Arborist

General Description

Whether you are joining our team for three years or twenty, you will have theopportunity to grow your career with us! Our employees are offered the opportunity to enhance their skill set by attending training courses, working on special projects, and becoming a member of one of our many City Teams.

De Pere, consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in Wisconsin, is a safe, warm, and friendly community located right along the Fox River less than ten minutes from Green Bay and 25 minutes from Appleton and the Fox Valley. De Pere is an integral part of the Green Bay metro area, which was ranked as the #1 place to live in the United States for 2023.

As an employer, the City of De Pere is a positive, team-oriented organization with a commitment to providing exceptional customer service to its community. The City of De Pere provides an engaging work environment focused on collaboration and team building. De Pere strives to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent by promoting a diversity of thought, valuing differing perspectives, and empowering employees to share their authentic viewpoints at all levels and functions within the City.

Check out what our employees have to say.

The City of De Pere is seeking an Arborist. This position will maintain and prune the City's urban forest in parks and City owned property.

The Arborist, under moderate supervision from the Forestry Supervisor, will prune, plant, climb, remove and diagnose tree problems. In addition, the Arborist will safely operate various equipment and vehicles including a chipper and aerial lift truck, all with the purpose of maintaining a healthy urban forest.

The typical work schedule is Monday

• Thursday, 6:00 a.m.

• 3:30 p.m. and Friday, 6:00 a.m.

• 10:00 a.m., plus additional hours as needed. The City of De Pere recognizes the importance of its employees having a proper work-life balance and supports alternative work schedules (i.e., four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days). In addition, new employees receive three weeks of vacation time and four floating holidays per year beginning on the first day of work (prorated the first year).

Salary:The full salary range for this position is $28.34 - $40.49 per hour, plus excellent benefits package. The anticipated starting salary is $28.34 - $34.01, depending on qualifications.

The City of De Pere rewards employees for exceptional work performance with a pay for performance incentive program. Employees may be awarded a salary increase, bonus, or paid time off for exceptional work performance. Employees will be automatically enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), a pension plan to help provide for financial security during retirement, which consists of employer and employee contributions.

Selection Process:Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and a formal review of all applications will start on approximately April 29, 2024. This announcement will remain posted, and we will continue to accept applications until the City reaches an agreement with one finalist.

Essential Functions

Perform proper pruning of trees in City parkways, right of ways, parks, and other city owned property.

Perform all tasks associated with properly removing City owned trees which are dead, diseased, damaged, or as required for construction purposes. Remove stumps and repair landscape.

Diagnose tree health and record in City's tree database. Diagnose tree diseases and other issues and report to Forestry Supervisor.

Plant trees in parkways, right of ways, and other City owned property.

Efficient and safe use of specialized City owned vehicles and/or equipment including, but not limited to, aerial lift truck, material handler truck, woodchipper, stump grinder, snowplow truck, dump truck, large trailers, etc.

Use power saws, proper roping techniques, and other equipment/techniques necessary for removing trees or cutting up felled trees.

Sharpen and care for edged tools as well as ropes and safety equipment. Perform daily routine maintenance on equipment. Prepare and maintain records as required.

Assist Forestry Supervisor in establishing work priorities.

Assist the Public Works department during snowplow operations through driving snowplow truck and/or other specialized equipment.

Perform various park maintenance activities as assigned.

Perform hanging and removal of banners and street decorations within the Street Right of Way.

Perform hanging and removal of decorative baskets in the Street Right of Way.

Set up and install holiday decorations.

Maintain prompt, predictable, and reliable attendance. Maintain the ability to lawfully operate a motor vehicle.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of safe operation of industry specific equipment including chippers, chainsaws, stump grinder, aerial lift, material handler, and other related equipment. Knowledge of the operation and maintenance requirements of the equipment and trucks used in tree removal.

Thorough knowledge of tree, shrub, insect, and disease identification. Thorough knowledge of safety practices.

Skill in rope and saddle climbing, use of climbing gaffs (spurs), modern climbing and rigging tools/techniques. Skill in the use and care of ropes, knots, climber hooks, riggings, and tools commonly used in tree pruning and removal operations.

Ability to climb and work in trees at excessive heights, sometimes in precarious positions. Ability to work in varying weather conditions which may be excessive heat, wind, cold, rain and ice.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with business representatives, elected officials, department heads, the general public, and other City employees with courtesy and tact. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the public. Ability to work the required hours of the position including the ability to respond to after-hours call-ins as needed.

May be required to demonstrate minimum competency by successfully passing approved tests.

Minimum Requirements & Physical Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate Degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, or related field.

• Minimum of two to three years related experience.

• Arborist Certification by the International Society of Arboriculture preferred, or the ability to obtain within one year of employment.

• Experience working safely in high places, and general laborer work.

• Prior experience in the operation of light equipment.

• Valid unencumbered Wisconsin Class "B" Commercial Driver's License, with air brake restriction lifted and safe driving record.

• Ability to obtain "N" (tank vehicle) endorsement within six months of hire.

A combination of education and experience may be considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job:

Exposed to all outside environments, including varying weather conditions, excessive heights, and high noise levels. Movement on uneven surfaces.

Contact with grease, oils, fumes, and gases. Work with moving objects and vehicles. Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, climb, push, pull, and lift up to 120 lbs. regularly.

Repeated bending, kneeling, reaching, and climbing, manual dexterity required, adequate vision, hearing, and speech. Must be able to operate assigned equipment.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.