Under direction, leads, oversees, and participates in the more complex and difficult work of staff responsible for performing a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees; ensures adherence to safe work procedures and practices; and performs a variety of maintenance tasks in support of assigned area of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the advanced journey level class in the Tree Maintenance Worker series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned including exercising technical and functional supervision over lower level maintenance staff. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Lead, plan, train, and review the work of staff responsible for performing a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees.

Train assigned employees in their areas of work including tree maintenance methods, procedures and techniques.

Supervise the use, care and operation of appropriate tree and grounds maintenance equipment, including but not limited to, aerial lift trucks, chippers, stump grinders, and hand and power tools.

Verify the work of assigned employees accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications; ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.

Oversee and participate in pruning trees for overall healthy appearance and safety; remove dead, dying or unsafe tree limbs and trees using appropriate tree removal equipment and apparatus.

Safely operate and maintain a variety of hand and power tools including, but not limited to, a chain saw, brush chipper, stump grinder, dump truck, front end loader, backhoe, aerial lift truck, power pole saws and various tree climbing equipment.

Oversee and participate in planting new trees according to established schedules on public right-of-ways, City parks, and City-owned property.

Oversee and participate in identifying tree diseases and pests; safely and accurately spray trees with appropriate fungicides, herbicides and pesticides to eradicate various diseases.

Oversee and participate in maintaining the City's tree nursery including watering, weeding, pruning, and transplanting trees.

Respond to emergency calls for service regarding needed tree removal; respond to requests and inquiries from the public regarding tree preservation activities, codes, and regulations.

Ensure adherence to safe work procedures; set up appropriate traffic safety controls around tree pruning and maintenance work sites.

Assist in the preparation of reports on operations and activities; evaluate effectiveness of equipment and procedures; suggest alternative methods and materials as appropriate.

Estimate time, materials, and equipment required for jobs assigned; requisition materials as required.

Perform related duties as required.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Operations, services, and activities of a tree trimming and maintenance program.
Principles of lead supervision and training.
Advanced methods and techniques of tree trimming, climbing, pruning, preservation, and maintenance.
Advanced principles and practices of tree planting and cultivation.
Safe operating procedures of various tree climbing and maintenance tools and equipment.
Principles and practices of safe traffic control.
Various species and cultivation requirements of trees, shrubs and vegetation.
Safety procedures used in the application of various pesticides, fungicides, and other chemicals.
Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
Pertinent federal, state and local codes, laws and regulations.

Ability to:
Lead, organize, and review the work of staff.
Independently perform a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees.
Interpret, explain and enforce policies and procedures.
Operate a variety of tree climbing and maintenance tools and equipment in a safe and effective manner.
Ensure adherence to safe work practices.
Accurately identify and abate tree diseases and pests.
Set up appropriate traffic safety controls around tree pruning and maintenance work sites.
Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
Perform a variety of heavy manual labor in unfavorable weather conditions.
Maintain accurate records of work performed.
Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Operate standard office equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.
Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.
Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Experience:
Two years of increasingly responsible tree maintenance experience, including use of aerial devices and tree climbing with rope and saddle at a level comparable to a Tree Maintenance Worker with the City of Reno.

License or Certificate:
Possession of a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL A) with appropriate endorsements.
Possession of or ability to obtain certification as a "Certified Arborist" or "Tree Worker/Climber Specialist" issued by the International Society of Arboriculture is desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are 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 job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in an outdoor field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, noxious odors, gases, potentially hazardous chemicals, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; exposure to hazardous traffic conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; work at heights.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a field environment; to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; to frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb with both legs and arms, reach, twist, grasp, and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; to work at unusual heights using aerial lift devices or climbing using rope and saddle; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; to operate assigned equipment and vehicles; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Local 39 Non-Supervisory
G24
Last Update: 8/2019
(Formerly Tree Maintenance Worker II)
JD 11/2018