PLANT HEALTH CARE TECHNICIAN

About the role

Alpine Tree Service is a high-growth, full-service tree care company serving residential and commercial clients across New Jersey. We operate with a focus on safety, professionalism, and execution — following ANSI standards and delivering a premium customer experience. We are building a team of professionals, not just workers.

The Plant Health Care Technician is responsible for diagnosing, treating, and protecting trees and shrubs across Alpine's residential and commercial accounts. You'll fertilize, manage insect and disease pressure, and educate clients on what's happening with their landscape — all while operating within strict safety and regulatory standards. This is a technical field role for someone who enjoys both the science of plant health care and the hands-on application of it.

Responsibilities

• Identifying and diagnosing insects, diseases, and fungal conditions
• Understanding insect and disease life cycles, plant biology, and soil biology
• Evaluating and recommending appropriate treatment options
• Performing prescribed fertilization and pest management applications using spray and injection tools
• Following proper filling, mixing, and material dilution procedures
• Communicating with and educating clients on diagnoses and prescribed services
• Monitoring treatment efficacy and communicating progress to clients and management
• Maintaining accurate, timely records of all applications and observations
• Driving, operating, and maintaining truck and sprayer equipment
• Adhering to company safety policy and state and local pesticide regulations

How We Operate

Plant Health Care at Alpine is a technical craft. Here's what that looks like in practice:

• Actively Seek Knowledge: You stay sharp on pest and disease lifecycles, plant biology, treatment efficacy, and NJ pesticide regulations. The PHC field moves — you move with it.
• Think Ahead to Solve Problems: You spot pest pressure and disease symptoms before they become emergencies. You anticipate seasonal patterns and recommend preventive treatment before clients have to call in concerned.
• Be Adaptable: Weather shifts, treatment plans evolve, and every property is different. You adjust your approach without losing the rigor of the work.
• Loyalty to the Team: You support Sales Arborists with accurate diagnoses. You communicate clearly with the PHC Director and management on treatment progress. And you take time with clients — your work depends on them trusting what you recommend.
• Have the Motivation to Be the Best: Accuracy matters. The treatments you apply and the records you keep have to be right every time. The best PHC Technicians take pride in the precision of their work.

Qualifications

• 2- or 4-year degree/certificate in Horticulture or related field, OR minimum 3 years of industry/field experience
• Possession of a New Jersey Pesticide Applicator's License (Core, 3a and/or 3b)
• Valid driver's license
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to be self-directed, manage time, and execute work efficiently and safely
• Physical ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs and work 8+ hours a day in variable weather conditions
• English proficiency
• Authorized to work in the United States

Preferred:

• ISA Certified Arborist
• Familiarity with NJ tree species, pest pressure, and disease patterns
• Additional pesticide category licenses (3c, 8a, etc.)

Why Alpine

• Real Training, High-Tech Equipment: ISA Certified Arborists on staff, ANSI Z133 standards on every job, and the best gear in the industry — including the Tree-MEK, one of the most capable cranes in the region.
• Clear Advancement: Ground crew become climbers. Climbers become operators. Operators become crew leads. We promote from within whenever we can, and we pay for the certifications that get you there.
• Team-First Culture: No passengers, no ego. We hire people who want to be part of something — not people clocking in.

Pay

Starting pay at $25/hour, based on experience and performance.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance
• Time Off: Paid time off, paid holidays, paid sick time (in line with NJ policy)
• Financial: Competitive pay based on performance, not just tenure; 401(k) with 3% company match
• Growth & Development: On-the-job training from day one; ongoing professional development; company-paid certifications — ISA Arborist and Pesticide Applicator licenses where applicable; clear advancement path with internal promotion priority
• Equipment & Tools: Industry-leading equipment, including the Tree-MEK crane; full safety equipment provided; company phone; company vehicle

Who This Role Is For

This Role Is For Someone Who:

• Has a horticulture or plant health background and wants to apply it in the field
• Enjoys client education and explaining what's happening with a tree or shrub
• Takes pride in accurate, careful work

This May Not Be The Right Fit If You:

• Prefer general tree care work over the technical side of plant health
• Don't enjoy the documentation and reporting side of the job
• Are uncomfortable communicating directly with clients