Urban Forestry - Arborist Worker 10 Months

City of Missoula • Missoula, MT

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Help care for the urban forest that keeps Missoula healthy, beautiful, and thriving. As a Seasonal Urban Forestry Arborist Worker, you’ll assist with a variety of tree care and maintenance activities, including planting, pruning, tree removal, and supporting arboricultural operations throughout the community. This hands-on position plays an important role in maintaining the safety, health, and longevity of the City’s urban canopy. We’re looking for motivated individuals who enjoy physical outdoor work, operating equipment, and working as part of a team. If you’re interested in arboriculture, environmental stewardship, and gaining valuable field experience in urban forestry, this is a great opportunity to grow your skills while making a visible impact across Missoula. This is a 10-month seasonal, full-time, job-attached position and is represented by Teamsters Local #2. Priority screening of applications will begin on Monday, June 15, 2026. Applicants applying on or after this date will only be considered if a competitive applicant pool is not received. To Apply: All applicants must submit the City of Missoula application. Resumes will not be reviewed. All details should be entered on the application. Effective July 1, 2026, the FY27 wage for this position will increase to $24.04 per hour.

Requirements

• Knowledge of and ability to promote safety considerations, City safety policies, OSHA/MUTCD and ANSI standards and guidelines related to park maintenance and construction.
• Skill in following oral and written instructions while working independently with minimum supervision.
• Skill in communicating, in person and writing, with the proven ability to establish and maintain positive effective working relationships with diverse individuals.
• Ability to operate vehicles, small power equipment, hand tools, and light to heavy equipment in a safe and effective manner.
• Ability to identify and implement risk management techniques to reduce exposure to injury, damage, and liability.
• Ability to read, comprehend and write incident reports and other operation reports and documentation.
• Ability to learn and follow City and departmental policies, procedures, and practices.
• Knowledge of and the ability to learn principles and practices of urban forestry and arboriculture.
• Knowledge of and the ability to learn GPS data collection and tree inventory software.
• Skill in safe operation of tree planting and tree trimming and removal tools and equipment, including chippers, chain saws, pole saws, hand saws, hand and pole pruners, ladders, lift trucks and stump grinders.
• Ability to climb and prune trees with ropes and saddles.
• Ability to learn all aspects of tree planting, pruning, removal, and identification.
• Position requires the ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. or less.
• Any combination of training and experience equivalent to one (1) year of maintenance, light equipment experience, or another relevant field appropriate for the specific position.
• Must have a valid Montana driver’s license with a verified acceptable driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Must have or be able to obtain a Montana class B, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with an airbrake endorsement within 90 days of hire.
• CDL Drivers must now be registered with the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis at the time of application.

Nice To Haves

• The City of Missoula will provide both on-the-job training and online coursework at no cost to the employee to support the acquisition of the Class B CDL.

Responsibilities

• Assist in performing a variety of tree care duties, including planting and pruning trees, sampling for tree pests, removing risk trees, etc.
• Perform pruning operations from the ground; clean up branches and debris from ground and grind in chipper; dispose of debris properly.
• Assist Arborist Technician with tree rigging operations.
• Establish safe traffic control around planting, pruning and tree removal sites.
• Provide support to citizens by answering questions and other inquiries.
• Operate both light and heavy equipment in arboricultural operations.
• Work independently as well as part of a team to achieve the goals of the Urban Forestry Program.
• Perform other duties as assigned, based on training and qualifications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed