Crew Leader

Under the general direction of the Superintendent of Urban Forestry, the Crew Leader supervises, leads, trains, schedules, and coordinates work of individual employees and tree maintenance crews performing a variety of arboricultural operations. The employee applies expert knowledge of industry standards and specialized equipment used in tree care operations. The employee effectively plans, evaluates, and inspects completed work of subordinates.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides on-site supervision and direction of workers engaged in tree care operations such as pruning, removal, and maintenance, in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture, TCIA, and ANSI standards and guidelines.
• Performs post work quality control inspections of parks and right of ways to ensure work was completed to specified standards.
• Performs and supervises Integrated Pest Management operations through injections, spray application, fertilization, and air spading; plants, transplants, and stakes, a variety of trees.
• Removes dead or dangerous trees using chain saws, ropes, and aerial bucket truck.
• Operates a variety of arboricultural equipment, including, but not limited to chain saws, hydraulic pruning equipment, stump grinders, debris chippers, wheel loaders and other similarly sized equipment.
• Operates 75-foot aerial bucket truck to perform tree maintenance and training activities.
• Investigates problems or concerns and takes appropriate action to correct deficiencies.
• Responds to questions and concerns from the general public regarding work performed; provides information as is appropriate and resolves complaints.
• Applies herbicides, insecticides, growth regulators, and fungicides to trees located on City-owned properties or easements, such as parks, storm ponds, roadsides, etc. and maintains appropriate records in accordance with State and Federal laws.
• Interprets policies to workers and enforces safety regulations.
• Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of work crew.
• Operates all standard tools and equipment to a high degree of proficiency.
• Analyzes and resolves work problems or assists workers in solving work problems.
• Maintains time and production records.
• Performs snowplow operations and shovels snow as needed.
• Performs emergency storm damage mitigation work and responds promptly and effectively outside of normal work hours.
• Operates a motor vehicle on a regular basis observing legal and defensive driving practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Manages and supervises multiple crews and designated staff engaged in high-risk tree removal, maintenance, and care.
• Evaluates work operations, provides technical expertise, and inspects completed work; assures projects are on schedule and arrange for additional resources as necessary. Assigns crew to correct outstanding problems, and ensures preventive measures are used when possible.
• Assists with supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Trains employees; plans, assigns, and directs work; assists with appraising performance, and disciplines employees; assists with employee recognition; addresses complaints and resolves problems.
• Maintains a variety of administrative records and correspondence such as City property maps, vehicle and equipment maintenance logs and time sheet data; writes periodic administrative and operational reports (e.g., accident, injury, and equipment damage reports). Maintains updated status of work orders and labor hours in TreeKeeper system. Conducts research for adherence to best management practices and latest innovations in tree inspection, safety, and maintenance programs. Reviews technical literature; maintains current knowledge of tree care maintenance standards and trends.
• Maintains communication with other employees, supervisors, and the public through timely and effective use of email, phone, or other methods.
• Effectively manages own time, quality, and total output to also include that of the employees.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High School diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Four (4) years of tree care operations experience.
• Two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES AND/OR LICENSES:

• Commercial Driver's License (CDL-Class B) or equivalent with satisfactory driving record that meets insurability standards of the City's insurance carrier is required. The employee must maintain the license for the duration of their employment.
  • State of Maryland Roadside Tree Care Expert Certification or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. The employee must maintain the certification for the duration of their employment.
  • State of Maryland Certified Pesticide Applicator's License in the following categories: 2 (Forest), 3A (Exterior Ornamentals), 6 (Right of Way) or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. The employee must maintain the license for the duration of their employment.
  • Pesticide Applicator's I.D. or the ability to obtain within 30 days of employment. The employee must maintain for the duration of their employment.
    • Temporary Traffic Control Manager Certification or the ability to obtain in one (1) year of employment. The employee must maintain the certification for the duration of their employment.

REQUIRED SKILLS (Communication/Language; Mathematical; Computer; etc.):

• Knowledge and skill in the performance of tree care operations, including planting, transplanting, pruning and removal of a variety of trees and shrubs.
• Knowledge of local tree species, standards for tree maintenance and removal (e.g., OSHA, MOSH and ANSI), tree care safety standards and specialized equipment and vehicles.
  • Knowledge and skill to use computer or the ability to learn.
  • Advanced knowledge of technical rigging for tree removal.
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
  • Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs and have a basic knowledge of geometry and algebra.
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and technical reports.
  • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
  • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
  • Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER DESIRABLES:

• ISA Certified Arborist Certification
• ISA TRAQ Qualification
• TCIA Tree Care Safety Professional Certification.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Potential exposure to noise, vibration, dust, and hazardous materials. Hazardous conditions exist due to exposure to power

tools, power lines, wild animals, stinging insects, poison ivy, oak or sumac, and dead and dangerous trees and limbs. Incumbents in this class must frequently: remain in a stationary position and operate vehicles intermittently. Staff in this position may ascend and descend trees using specialized tree climbing equipment. Overtime and emergency on-call time may be required. Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving one's whole body to climb, lift, balance, walk, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, handling of materials. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

This individual must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word, including activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, and/or quickly.

The worker is required to have the visual acuity necessary for normal visual inspection (with or without correction); including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The worker must have the ability to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and have the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound. The worker is required to listen to and understand information and ideas presented in the English language through spoken word and sentences. This individual must have the ability to recognize there is a problem. The worker is required to identify information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. This individual must have the ability to coordinate two or more limbs while remaining in a stationary position or standing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITION: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is normally performed in an outdoor setting with exposure to weather conditions such as extreme heat and cold as well as inclement weather conditions, e.g., rain, snow, ice, etc. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles, toxic and caustic chemicals, vibrations, and insects/wildlife. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.