Senior Arborist Specialist (Equipment Operator, Senior)

About the Role

In this position, you will perform technical duties in the field, including all aspects of arboriculture and general forestry to enhance safety and aesthetics of the City's urban forestry program. This role involves leading field crews in tree hazard removal, pruning, and emergency response. The ideal candidate will have expertise in operating forestry equipment, supervising teams, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations to enhance the health and aesthetics of the city’s green spaces.

This position is subject to budget-required furloughs to be implemented in the 2026 calendar year.

Responsibilities

• Review, assign, lead, and participate in tree-related hazard removals, tree removals, identify worksite hazards, and potential wildlife conflicts.
• Utilize aerial lifts, chippers, dump trucks, grapple loaders, chainsaws, hand saws, climbing saddles, ropes, and lowering devices in accordance with ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and City Forestry rules and regulations.
• Drive and operate Class B CDL vehicles and use working knowledge of City codes and forestry rules and regulations to perform technical duties in the field, including all aspects of arboriculture and general forestry work to support the City's urban forestry program.
• Supervise and oversee a crew of two or more and attend safety and other educational training to maintain International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification.
• Respond to and mitigate tree-related hazards, emergencies, and storms that may require after-hour call-outs and extensive overtime in extreme and inclement weather and operations during dark hours; this includes removing diseased, hazardous, over-mature, declining, and dead trees.
• Create, plan, and execute tasks using the Cartegraph program.
• Prune trees to promote their health, correct visibility problems (i.e., obstructed traffic signs), and ensure traffic and pedestrian clearance.
• Utilize worksite traffic control systems (barricading) in accordance with UTC (Uniform Traffic Control) safety standards to keep the public and employees safe.
• Perform stump removal and grinding duties; call 811 for underground locates to ensure a safe dig and complete other miscellaneous duties, including mulching, recycling, and utilizing biomass.
• Oversee snow plowing operations as needed, including operating trucks, loaders, or tractors to remove snow and ice from roadways, parking lots, and walkways and applying salt or sand for traction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Five years of full-time tree maintenance experience or related field.
• Possess upon hire a Colorado Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) not subject to restriction related to alcohol and/or drug violations or pending charges.
• Possess or willing to obtain a Colorado Class A CDL within 12 months of hire, not subject to restriction related to alcohol and/or drug violations or pending charges.
• Possess Certified Arborist designation from the International Society of Arboriculture upon hire.
• Register your CDL (Commercial Driver's License) with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse at https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Preferred Qualifications

• Possess a valid, current Qualified Supervisor or Certified Operator certification from the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture.
• Possess a valid, current Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Operations, services, and activities of an urban forestry program.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.
• Principles and practices of arboriculture.
• Characteristics of various trees, shrubs, and other plant life.
• Methods and techniques of integrated pest management (IPM).
• UTC (Uniform Traffic Control) and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards.
• Safely operate high-powered machinery (i.e., grinders, chippers, loaders, and heavy-weight trucks).
• Organize work assignments for field operations.
• Safely operate assigned vehicles and equipment, including aerial lifts while using chainsaws.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Identify tree species that grow in the Colorado Springs area.
• Perform basic functions on computers to enter work data and receive work assignments.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands

• Exerting over 100 lbs. occasionally; 50-100 lbs. frequently; or up to 20-50 lbs. constantly.

Environmental Conditions

• Primary Work Environment - Outdoors.
• Extreme Temperature - Daily.
• Wetness and Humidity - Seasonally.
• Respiratory Hazards - Daily.
• Noise and Vibrations - Daily.
• Physical Hazards - Daily.
• Mechanical and/or Electrical Hazards - Occasionally.
• Exposure to Communicable Diseases - Never.

Additional Information

This position requires availability for emergency after-hours call-outs and extensive overtime in extreme and inclement weather and operations in evening hours with minimal lighting.

Pay

$28.20 - $33.86 hourly.

Starting pay will be within the posted hiring range based on your years of experience and education.