Tree Maintenance Specialist
Job Title: Tree Maintenance Specialist
FLSA Status:Non-Exempt
Pay Grade: 19
Reports To: Township Arborist
Date: December 2019
JOB SUMMARY:
The Tree Maintenance Specialist is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Township’s
public trees. This position requires working outside in various weather conditions. It requires the
ability to use, and care for, saws and hand tools, chain saws and power tools, and rigging, to prune,
trim, climb, remove, plant, and treat trees.
DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES:
The duties described below are indicative of what the Tree Maintenance Specialist may be asked to
perform.
Other duties as assigned:
1. Urban Forest:
Trim street trees by removing branches to abate hazards, for clearance over roads, lawns, sidewalks,
to improve sight distance at intersections and street signs, for health and aesthetic reasons, and
remove trees as directed in accordance with ISA industry standards and Township ordinances and
resolutions. Care for Township trees along streets, in parks, and other public places of the Township
including installing mulch beds, trimming roots, installing root barrier, trimming suckers, preventing
damage by humans, animals, and insects, injecting pesticide, removing stumps, placing topsoil and
seed. Inspect trees and perform tree inventory functions using electronic data collection equipment
including updating an inventory for tree planting, pruning, and removal.
- Use arbor tools, spraying equipment, chainsaw, pruning saw, bucket truck to prune trees in
the Township right of way.
- Perform field assessments and take measurements to determine tree health, condition, disease,
and advise the Township Arborist.
- Identify hazard trees.
- Perform pesticide applications for tree pests and diseases.
- Plant trees along township streets and in township parks.
- Respond to call outs, remove downed trees during emergencies such as wind, snow and ice
storms.
2. Supervisory:
- On occasion, supervise the work of seasonal ground workers assigned to assist the Tree
Maintenance Specialist.
3. Public Relations:
- Help foster good relations between the public and the Township.
4. Training & Safety:
- Attend training and safety classes to stay abreast of proper and safe standards for arbor
work.
- Train public works employees in safe and proper arbor work standards including pruning
techniques.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Thorough knowledge of the following:
-Principles and practices of tree care in accordance with recognized ISA arboriculture
standards
-Knowledge of tree species recognition and conditions of tree health
-Knowledge of tree hazards and tree risk assessment
-Knowledge of common tree diseases including those caused by insects
-Knowledge of pesticides and application
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The
qualifications listed above and the requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,
skills and abilities required at the time of hire for continuation of employment.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Experience: Minimum 2 years arboriculture and/or related field experience
- Certification: Possess Certified Arborist Credential from ISA, or have the ability and obtain the
credential within 12 months.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
(1) Must be a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
certified pesticide applicator in Category 6. (2) Must possess a Class B CDL with no air
brake restriction.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Skilled in the use of a chainsaw, hand saw, hand tools, power equipment, bucket truck, brush
chipper, rigging and climbing gear
- Ability to work effectively, collaboratively, and positively with employees, supervisors, and
Township officials, and citizens.
- Ability to maintain a positive attitude and supportive approach.
- Ability to work independently, and with a team.
- Ability to work in a hectic, busy, and sometimes stressful environment.
- Ability to identify most commonly used trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.
- Ability to prune trees and shrubs using standard arboriculture practices.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
- Ability to communicate effectively with others members of the staff, supervisor, and the public.
- Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
- Ability to perform basic math skills including adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
using decimals and fractions.
- Ability to use and understand units of measure
- Ability to estimate area, circumference, diameter, volume and use related formulas
REASONING SKILLS:
- Ability to organize time and resources.
- Ability to define problems and deal with a variety of situations.
- Ability to think quickly, maintains self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
- Ability to work under a time constraint.
- Ability to use good judgment and effectively solve problems.
- Ability to plan work and establish priorities
PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands and work environment described is
representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Environment:
- This work is performed primarily in an outdoor environment.
- Perform duties outdoors in all types of weather and occasionally in emergency situations.
- May be exposed to air contaminates (clothes may get dusty, dirty, wet or greasy).
- Required to work at excessive heights via use of ladders or lifting devices, or in confined
space utilizing proper safety techniques and equipment.
- Employee may be exposed to excessive heat, cold, wet, and hazardous situations.
- The duties of this job include physical activities such as standing, climbing, balancing stooping,
kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing/listening,
seeing/observing and repetitive motions.
- An employee may be asked on a regular basis to lift more than 50 pounds.
- Vision requirements are close, distance and color vision, peripheral and depth perception
and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment may include some of the following:
- May be asked to work after normal working hours or on weekends
- Time pressure (frequent "rush" jobs, urgent deadlines)
- Repetitive activities (performance of the same physically demanding activity)
- Unpleasant social situations (necessity of dealing with irate or disturbed individuals)