Lead Arborist

Bismarck, City of•Bismarck, ND

About The Position

The Lead Arborist plans, supervises, and participates in the care and maintenance of City trees. The work includes skilled, manual, and often hazardous tasks such as pruning, planting, and removing trees along City streets. The position coordinates full-time and seasonal staff, assigns daily work, and trains new employees. It also performs tree and equipment maintenance, diagnoses and treats pests, and assists with snow removal as needed.

Requirements

Specialized training in forestry-related work, in addition to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.
Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand subordinate positions and answer questions and resolve problems, usually associated with three or more years of experience or service; five or more years is preferred.
Possess or be able to obtain a valid North Dakota commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the type of vehicle or equipment operated within six months of employment.
Possess or be able to obtain International Society of Arboriculture Arborist Certification within one year of hire.
Possess or be able to obtain a North Dakota Pesticide Applicator’s License within one year of hire.
Knowledge of arboricultural and urban forestry practices and techniques.
Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.
Knowledge of common tree species, their proper form, and appropriate pruning requirements.
Knowledge of safe operation and maintenance of forestry equipment, including bucket trucks, log loaders, and wood chippers, and tools such as chainsaws and hand saws.
Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety procedures.
Ability to work at heights greater than 50 feet and around hazards including power lines.
Knowledge of computers and job-related software such as ArcGIS.
Skill in prioritizing and planning and in interpersonal relations.
Ability to lead and work as part of a team.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; the City of Bismarck does not provide visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of relevant experience or service is preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the work of full-time and seasonal staff, plan and assign daily work, and train new employees.
Prune trees using a bucket truck, knuckle boom, wood chipper, or other specialized equipment, including structural and rotational pruning and cleanup of storm damage or other hazards.
Remove dead, dying, or hazardous trees using a bucket truck, log loader, knuckle boom, wood chipper, or other specialized equipment.
Remove stumps with a stump router and repair irrigation lines damaged during stump removal.
Plant trees according to proper tree-planting specifications.
Assist with snow removal operations as needed, potentially operating a sander, loader, or motor grader.
Conduct daily vehicle and equipment inspections.
Diagnose and treat trees for pests.
Participate in annual elm firewood inspections.
Perform related duties as assigned.