Arborist/Urban Forester

THE POSITION

Under direction to conduct a program of research in tree insect/disease control; to assist in planning the Street Tree Planting Program; and to participate in the administration of related Tree Services activities.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

An employee in this classification serves as a specialist in the area of tree planting and maintenance.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction is provided by a Parks Maintenance Superintendent. The Arborist/Urban Forester does not supervise.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs research and makes recommendations on tree insect and disease control.
• Devises methods of detection, eradication and control of insects and disease.
• Inspects street trees to determine required maintenance.
• Estimates labor and material costs for work to be performed.
• Plans and may oversee the work of employees in tree planting, removal and maintenance activities.
• Instructs employees in the theory and application of procedures to be used.
• Requisitions and maintains records of materials, supplies and equipment.
• Makes recommendations and develops plans for the Street Tree Planting Program.
• Responds to citizens' inquiries and requests relative to street tree service.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed may necessarily be performed by each individual holding this classification.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Chemical and biological measures used in tree insect/disease control work.
• Dendrology and plant physiology.
• Statistical methods used in biological research.
• Standard practices, equipment and tools used in tree maintenance work.
• State safety codes relevant to rules and regulations empowered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ability to:

• Provide scientific and technical advice and assistance on problems relating to Tree Services activities.
• Plan and supervise the work of other employees.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in arboriculture, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology or a related field.

Experience:
Two years of experience in work involving tree insect/disease control and tree planting and maintenance activities.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment . Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the Class C License is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

P lease note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently , including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

1. Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline ;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
  

• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
  

• If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week ).
  

• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
  

• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.
  

• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
  

• If you’re requesting Veteran’s credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the final filing deadline . Information regarding the use of Veteran’s credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule 4.9C.
  

• Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.
  

2. Training and Experience Exam : (Weighted 100%) - The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:

• Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.
  

• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.
  

3. Eligibility : Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate’s eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Arborist/Urban Forester examination.

4. Screening Committee : (Pass/Fail)- All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.

5. Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

QUESTIONS:
For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
  

• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627.
  

• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment ;
  

• Send an email to employment@cityofsacramento.org ; or
  

• Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726
  

Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information
Civil Service Rules: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/CivilServiceBoardRules62012.pdf

Union Contracts: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/labor-agreements.html

Salary Schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/SalarySchedule.pdf

Closing Date/Time: 12/3/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Sacramento

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