Tree Trimmer

About the role

NATURE OF WORK This classification involves skilled work in a variety of public lands, greenhouse, and public parks. Work involves responsibility for performing a variety of tree laboring and general laboring maintenance, including the operation of automotive equipment; and may involve the responsibility for planning and directing the care of flowers/plants in greenhouse and for transporting throughout park system; irrigation and chemical spraying. Work involves participating in and occasionally supervising a variety of tasks, often hazardous, such as trimming and removing limbs and branches, and removing dead or diseased trees. Care is exercised to prevent damage to property. An employee in this classification is expected to exercise independent judgement working within the technical area. An employee of this class may supervise subordinate staff. Supervision is received from an administrative superior. This position will be assigned to the Forestry division of the Parks and Recreation department and will be responsible for a variety of tasks, often hazardous, such as trimming and removing limbs and branches, and removing dead or diseased trees. Care is exercised to prevent damage to property. Work may be performed as part of a crew and is reviewed through inspections and public satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Operates a wide variety of forestry-related equipment and power tools necessary to complete assigned projects.
• Surveys and prepares site by operating assigned equipment; checks and performs light mechanical adjustments and repair.
• Operates heavy equipment such as bob cat, bucket trucks, loaders dump trucks, flatbed, and other trucks in transporting personnel, materials, and supplies; assists in loading and unloading trucks.
• Performs Clean-up by removing trees and debris with trimmers, chainsaws or similar manual equipment.
• Drives trucks to assigned job sites, secures work area, barricades traffic as needed.
• Uses an aerial bucket, climbing equipment, log loader, chain saw, and other equipment in trimming, pruning, and removing of tree limbs and dead or diseased trees.
• Pulls brush from trees as they are being trimmed; collects and drags brush to truck; loads brush on truck for removal from site.
• Cleans up site after tree removals or trimming.
• Carefully plans and executes trimming and removal to minimize the probability of damage to property.
• Exercises teamwork as a crew member, watches clearances, assists in securing and roping down branches, watches and directs traffic as needed, maintains the safety of children and other observers.
• Sprays trees with stump killer to prevent new growth; cleans up site after finishing trimming; hauls away branches, logs, and brush.
• Responds to emergencies during storms or high winds to remove trees and branches from hazardous situations.
• May contact property owners as needed to explain the trimming to be done, seek approval and resolve concerns and maintain safety of the property.
• Performs routine preventative maintenance and mechanical repair on various types of forestry equipment.
• Plant trees throughout the parks system as requested.
• Performs other work which is consistent with the essential functions of the job.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or equivalent GED with considerable experience in tree trimming work or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Employee must possess and maintain a valid Nebraska Driver’s License when operating a vehicle.
• When operating equipment that falls under the Nebraska Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) status, the employee is required to possess and maintain the proper license and endorsements as a mandatory condition of employment.
• Must obtain and possess a non-commercial pesticide license in the ornamental and turf category.
• Must obtain and possess a first-class arborist license within one year of employment.

Skills

• Knowledge of the hazards involved and safety precautions necessary in tree trimming.
• Knowledge of tree care and the methods, techniques and specialized equipment used in pruning, spraying, planting and removal of trees.
• Ability to climb trees and work with aerial equipment at varying heights and angles.
• Ability to prune and shape trees without damaging and ruining their symmetry and appearance.
• Ability to identify native trees of Nebraska (or to learn the ability to do so).
• Ability to work outdoors under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical activity, including lifting branches, brush, tree limbs and working in adverse weather conditions.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods, materials, tools, and practices used