Arborist Intern

City of Oak Harbor•Oak Harbor, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Arborist Intern is a grant-funded position totaling 800 hours, approximately a 20-week assignment. Day-to-day responsibilities are directed by the Arborist. The role is intended for someone who wants to work outdoors, climb trees, and learn arboricultural skills. The anticipated schedule is 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. The intern will learn physical arboricultural practices, including ground-based chainsaw use for pruning and removal, tree climbing to heights of 50 feet or more, basic rigging, brush management, and safe chipper operation. The intern will also learn arboricultural practices, standards, and general knowledge through field work. Work is primarily outdoors, with occasional office work. It involves work in parks, grounds, streets, and trails; equipment and worksite tasks; general parks maintenance; and interaction with coworkers and members of the public. The role involves adverse weather, noise, traffic, hazardous conditions, and heavy manual labor. The intern is expected to follow applicable safety practices and policies and promote workplace safety.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Must pass a criminal background check and driver's abstract check before hire.
Valid state driver's license and a good driving record maintained during employment.
Ability to learn physical arboricultural practices, including chainsaw use, tree climbing to heights of 50 feet or more, basic rigging, brush management, and safe chipper operation.
Ability to work safely and remain aware of team members' safety.
High attention to detail in fine pruning of trees and shrubs.
Ability to problem solve and to be accountable for mistakes and learn from them.
Ability to occasionally lift and carry loads up to 50 pounds, with or without assistance.
Ability and stamina to perform heavy manual labor, crawl, climb, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, operate equipment, and sustain these activities throughout a work shift.
Manual dexterity, hearing and visual acuity.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and interact courteously with coworkers and the public.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience working outdoors with hand power equipment such as chainsaws, hedge trimmers, weed eaters, and hand blowers.

Responsibilities

Perform tree pruning and removal activities, including ground-based chainsaw work, climbing, and basic rigging as training and assignments permit.
Learn arboricultural practices, standards, and general knowledge through in-field work.
Respond to extreme weather-related tree emergencies and work in all weather conditions.
Perform daily, monthly, and annual maintenance of equipment, including hand saws, chainsaws, climbing equipment, and vehicles.
Operate a brush chipper safely and set up and take down worksites.
Maintain chainsaws, including fuel mixing, sharpening chains, cleaning components, inspection, and chain tensioning.
Work in trees at City parks, grounds, streets, and trails.
Operate a water truck or vehicle to water newly installed trees in parks and rights-of-way.
Follow work plans from the Lead Arborist and/or Parks Supervisor.
Load and unload trailers using wheelbarrows, power equipment, and/or manual effort.
Use and update the City tree inventory with data collection devices.
Transport and install mulch around tree rings.
Perform general parks maintenance and custodial duties.
Maintain courteous and effective working relationships with volunteers, coworkers, supervisors, visitors, clients, community groups, committees, and the public, including in stressful situations.
Assist the Parks Supervisor and Arborist as needed.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Comply with applicable safety practices and policies, identify and correct potential hazards, and promote safe work practices.