Temp Seasonal - Tree Worker

Join the Spokane City Parks and Recreation Department as a temporary-seasonal Tree Worker, contributing to the beauty of our city through skilled and technical field work in Urban Forestry.

About the role

Performs planting, pruning, care, maintenance, and removal of park, public, and street trees. Duties may also include inspections of permitted commercial tree work and updating the City tree inventory database. Work involves medium to heavy physical demands under all weather conditions and terrain.

Employee works under general supervision utilizing standard procedures. Work is repetitive in nature and, once learned, is expected to be performed with less supervision. Typical hours are Monday-Friday, 6:30am-4:00pm. Part-time and flexible hours and days can be accommodated.

Responsibilities

• Tending, watering, mulching, planting, and transplanting trees and shrubs.
• Maintenance of nursery operations.
• Pruning trees and shrubs.
• Removal of trees and shrubs.
• Assists in the diagnosis and treatment of tree and shrub diseases and pests.
• Assists in site evaluations and tree inspections related to permitted commercial tree work.
• Updates tree inventory database related to public and street tree work.
• Provides general support to Urban Forestry staff, projects, and events.
• Performs all work in compliance with current policies, specifications, standards of practice, and standards of care established by the City of Spokane, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the American National Standards Institute.

Requirements

• Two years of high school, trade school, or equivalent.
• One year of work experience in arboriculture, horticulture, urban forestry, or closely related field.
• One year of college education specific to arboriculture, horticulture, urban forestry, or closely related field may substitute for the work experience requirement.

Skills

• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written instructions.
• Effective communication with tact.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, staff, and the public.
• Ability to perform moderate physical labor under unfavorable weather conditions.
• Ability to safely operate equipment around the public and co-workers.
• Ability to stand for up to four hours consecutively with one 15-minute break.
• Ability to read standard print and text on a computer monitor.
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to exchange information by email, telephone, and/or in person.
• Ability to lift and carry, push and/or pull, or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Behavioral Standards

• Respectful, courteous, and friendly to customers, citizens, and City employees.
• Effectively communicate with customers, citizens, other City employees, peers, and managers.
• Positively represent the City, maintaining trust with residents.
• Demonstrate integrity through honest and ethical behaviors.
• Value diversity and demonstrate equitable and inclusive behaviors.
• Value public service through a growth mindset, collaborative approach, consistency, and teamwork.