Variable Hour Arborist Assistant

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) to two (2) variable hour positions, which are limited to 1040 hours of work in the fiscal year.

Schedule: The individual(s) selected for this role will work 40 hours per week.

Work week
:
Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Location: Blue Lake Regional Park, but you will be performing work across the region at our various parks and cemeteries

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Parks and Nature department is looking for a variable hour Arborist Assistant to work closely with our Metro certified Arborist to execute tree care plans and maintenance tasks, primarily focusing on pruning and trimming to enhance tree health, appearance, and safety. Additionally, the Arborist Assistant will help with hazard tree removals, plantings, and ensuring newly planted trees survive.

As the VHE Arborist Assistant you will

• Receive comprehensive training and supervision for safe and efficient work completion.
• Assist park staff and Arborist with storm cleanup and hazard mitigation in parks and cemeteries.
• Perform monitoring activities, trails closures and other safety-related activities to ensure the work sites are safe and clear of the public and staff.
• Prune and trim trees using precision hand tools and power equipment.
• Tend to newly planted trees ensuring proper watering during the heat of the summer.
• Assist in the removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees, employing chainsaw skills and rigging techniques.
• Operate and maintain various tools and equipment essential for tree care and landscaping including chainsaws, pruners, dump trucks, and wood chippers.
• Clean up debris and waste generated during tree care activities.
• Ensure the work site is left clean and safe for park guests.
• Adhere to safety protocols and procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Skilled in various pruning techniques and tree care operations.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with team members.
• Strong customer service skills to assist and address questions from park guests.
• Demonstrated adaptability to work efficiently in varying weather conditions and terrain.
• Emphasis on safety as a top priority, ensuring the well-being of team members and the public.
• Ability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities including heavy manual labor for extended periods, often under inclement weather conditions, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely operate vehicles and equipment.

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

• High School or GED, AND
• One year of experience in Experience in the tree industry using Arborist related equipment such as chainsaws, chippers, dump trucks and other relevant equipment; OR
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Upon hire:

• Possession of a valid driver’s license

Within 6 months of hire:

• First Aid/CPR Certification, and such other certifications and licenses as may be required
• Possess all certifications necessary for safe…