Senior Tree Surgeon

Los Angeles Unified School District

7d • $40 - $49

About The Position

A Senior Tree Surgeon assists the Tree Maintenance Supervisor in planning and supervising tree surgery and tree trimming work, estimates job costs, and performs skilled tree surgery and trimming. The role may also act for the Tree Maintenance Supervisor during absences.

The position requires high school graduation or equivalent, three years of experience in tree surgery and tall tree trimming, a valid California driver’s license and use of a motor vehicle, and the agility to climb tall trees using ropes, safety belts, and other climbing apparatus. Promotional status is required: applicants must meet the stated current, retired, or laid-off LAUSD employee eligibility conditions.

Requirements

• Promotional status is required: be a current or retired LAUSD employee with 130 paid days in regular status in the Classified Service or permanent status in the Certificated Service, or have been laid off within the past 39 months from a regular, permanent LAUSD position after passing probation.
• High school graduation or evidence of equivalent educational proficiency.
• Three years of experience in tree surgery and tall tree trimming.
• A valid driver’s license to legally operate a motor vehicle in California and use of a motor vehicle.
• Agility to climb tall trees using ropes, safety belts, and other climbing apparatus.

Nice To Haves

• Courses in supervision, tree surgery, and arboriculture.
• Knowledge of types and treatment of tree diseases and pests.
• Knowledge of care of trees and shrubbery in the Los Angeles area.
• Knowledge of tree surgery techniques and tree trimming and pruning.
• Knowledge of knots and rigging used in tree climbing and felling.
• Knowledge of methods for cabling, bracing, boxing, and balling trees.
• Knowledge of bud cutting and angular tree cutting.
• Knowledge of safety precautions and equipment for tree surgery and trimming.
• Knowledge of tools and machinery used in tree moving and trimming.
• Ability to plan, assign, supervise, and review tree maintenance crew work.
• Ability to estimate time and material costs and maintain job cost records.
• Ability to prepare job order requests.
• Ability to determine corrective measures for tree diseases and pests.
• Ability to supervise installation of safety measures where tree work is underway, including when felling trees near power lines and buildings.

Responsibilities

• Supervises personnel performing tree surgery and tree trimming.
• Inspects trees on school and office sites and determines appropriate tree surgery and trimming methods.
• Estimates labor and material costs for proposed tree work.
• Inspects work progress and the quality of work performed.
• Climbs, repairs, trims, tops, prunes, and shapes trees.
• Boxes, balls, cables, braces, and fells trees.
• Strips, or supervises the stripping of, vines from buildings.
• Operates hand and power tools and equipment, and inspects them for serviceability and safety.
• Sharpens, or supervises the sharpening of, cutting edges.
• Changes, or supervises the changing of, blades inside chippers and on chain saws.
• Performs the more difficult tree surgery work.
• Maintains records of time expended on jobs.
• May act for the Tree Maintenance Supervisor during absences.

Benefits

• Paid premiums for a choice of medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).
• Full-time employees earn up to two weeks of paid vacation to start, with three weeks after five years of year-round paid service.
• Up to 13 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED