Job Description
TITLE: Assistant Arborist
SUPERVISOR: Supervisor of Horticulture
CLASSIFICATION: 6077
WAGE: $32.22
OVERVIEW:
The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in partnership with the Department of Horticultural Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, is one of the nationâ™s premiere university-based public gardens. The Arboretumâ™s extensive landscapes across its 1,200 acres, includes 49 display and specialty gardens, 44 plant collections representing 6,100 taxa of plants including the nationally accredited pine and ornamental grass collections, and native and restored woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. The Arboretum is home to the Department of Horticultural Sciencesâ™ thriving research programs in fruit and woody landscape plant breeding, responsible for over 150 plant introductions since 1908 including the Honeycrisp Apple and the â˜Lightsâ™ series of azaleas.
As a member of the Arboretumâ™s Horticulture and Collections Department, the Assistant Arborist assists with implementation of all aspects of the Arboretumâ™s arboriculture program. The Assistant Arborist works alongside and at the direction and oversight of the Arboretumâ™s Arborist rotating through plant collections to evaluate plant health and assess and execute the required care measures including the unique pruning needs of each specimen. The Assistant Arborist position executes tree maintenance involving extensive climbing and aerial lift operation, tree removals, hazard tree assessments and implementation of corrective measures, IPM practices, and other tasks as needed as part of the full horticultural operation. The Assistant Arborist may direct the work of others assisting with arboricultural tasks as assigned, ensuring proper personnel and work site training and safety. The successful candidate is expected to engage fully in the professional activities of the Arboretum and work collaboratively with colleagues on efforts across the institution.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Tree Pruning, Maintenance, and Removal (70%)
Work with other arborists to prune trees across the Arboretumâ™s diverse collections using the highest standards for structural and maintenance pruning with a focus on overall plant health; inspect trees for other maintenance needs and report and assist with corrective measures.
Climb with rope and saddle, operate aerial lift, deploy necessary rigging, and coordinate with ground support operations to ensure a safe work site in alignment with industry standards for best practices.
Maintain, repair, and operate specialized arboriculture equipment including but not limited to hand-tools, ground and climbing chainsaws, aerial lift, brush chipper, and winches.
Perform small and large-scale tree removals
Assist with regular inspection of paths, roads, and other high visitation areas for tree care needs.
Oversee others involved in arboriculture tasks including staff, interns, and volunteers ensuring proper training and safety.
Respond to severe weather events, inspecting landscapes for tree damage and overseeing clean-up operations.
Planting and Plant Health Care (20%)
Assist with various plant health care assessments and treatments, including but not limited to, root system investigations, decay assessments, retrenchment pruning, and other tree preservation measures.
Perform proper planting and other tree establishment tasks.
Assist with tasks as part of integrated pest management program, including pest and disease monitoring, treatment implementation (application of pesticides including trunk injections), and all required record keeping.
Assist with installation, inspection, and maintenance of cabling, bracing, and lightning protection systems.
Additional Operational and Institutional Support (10%)
Assist with tasks across the full horticulture operations including watering, weeding, mulching, shrub pruning, work in natural areas, and other duties as assigned.
Assist curatorial staff and researchers with plant condition assessments, collection of propagation material, recording keeping, research support, and other related evaluations.
Assist with full scope of snow removal operations including shoveling and various equipment operations.
Perform assigned duties as an essential staff during weather related and other emergencies situations impacting the Arboretumâ™s normal operations
Assist with education and outreach activities, special events and other institutional programs.
Other related job duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Associateâ™s Degree in arboriculture, horticulture, or related field.
- A minimum of three years of experience in the field of arboriculture, including one (1) year experience as a climbing arborist including rope and saddle techniques and aerial lift operation; or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least five years.
- Must have and maintain a valid MN driverâ™s license.
- Within one year of employment, must possess and maintain Arborist Certification by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and a Minnesota Noncommercial Pesticide Applicatorâ™s license.
- Must be able to perform manual labor, including daily tree climbing, frequent lifting/carrying/transporting loads up to 80 lbs.
- Specialized training in the use of equipment used in the arboriculture field, such as but not limited to, ropes, saddles, lifts, chainsaws, brush chippers, and associated personal protective equipment (PPEâ™s).
- Required to work in all weather conditions in all seasons and may require evening and weekend work as need
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Two(2) yearsâ™ experience as professional climbing arborist
- Bachelorâ™s degree in horticulture or related field.
- Ability to learn operation of equipment related to grounds management functions, including front-end loaders, tractors, and pickup truck mounted snow plows, leaf blowers, riding and push mowers, string trimmers, salt/sand spreaders, snow blowers, and dump trucks.
- Knowledge of temperate tree and shrub identification
- Familiarity and ability to learn and apply to technical and safety standards of the American -National Standards Institute (A.N.S.I) for Arboricultural Operations including A.N.S.I. A300 pruning standards and A.N.S.I. Z133 safety standards in order to ensure safe work practices.
- May be required to obtain and maintain Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and other related licenses and/or certifications.
About University of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.
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Job Tags
Work experience placement, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,