Horticulture Arborist

Spring Grove Cemetery & Funeral Homes•Cincinnati, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Horticulture Arborist supports the Horticulture and Grounds team at Spring Grove Cemetery. The role combines arborist work with broader grounds technician duties, including tree care and removal, planting and transplanting, grounds maintenance, equipment upkeep, and assistance with cemetery operations and public activities. The employee maintains records and tree inventory information, identifies potentially hazardous trees, coordinates outside tree work with the arborist team and Director, and may help plan and schedule contracted work. The position is full-time, non-exempt, and ordinarily works Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one Saturday per month. Local travel between campuses may be required. The employee must be on call for major storms during weekends and may assist with cleanup to clear roads for weekend services.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
Must have or obtain certification by passing the Certified Arborist Exam.
At least two years of grounds experience; experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and arborist work is preferred.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and demonstrate good problem-solving skills.
Displays a “Customer First” attitude.
Ability to perform strenuous physical work, including heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects over 50 pounds.
Ability to work one Saturday per month and be on call for major weekend storms.
Ability to travel locally between campuses if required.

Nice To Haves

Grounds experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and arborist work.

Responsibilities

Repair, cable, fertilize, water, and prune trees and other woody plants; remove dead, diseased, or declining trees and woody plants, including using a chainsaw when necessary.
Update Spring Grove’s Woody Plant Collection annually and assist with maintaining tree inventory records.
Plant and transplant woody plants, including preparing holes, backfilling, staking, pruning, watering, and mulching.
Develop skills to recognize tree and woody-plant diseases and insect problems and apply appropriate treatments.
Assist with maintenance activities, including planning and scheduling contracted work and prioritizing jobs across the cemetery.
Coordinate outside tree work with the arborist team and Director, and follow up to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Maintain records of work performed and identify potentially hazardous trees and other tree-related problems.
Perform weekly grounds cleanup for debris and assist with storm cleanup, including chainsaw and loader work to clear roads for weekend services.
Maintain assigned equipment in good working order and report malfunctions to the maintenance team.
Develop and train team members in proper pruning and landscaping techniques.
Assist with planting and maintaining floral displays and annual beds; maintain plant and section labels.
Assist and guide public relations tours, seminars, and society activities as needed.
Assist with floral and wreath placements throughout the cemetery and provide assistance to the interment crew as needed.
Assist with chemical application and inventory; provide seasonal assistance such as leaf and snow removal.
Monitor the nursery and cold frame.
Install ground cover, trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, annuals, turf, roses, and other plant materials.
Maintain plantings and related items through irrigation, pruning, fertilizing, chemical applications, removal, staking, transplanting, and transporting.
Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Communicate verbally and in writing and interface with customers in person, electronically, and by phone.
Operate grounds equipment and work in all weather conditions.