This position is responsible for performing various activities related to urban forestry/arboriculture such as tree assessment, planting, pruning and removal on city properties, trails and forested lands.Description:
Job Title Arborist
Wage $21.30 - $25.85 (2021)
Reports To Supervisor, Parks and Open Spaces
Department Community Services
Location City of Kawartha Lakes
Hours Normal Working Hours 40 hours per week
Other Travel throughout City of Kawartha Lakes in accordance with job requirements and work locations. Work in all weather conditions. Able to exert up to 100 lbs of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 lbs of force frequently and/or 20 lbs of force constantly to move objects. Willing to work varied hours: day, afternoon, evening and weekend hours
Essential Duties
Inspect the condition of individual trees to ascertain overall health, identify problems such as disease, insect and fungus infestation, injury, overgrowth, or related conditions and take appropriate remedial action such as pruning, surgical repair, etc.
Assess trees damaged by disease, weather events, drought, age, fire, lightning, collision, vandalism and other factors to determine the appropriate removal strategy. Clear hazardous trees and shrubs from light standards, power lines (adhering to limits of approach), public trails, roadway sight lines, parks, natural areas, or any area within the City.
Remove small to large sized trees in the appropriate manner and dispose of them in accordance with approved practices including the removal of stubs
Prepare grounds and planting sites for the planting of trees and/or shrubs, plants specimens in the appropriate manner, and applies stakes, braces, guys and similar supports as required; ensure that the appropriate amount of fertilizer, growth agent, water, etc. is applied during the planting process; record arboriculture data, fertilize application data, tree and shrub inventory, and prepare written reports and perform related administrative tasks as required
Operate and perform basic maintenance of specialized equipment including aerial bucket trucks, stumpers, chainsaws, chippers and tractors in a safe and efficient manner
Maintain written records such as tree maintenance work orders
Co-ordinate work with necessary utilities, tree contractors and notifies appropriate agencies for road closures
Required to schedule block pruning for ‘in-house’ and contracted services for the City’s “urban areas”
Assist in developing procedures and coordinating ‘Emergency Storm Response’, relative to Trees, for the City
Perform winter snow and ice removal functions at various City owned facilities
Perform other related duties as assigned
Qualifications
· Post-secondary diploma in Urban Forestry/Arboriculture or a related field
· Minimum 2 years of related experience, preferably in a municipal environment
· Certified Arborist is preferred
· Experience climbing with practical arboriculture work experience
· Knowledgeable in current accepted related practices as recognized through the International Society of Arboriculture
· Competent in all tree climbing skills, including assessing safety hazards, tying in, working in a bucket, and tree rescue and emergency procedures and possess appropriate related ‘chainsaw’ certification
· Must be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations applicable to carrying out the duties of this position be knowledgeable in relevant traffic control procedures
· Thorough knowledge of all native and introduced tree species growing in the area, including identification, tree hazard assessment, growth habits, and pest problems
· Associated pesticide licenses preferred
· Effective oral communication and strong interpersonal skills to deal with members of the public, council and all levels of staff
· Ability to demonstrate initiative consistently with commitment to quality improvement, sharing process improvement initiatives with management
· Demonstrated time-management skills with the ability to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy
· Must have legible and accurate writing ability
· Ability to work independently or as an effective member of a team
· Good analytical and problem solving skills related to area of expertise
· Must possess a valid Safety in Line Clearing Certificate from EUSA or equivalent and First Aid/CPR Certificate
· Possess and maintain a valid Ontario class D with Z endorsement within a specified timeframe
· Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, the internet, and any other related software
· Upon a conditional offer of employment, a Criminal Record Check will be required
Applicants must be prepared for skill testing.
