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Tree Climber Opportunity

Do you have at least one year of experience as a tree climber? If so, please keep reading

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position with a starting hourly rate of between $30.00 and $35.00 per hour or more, depending on your tree climbing experience, academic background in horticulture, work experience, fit for the role, and fit to our company culture. The position comes with competitive benefits including:

• 50% contribution toward medical, dental, and optical insurance for employees
• Paid vacation (earned/accrued as you accumulate hours)
• 5 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Access to a 401(k) account
• Company-issued safety equipment, gear, and clothing
• Employee referral program
• Training and development resources, plus opportunities for advancement
• Tree industry certification and license reimbursement

About the Opportunity

In this position, you'll join a highly experienced team of certified professionals who are known for their ability to prune specialty trees and excellent customer service. This is a great job for someone who has high attention to detail and is an artist of sorts. Aesthetic pruning is a creative and scientific method of pruning trees and shrubs to enhance their beauty and fit them into a garden's design. It is based on Japanese garden techniques and bonsai. The person we hire will be interested in training to become our lead Pruner over the next two years.

The person who fills this position should have at least one year of experience as a professional tree climber. They will be comfortable working at heights for up to 8 hours per day, will be physically fit; able to ascend and descend tall ladders throughout the day, and eager to learn aesthetic pruning quickly in order to be promoted. (NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with the term, aesthetic pruning, please watch several videos on YouTube.)

About Us

Since 1980, The Professional Tree Care Company has been trusted for tree services throughout Northern California. Based in Berkeley, CA, we service commercial, residential, and public works projects from Mendocino to Monterey, and from San Francisco to Sacramento.

What makes us unique? We recycle 100% of material removed from job sites at our own Green Waste Recycle Yard, custom mill logs, and create organic mulch - and (soon) electricity - from the wood chips. We also have the staff, equipment, resources, and experience to perform tree services at any scale. This specialty team is often referred to as being family-like. Most of our managers have been with us 10+ years; many over 20. We like to hire folks who seek a work home; people eager to work hard, learn, and make friends along the way.

Your Responsibilities Include

- Safely performing all aspects of arboriculture, including:

• Daily climbing to heights of between 10-to-80 feet using a variety of climbing systems including a combination of SRT, DRT, and DdRT.
• This job will require at-home study in order to reach Aesthetic Pruning Lead within two years.
• Learning aesthetic pruning at work from our Lead and on your own through videos and on-site and online learning.
• Installing bracing, cabling, and lightning protection systems.
• Working in the tree canopy to prune, thin, and remove unnecessary growth and dead wood.
• Ensuring the health, safety, and beauty of trees.
• Providing routine tree maintenance, plus insect and disease management.
• Performing emergency tree services: removing fallen trees from driveways, structures, etc.
• Learning, understanding, and adhering to all safety rules and company safety policies.
• Ensuring all work sites are kept clean and free of hazards.

- General duties will vary but include:

• Serving as part of a multi-person crew that typically includes a Climber/Foreman and Ground Crew.
• Being aware of and hitting bid targets; the number of hours allotted to each job each day.
• Understanding and carrying out verbal and written instructions.
• Properly operating and maintaining tools and equipment (hand tools, chainsaws, chippers, ladders, and aerial lifts) once trained.
• Operating our trucks and equipment in a safe manner.
• Overseeing the grinding of material, raking, blowing and collecting leaves; disposing of debris.
• Participating in routine safety meetings.
• Assisting with developing processes to increase efficiency.

Requirements, Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• One year experience as a tree climber or production Arborists (a professional who works full-time to trim, clear, and remove trees) is required; more experience is better, of course.
• English well is a must.
• Clean and current California Driver's License: NO LICENSE, NO JOB.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Physically fit, able to lift +/-40 pounds, and work comfortably at heights for much of the workday.
• Proficiency with a roping system (Double or Single Rope Technique) a plus.
• A proven record of using chainsaws, harnesses, ropes, safely a plus.
• The standard stuff: Communication (accurate written, and verbal), time management, problem solving, being able to take notes on your phone, and being able to work an 8-hour shift without using your phone for non-work purposes (except at lunch, break or for an emergency).
• Soft skills: The ability to lead by example, being extremely hardworking, being emotionally intelligent (having the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.)
• Bonus points tree certifications or coursework related to tree trimming, maintenance, and/or arboriculture.
• Bonus points for having served in a supervisory position.
• Bonus points for having a Class-A driver's license in good standing.

Who Should Apply

• Experienced climbers seeking a leadership role in the long term.
• Folks who already hold tree-related certification and licenses such as ISA, TRAQ, CPR, First Aid, etc.
• Those within an easy commute to Richmond, CA.
• Egalitarians.

Work Environment

As our Aesthetic Pruning Apprentice, you'll work full-time, Monday through Friday, on a variety of job sites throughout Northern California. Once up to speed, you'll meet at 6:00 a.m. at our Richmond yard to ride in a work vehicle. Fellow associate Climbers and Grounds-people may be asked to meet at the job site.

What Next?

1. If you're asked to take an online survey, please do so within three business days. If your strongest language is Spanish, please take the survey in Spanish.
2. Only folks who complete the survey and confirm they live within (or are moving within) a 45-minute commute of our Richmond, CA office will be considered.