Forester Assistant

Full-time position within the Park Department. Works directly with and under general supervision of City Forester, cares for, maintains, and assures the health of the City's tree population.

Removes and/or prunes storm-damaged trees along streets, right-of-ways and City owned properties.

Maintains the health of the trees by utilizing professional arbor culture practices such as pruning, fertilizing, staking, cabling, and spraying all trees on City streets and on City properties.

With the City arborist and City Forester, evaluates and decides on measures to be taken regarding trees; on public property and City rights-of-way; makes decisions on removal or pruning of any given tree; evaluates site to determine the best tree for replacement; communicates with residents to ensure understanding of the work to be done.

Inspects trees and maintains/updates databases; uses inventory/GIS software: prepares and monitors contracts.

Prepares site for tree planting projects; shares advice on plant species and locations; makes recommendations to ensure the long-term effects desired by tree planting projects; purchases, loads, unloads, and inspects nursery stock to ensure best quality plant material for the city.

Supports all departments within the city regarding tree maintenance as well as all other general internal and external maintenance activities as required.

Performs general maintenance of equipment utilized in the performance of the essential functions of the position.

Qualifications

High School diploma or equivalent;

Three years of progressively responsible related experience; or,

Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Must possess a valid State of Ohio Driver's License, valid Commercial Driver's License, (required upon hire or within nine (9) months probationary period for permanent full-time positions), and be insurable under the City’s Liability Policy to operate City equipment and vehicles.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Principles and practices of tree care, health, and maintenance.

Professional principles and practices of urban forestry and associated computer applications.

Maintenance and basic repair techniques for all equipment utilized for the performance of the essential functions of the position.

Principles and practices of landscaping and plant materials, identification, characteristics, and care.

Safe and proper application and use of pesticides.

Working effectively as part of a crew or team.

Pruning and removing large and small trees utilizing safe rigging/climbing methods and professional practices.

Using tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.

Ability to read and interpret databases, site plans and blueprints with regards to landscaping and location of underground utilities.

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and so forth.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, speak and hear, and lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.

While performing the essential functions of this position the employee is regularly exposed to wet or humid conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, work in high precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor weather conditions, and risk of injury from falling from high places.

Working time may require irregular hours, shift times, and/or on-call status.

The working conditions and equipment used to perform tasks are typically very loud.

This job specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.

Must pass pre-employment physical, drug screen, driving record check and criminal background investigation.

Ability to work in all types of weather.

Please note that as a recipient of federal funds, the City of Lancaster is required to comply with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. Therefore, the City has a zero-tolerance policy for controlled substances, which includes medical marijuana, a federally scheduled substance.

The City of Lancaster is an Equal Opportunity Employer.