considerable heights using single and/or double rope techniques and redirects
• To efficiently and safely manage ropes during all tree care operations
• To tie, dress, and secure knots used in arboriculture to safely perform rigging, pruning, and tree removal operations
• To perform aerial rescue as needed to ensure the safety of fellow arborist
• To safely and proficiently operate power equipment and hand tools in accordance with ANSI A300 industry standards
• To maintain all equipment prior to use
• To plant and maintain young trees in accordance with ISA best practices
• To maintain a positive attitude, communicate effectively, and make logical and safety focused decisions

Benefits

The City of Cincinnati offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefit package designed to attract and retain quality employees. Benefits include:

• Medical plans (80/20 PPO, HDHP with HSA contribution, Health Reimbursement Arrangement)
• Basic Life Insurance ($50,000)
• Supplemental Life, Long Term Disability, Accident & Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible Benefits Plans (Healthcare Flex Spending Account, Dependent Care Flex Spending Account)

Pay

Competitive salaries are offered for this position.

Schedule

Irregular hours and being on call to respond to emergency tree hazards are required.