Service Technician - Urban Forestry

The City of Grove City is seeking a full-time Service Technician to join its expanding Urban Forestry team in the Public Service Department. 

Are you passionate about Urban Forestry, creating vibrant, green spaces and enhancing the beauty of a diverse, growing community? Apply now to join this talented, dynamic team! 

Appointed by the Mayor in consultation with the Administrative Assistant, the Service Technician - Urban Forestry, under the immediate supervision of a Department Manager or Supervisor is responsible for a variety of skilled and unskilled tasks in the delivery of City services and maintenance of City buildings, roadways, grounds, and equipment. Primary duties include the implementation of a city-wide Urban Forestry program including tree planting, maintenance, preservation activities, tree inventory, and the installation and maintenance of landscaped beds.

• Completion of secondary education (high school or GED) and must be 18 years of age.
• Must be available weekends, evenings, holidays, and for on-call hours. 
• Must have a valid Ohio driver's license and be able to qualify for and remain insurable under the City's vehicle insurance policy.
• Possesses or is able to obtain a valid Class A or Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) within six months of hire. The City of Grove City will provide CDL training if necessary.
• Pass a physical fitness test, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025. 
• Has proven ability in oral and written communications.
• Has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, civic leaders and the public in general.
• Passionate about the field of Urban Forestry and understands how plants shape and enrich public spaces. 

The ideal candidate:

• Demonstrates basic knowledge of principles and practices surrounding proper tree planting, species selection, tree maintenance, tree pruning, and tree removal. 
• Demonstrates general knowledge in basic soil science and identification of weeds, plant diseases, and insects. 
• Demonstrates general knowledge in equipment maintenance. 
• Possesses an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist credential or is able to obtain within one year of being hired.
• Possesses an ISA TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) certification or is able to obtain within one year of being hired.
• Possesses an Ohio Department of Agriculture Public Operator's Pesticide License or is able to obtain within one year of being hired.

This position is part of the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Trade Union and participates in the OPERS pension system. 

Note to Applicants: 

This application contains questions designed to assess your readiness for the position of Service Technician - Urban Forestry. To be considered for the position your complete application must be submitted no later than Sunday, April 27, 2025. Your responses to the application questions will be scored. Top candidates, based upon a scored training and experience evaluation, will be invited to the Physical Test tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 9:00 am.

• Implements a city-wide Urban Forestry program including tree planting, maintenance, preservation activities, tree inventory, and the installation and maintenance of landscaped beds.
• Performs a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled tasks to assist with the efficient delivery of City services (e.g., snow removal, mowing, litter control, etc.).
• Operates and maintains City-owned equipment and vehicles, such as backhoe, skid steer, chipper, snow removal equipment, tractors, mowers, etc.
• Inspects and maintains City-owned equipment and tools prior to operation to ensure safety.
• Trims (prunes) and/or removes trees and brush.
• Maintains contact with City personnel/departments, the general public, and various government agencies/officials in order to obtain or disseminate information related to the essential position functions.
• Maintains required licensures and certification, if any.
• Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.
• Obeys and promptly executes all orders of the Administrative Assistant.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The employee ascends and/or descends trees, ladders, stairs, or scaffolds; is exposed to environmental conditions which may result in injury from fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and/or poorly ventilated work areas, is exposed to possible injury from hazardous gases, chemicals, flammables, or air contaminates; is exposed to possible injury as a result of working with moving mechanical parts of equipment or machines; is exposed to possible injury due to unclean or unsanitary conditions; has exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions; is exposed to chemical compounds found in an office environment (e.g., toner, correction fluid, etc.); regularly required to lift, carry, push or pull objects 50 lbs or less. Employee may be subject to irregular work hours and must be available 24/7 unless alternate arrangements have been approved by Supervisor and exposed to vehicular traffic when working in the public right-of-way.

Salary : $47,819 - $73,819