Urban Forestry Technician - Parks and Recreation Department

Join the Parks and Recreation Department, which manages over 41,000 acres of desert parks and mountain preserves, including 41 trailheads, 200+ miles of trails, 182 city parks, 32 community and recreation centers, 29 pools, eight golf courses, and a variety of specialty and cultural venues. Urban Forestry Technicians maintain the city’s urban forest by planting, pruning, removing, and caring for hardwood and palm trees.

Responsibilities

• Operate an aerial bucket truck to perform tree maintenance activities.
• Climb trees and work in precarious positions at heights ranging from 30 to 70 feet.
• Use safety equipment and tools to prune trees, reducing risks and preserving tree health.
• Conduct visual inspections of trees along rights-of-way, parks, and other public properties to determine corrective actions.
• Operate and maintain equipment such as aerial lifts, brush chippers, stump grinders, and chainsaws.
• Assist forepersons and crew in inspecting trees to determine pruning, removal, elevating, or other corrective actions for trees on public property.
• Fell dead or dangerous trees using chainsaws, ropes, and aerial bucket trucks.

Requirements

• One year of tree maintenance experience.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of tree pruning and removal work.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) required by the end of the 12-month probation period.
• Must be physically capable of safely operating City or personal vehicles, possess a valid driver’s license, and have an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in landscaping.
• Experience using an aerial lift.
• Experience in tree climbing.
• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist or Certified Tree Worker certification.

Pay

Pay Range: $23.06 - $35.78 per hour.

Hiring Range: $23.06 - $26.70 per hour.

The actual salary offer will consider factors such as skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions.
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
• Choice of medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans, with a $150 monthly City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
• Employer-paid long-term disability.
• Free bus/light rail pass.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $6,500 per year.
• Paid time off: 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick and personal leave days.
• Paid Parental Leave: up to 480 hours (12 weeks) for eligible employees.
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness through Savi.