Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The principal function of an employee in this class is to perform maintenance of urban forest trees to ensure safe traveling conditions for pedestrians and vehicles. The work is performed under the supervision and direction of the Forestry Manager/City Forester, but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned supervisors, other City employees, and the general public. The principal duties of this class are performed in an outdoors environment with possible exposure to a variety of terrains, weather conditions, hazardous waste, and airborne pathogens.

• This is a returning annual seasonal position.

• Maintains urban forest trees to ensure safe traveling conditions for pedestrians and vehicles, including pruning and removals, insect and disease diagnosis, herbicide and pesticide applications, and fertilizing as necessary;
• Performs assessments of individual trees to determine potential hazards, including noting potential targets, removal of targeted trees, and stump-grinding;
• Assesses City trees after severe weather conditions to ensure safe conditions for City residents, including assessing damaged trees, clean-up, and pruning as necessary;
• Weeds, mulches, and fertilizes trees, and prepares soil for planting;
• Plants and transplants trees, including installation of bare root, balled and burlap, and containerized trees according to City ordinance;
• Participates in other forestry functions, including maintenance of equipment, tree removals, sidewalk and site triangle trimming, stump grinding, and other related duties;
• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required;
• Operates and maintains light and medium duty equipment and trucks appropriate to the functional area of assignment, including backhoes, front-end loaders, pickups, snow plows, mowers, tractors, brush chippers, and other related equipment;
• Operates a variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignment as instructed;
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including securing equipment at the close of the work day;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens\xe2\x80\x99 questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

• High School Diploma or GED; and
• Some (at least 1 year) forestry, landscaping, grounds maintenance, or related experience; or
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

• Some knowledge of basic principles and practices of maintenance and repair activities on urban forest trees;
• Some knowledge of the safe and proper use of basic hand tools, power tools, and other related equipment;
• Some knowledge of basic safety principles and practices of maintenance and repair activities;
• Some knowledge of or ability to quickly learn, related Federal, State, and local ordinances and regulations governing urban forestry maintenance and operations;
• Some knowledge of the maintenance and operation of related light and medium duty equipment used in functional area of assignment;
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of times with exposure to varying weather conditions;
• Ability to efficiently operate related light and medium duty equipment, hand and power tools, and other equipment related to functional area of assignment;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned supervisors, other City employees, and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

• Must possess a current valid Driver\xe2\x80\x99s License at time of hire and have the ability to obtain a Montana Driver\xe2\x80\x99s License within six months of employment;
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to appropriate conditional offer process.