Tree Trimmer

City of Columbia•Columbia, SC

About The Position

Performs skilled and semi-skilled work pruning and removing trees in City rights-of-way and on other City properties, along with other related duties. The incumbent follows some procedures but exercises judgment about how and when to complete work; a supervisor regularly reviews the work. The position involves heavy physical labor, including frequent lifting, pushing, or raising of objects weighing over 100 pounds and recurring exertion of 50 to 75 pounds of force. The work may expose the employee to bright or dim light, dust and pollen, extreme temperatures, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise, vibration, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, and heights. Heavy equipment and machinery may pose bodily-harm risks to coworkers or others.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Some relevant prior experience.
Valid South Carolina Class D Driver’s License.
Ability to obtain a South Carolina Class B Driver’s License within one year from the date of hire or promotion.
Knowledge of basic arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and calculating ratios, rates, and percentages.
Ability to compare or inspect items against a standard.
Ability to provide information, guidance, or assistance to facilitate task completion, and to give directions or assignments to helpers or assistants.
Ability to lead, operate, or repair complex machinery or equipment requiring extended training and experience, including tree-felling equipment, heavy equipment, and power tools.
Ability to perform skilled work involving rules or systems and frequent problem-solving.
Ability to read routine sentences, instructions, regulations, procedures, or work orders; write routine sentences and complete routine job forms and incident reports; and speak routine sentences using proper grammar.
Ability to perform clerical, manual, or technical tasks prescribed by standard practices, potentially requiring computation, several procedures, and independent judgment among clear choices.
Ability to guide others and make frequent decisions affecting coworkers and others who depend on the service or product.
Ability to work in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but many variations from routine.
Physical abilities required include balancing, climbing, crouching, feeling, fingering, grasping, handling, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking.
Ability to perform heavy work involving recurring exertion of 50 to 75 pounds of force and frequent exertion of over 100 pounds of force.

Responsibilities

Prune or remove trees in City rights-of-way and on other properties as directed.
Drive and operate trucks and bucket trucks; operate tree-felling equipment, chainsaws, wood chippers, stump grinders, and other tools and equipment as needed.
Load and unload materials onto vehicles.
Clean work sites and remove debris.
Inspect equipment for safe working condition and report defects or needed maintenance to the supervisor.
Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of assigned tools and equipment.
Assist with instruction and leadership of lower-level crew members as assigned.
Perform work in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards.
Attend training to enhance job knowledge and skills.
Perform other related duties as assigned.