Job Category: Non-Exempt

PCLS: 70044

Salary Grade: E

Summary

Incumbents in the Arborist position maintain trees and woody plants to ensure their healthy, safe, and attractive condition, including chemical applications; repairing, cabling, fertilizing, watering, and pruning; and removal of any dead, diseased or declining trees, or other woody plants.

Reporting and Supervisory Responsibilities

The Arborist reports to a Manager. This classification provides training and supervision of a small work crew.

Typical Functions

1. Maintains Utah State University’s “Tree Campus USA” designation.
2. Responds to on-call situations for snow removal and landscape emergencies.
3. Trains and directs a small work crew.
4. Works in trees by climbing and using a variety of aerial lift equipment.
5. Supervises the planting and transplanting of woody plants, including site preparation, installation, backfilling, staking, pruning, watering, and mulching.
6. Identifies disease and insect problems in trees and woody plants; recommends and applies appropriate treatments.
7. Maintains comprehensive records of work performed on all campus trees.
8. Identifies potentially hazardous trees and other tree-related problems.
9. Assists in grounds maintenance as required.
10. Serves on and consults the campus arboretum committee with regard to tree selections and tree care at USU.
11. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of proper tree care procedures used to maintain healthy trees.
2. Knowledge of proper tree planting and removal techniques and methods.
3. Ability to climb safely in and around trees using ropes and harnesses at heights reaching more than forty feet above the ground.
4. Basic computer skills needed to maintain the campus tree website, campus tree inventories, and campus tree maps.
5. Knowledge of safe work practices.
6. Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgements on sensitive and confidential issues.
7. Knowledge of soil types, slope, and drainage as applicable to trees.
8. Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
9. Skilled in using chainsaws, pole saws, loppers, pruners, chippers, and other arboreal related equipment.
10. Skilled in operating snow removal equipment.
11. Skilled at organizing resources and priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of arborist experience; or an associate degree in Arboriculture, LAEP, Plant Science, or related field plus four years of experience; or a bachelor’s degree in Arboriculture, LAEP, Plant Science or related field plus two years of experience is required. Certified Arborist (International Society of Arboriculture) is required.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position requires considerable physical activity. Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position including heavy lifting and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects. Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions, such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting. Employees work outside and will not be protected from weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat for extended periods.

Employees are exposed to hazardous conditions including, noise, vibrations from machinery, moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, exposure to chemicals, elevated work spaces, such as scaffolding, and atmospheric conditions that can affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation.

Disclaimer

This position description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.