Recruitment Information: Application materials (application, cover letter, and resume) must be completed along with responses to any supplemental questions by the deadline to be considered for the position. This recruitment closes on 6/27/24 at 8pm.
 
This position requires applicants to pass a pre-employment exam. We have partnered with Lower Columbia College (LCC) in Longview, WA, to administer our exams. Applicants must take the exam no later than July 1, 2024.
 
 ***To register for a testing time go to www.registerblast.com/lowercolumbiaor call the Testing Center directly at 360-442-2353. Select City of Longview Employment Testing and select the Parks and Recreation exam. The exam cost is $50. Applicants will need a 70% or higher to be considered. Test scores are good for 5 years.
 
 ***Financial assistance is available through LCC. Inquire and apply with the LCC Testing Center. If you have already taken this exam, please attach the scores to this application.
Position Overview: Provides arboricultural services for City departments including: health and risk assessment of trees in public rights-of-way, parks, and other city-owned property; coordination, inspection and approval of public tree plantings (particularly in the rights-of-way); performance of pruning, tree planting and tree removals for public safety; education and training of crew members on proper arboricultural practices in the field; maintenance and analysis of public tree inventory data; and an ongoing analysis of public tree needs.
The selected candidate will be placed in the appropriate position according to qualifications: Urban Forestry Technician III or Urban Forestry Technician II as determined by the City.
Salary Information:
Urban Forestry Technician III: $54,180 to $69,504 Yearly
Urban Forestry Technician II: $57,300 to $73,500 Yearly
This position is represented by the EBA. Refer to the City's website, www.mylongview.com, to view the current labor agreement. City employees shall reside within a thirty (30) minute driving response time under normal driving conditions for emergency response.
The candidate selected for this position will be subject to passing a pre-employment physical.Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Makes recommendations regarding tree selection, retention, health, safety, and other issues regarding public trees. Applies professional judgment to prepare recommendations on developing a public tree management program. Works with internal and external customers.
2. Performs planting, transplanting, pruning, spray/inject plant and removes trees in parks, along city streets, or on other public property using various means including ladders, aerial lifts, rope and saddle, and from the ground. 
3. Performs a variety of tree maintenance duties in park areas, landscapes, and/or other related areas, including: watering; pruning trees, shrubs, and hedges; and/or, performing other related activities.
4. Evaluates/assesses/resolves hazardous tree issues on public property and makes recommendations for action.
5. Conducts field inspections of public tree plantings to determine compliance with designs, plans, and specifications.
6. Performs minor repairs/improvements and maintains the cleanliness and orderliness of Urban Forestry sites (shrubs, trees, and vegetation) and facility structures (restrooms, offices, parking lots, and other urban forestry facilities).
7. Performs cabling and bracing work on trees.
8. Operates a variety of tools and equipment following instructions and safety standards to inspect and maintain plants. Equipment used may include aerial lift, chipper, chain saws, stump grinder, tree spade, tractors, and boom truck.
9. Provides guidance to part time employee(s) regarding safety practices, methods of operating and setting up equipment, and properly pruning and removing techniques.
10. Maintains an electronic database of records concerning tree management activities.
11. Operates and performs minor upkeep on trucks, tractors, chippers, or other light automotive mechanical equipment.
12. Operates and performs minor repairs on hand-held power and pruning tools.
13. Operates a variety of light-to-medium equipment and/or large trucks, which may include: dump trucks, chippers, trucks, and/or other related equipment.
14. Performs minor repairs/improvements and maintains the cleanliness and orderliness of park grounds (turf, shrubs, trees, and vegetation), facilities (restrooms, offices, and picnic shelters) and infrastructure (parking lots, tables, benches, sports fields/courts, and irrigation systems).
15. Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:
Urban Forestry Technician III

• Completion of high school or equivalent.
• Up to 1 year of specialized or technical training beyond high school in Urban Forestry, or related field; and 1-2 years of general tree maintenance, or landscaping experience. 
• Heavy equipment experience preferred.
• Possess and maintain a valid unrestricted Driver’s License, except for corrected vision.
• First Aid/CPR Certification or obtain within ninety (90) calendar days or as scheduled.
• Traffic Control Flagging Card or obtain within ninety (90) calendar days or as scheduled.
• Specialized licenses or certifications specific to Urban Forestry will be assigned by the City based on need of the Department. Once assigned you will be required to obtain within a specified time set forth by the City. These include but are not limited to:
  • Class B Commercial Driver's License with Air Brakes Endorsement or obtain 12 calendar months of assignment.
• Must pass above the 70 percentile of the Talevation Entry-Level Industrial Skills Exam through Lower Columbia College (LCC) OR provide passing certificates OR current employees of the City of Longview must have passed the City of Longview General Skills Exam. 

Urban Forestry Technician II

• Must meet all the requirements of an Urban Forestry Technician III 
• 3 years of full-time experience in arboriculture OR Associate’s degree in arboriculture and 2 years of full-time practical experience OR a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and 1 year of full-time practical experience OR a combination of education, training and experience which would provide the required skills, knowledge and ability to perform the job as determined by the department.
• ISA Arborist License

Required Knowledge and Ability:

• Thorough knowledge of care and maintenance of trees used for landscaping of urban areas. The work requires the ability to identify trees and to recognize tree diseases, pests, cultural and nutritional deficiencies, and recommend corrective treatments. 
• Ability to perform hazard tree evaluations including tree climbing and make recommendations for action.
• Skill and knowledge of acceptable and appropriate pruning practices (both branch and root) in order to make recommendations for tree conflicts on public property.
• Thorough knowledge of City tree practices, policies, and codes.
• Ability to analyze and interpret policies, regulations, and maps.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate clearly both in writing and orally.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Advanced interpersonal and customer relations skills.
• Ability to negotiate solutions and facilitate consensus on tree issues.
• Ability to operate personal computer programs, including those involving word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and permit tracking.
• Basic familiarity of Geographic Information Systems.
• Operation and minor repairs of equipment and small tools.
• Occupational hazards and related safety precautions and work practices. Adhering to safe work practices.
• Performing manual labor.
• Operating and maintaining applicable vehicles and machinery.
• Operating and maintaining applicable grounds maintenance equipment and tools.
• Performing routine maintenance and repair activities.
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
• The ability to handle job stress and interact effectively with others in the workplace.