Stephen F. Austin State University

This position plays a key role in maintaining the health, safety, and aesthetic value of trees and urban forests on city-owned properties, streetscapes, parks, and public spaces. The Arborist will perform skilled work involving tree evaluation, maintenance, and removal, and will assist in implementing the City’s Parks Master Plan.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:

Driver’s License Required – Y Type – B Endorsements - N - Tanker

Individuals who do not currently have a commercial driver's license will be required to acquire a commercial class B license with tanker endorsement. Individuals will be given 60 days to complete the ELDT Course from date of email enrollment and provide the commercial learners permit (CLP) and 60 additional days to provide a valid the commercial driver's license as a condition of employment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Requires a certified arborist credential from the ISA (International Society of Arborists) or the ability to obtain the credential within 90 days of employment. Requires the ability to operate power tools, perform sustained heavy physical labor, and work safely in precarious positions at considerable heights generally ranging from 35 – 75 feet. Requires the ability to respond to tree-related emergencies outside of normal working hours.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Note: This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The list of essential functions below does not identify all duties performed by any single incumbent in this position. Additionally, please be aware of the legend below when referring to the physical demands of each essential function.

(S) Sedentary (L) Light (M) Medium (H) Heavy (V) Very Heavy Exerting up to 10 lbs. occasionally or negligible weights frequently; sitting most of the time. Exerting up to 20 lbs. occasionally; 10 lbs. frequently; or negligible amounts constantly; OR requires walking or standing to a significant degree. Exerting 20-50 lbs. occasionally; 10-25 lbs. frequently; or up to 10 lbs. constantly. Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally; 10-25 lbs. frequently; or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly. Exerting over 100 lbs. occasionally; 50-100 lbs. frequently; or up to 20-50 lbs. constantly.

# Code Essential Functions

• 1 L Regular and reliable attendance in compliance with given schedules is a mandatory requirement of this position. Schedules may be subject to change with or without advance notice.
• 2 M Inspect, assess, and monitor the health, safety, and condition of city trees.
• 3 M Identify and treat tree diseases, pests, and other health concerns.
• 4 M Maintain accurate records of tree inventory, work performed, and pesticide applications.
• 5 M Collaborate with city planners, park planner, engineers, and contractors on development and infrastructure projects affecting trees.
• 6 M Operate and maintain tree care equipment including chainsaws, chippers, aerial lifts, and stump grinders, ensuring work is performed in accordance with ANSI A300 and Z133 safety standards.
• 7 M Completes administrative tasks by supervising crews, monitoring and evaluating performance, training crews, answering questions, investigating injuries and accidents, maintaining records of arboriculture activities and material inventories, and making presentations to various civic groups and departments.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Organization Responsibility Level SUPERVISOR
• Data Responsibility Gathers, organizes, analyzes, examines, or evaluates data or information and may prescribe action based on such data or information.
• People Responsibility Gives information, guidance, or assistance to people which directly facilitates task accomplishment; may give instructions or assignments to helpers or assistants.
• Assets Responsibility Responsible for only small quantities of low-cost items or supplies where opportunities for achieving economies or preventing loss are negligible.
• Experience-Related Requirements Over four years and up to and including eight years.
• Vocational/ Educational Preparation Requires Bachelor's degree or education and training equivalent to four years of college education in business, liberal arts, or any field other than engineering or the hard sciences.
• Mathematical Requirements Uses mathematics involving the practical application of percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic, or geometric construction; may use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities; descriptive statistics; deductive geometry, plane and solid, and rectangular coordinates; mathematical classifications or schemes.
• Communications Requirements Reads professional literature and technical manuals; speaks to groups of employees, other public and private groups; writes manuals and complex reports.
• Judgement Requirements Makes frequent decisions, affecting the individual, co-workers, and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but many variations from the routine.
• Complexity of Work Performs coordinating work involving guidelines and rules, with constant problem solving; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results or frequent exposure to unusual pressures.
• Impact of Errors Impact of decisions is moderately serious - affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens; or loss of life could occur but probability is low.
• Physical Demands Light to medium work that involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis; or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of the fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy.
• Equipment Usage Leads or operates or repairs complex machinery or equipment that requires extended training and experience such as HVAC equipment, heavy construction equipment, trucks using hydraulic pumping equipment, rescue vehicles, firefighting apparatus, aircraft, watercraft, protective equipment, electronic telecommunications equipment, electronic signaling equipment, commercial video equipment, medical, dental, or scientific equipment, complex drafting or GIS software, software used for programming custom applications; or the application of custom or commercial financial, accounting, administrative, legal, medical, dental, scientific or other complex software or systems; may involve installation and testing. Involves operations of limited scope.
• Unavoidable Hazards Works under circumstances where violence is a real and constant possibility such as in police work or in a prison facility; or works under other hazardous conditions such as underground where suffocation or crushing is possible; or underwater where the bends or oxygen deprivation could occur.
• Safety of Others Responsible for safety and health of others and for occasional enforcement of the laws and standards of public health and safety.