Job Specification
TREE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
DEFINITION
Under direction, supervises and works with crews performing tree
and shrub maintenance; may climb trees when necessary; when
assigned to an electric utility unit, supervises and works with crews
performing tree and shrub maintenance primarily around electric
power lines, to minimize storm and short circuit hazards; does other
related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
purposes only. A particular position using this title may not
perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely,
all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Supervises and works with crews performing tree and shrub
maintenance tasks.
Climbs trees using individual climbing gear such as saddle and rope;
may work from a vertical lift truck when conditions are unsafe to climb
or remove dead or diseased limbs or top trees.
Uses pole shears, saws, axes and other cutting tools to prune trees or
remove dead limbs; operates and feeds branches into chipper.
Cares for trees damaged by storm or disease by trimming, topping,
and/or removing damaged or hazardous limbs, following established
industry guidelines.
Scrapes decayed matter from cavities in trees using shovels
or picks and fills holes with cement to promote healing and
prevent further deterioration.
Cuts down trees using chain or hand saws.
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and
has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing,
promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
Installs guying and bracing to prevent wind damage and
encourage correct growth.
Uses ropes and pulleys to remove tree branches.
Bags and transplants trees and shrubs using burlap and shovel.
May mix premeasured chemicals according to specific directions
and spray trees, shrubs, and plants, to control pests and disease.
When assigned to an electrical utility unit, supervises and works with
crews performing utility line clearance tree trimming operations.
When assigned to an electric utility unit, operates aerial truck, pole
saw, chain saw, chippers, winches, stump grinders or other mechanized
equipment as necessary for maintenance of utility properties and
rights-of-way.
When assigned to an electric utility unit, uses insulated stick or other
approved personal protective equipment to remove limbs from power
lines or energized equipment.
When assigned to an electric utility unit, fells trees interfering with
power service, using chainsaws.
When assigned to an electric utility unit, may apply herbicides to
deter unwanted tree or vegetation growth, or weed killer to control
vines, weeds or poison growth near electric power lines, poles or
other infrastructure.
Fertilizes trees to promote growth using appropriate methods and
equipment.
Applies herbicides to kill brush and weeds.
Plants trees and shrubs by digging holes, setting, back-filling,
watering and bracing.
Visually inspects trees and shrubs to diagnose diseased, infested,
damaged or unsafe conditions.
Performs minor maintenance to equipment or tools used.
Ensures safety procedures, rules and regulations are followed.
May operate motor vehicles and light construction equipment on
a limited basis.
Supervises and may perform a variety of tasks such as planting
grass seed, placing sod on areas, cutting brush, mowing grass,
and loading and unloading refuse, removing snow, and so forth.
Prepares clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing
findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Conducts and supervises the maintenance of essential records
and files.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and computerized information systems used by
the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EXPERIENCE:
Three (3) years of experience in the care and maintenance of trees
and shrubs, which shall have included the use and/or operation of
manual or mechanical equipment used to climb trees; one (1) year
of which shall have been in a lead worker or assistant supervisor
capacity.
NOTE: For positions assigned to electric utility units, applicants will
be required to possess three (3) years of experience climbing, trimming,
topping and cutting trees around electric power lines, which shall have
included the use and/or operation of manual or mechanical equipment
used to climb trees.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in
New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Appointees may be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's
License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type
of vehicle being operated. The responsibility for ensuring that
employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate
with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the
Appointing Authority.
NOTE: Appointees may be required to possess a Pesticide Applicator
Certification in the appropriate category/ies issued by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection. The responsibility for
ensuring that appointees possess the required certification rests with the
Appointing Authority.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of safe working practices involved in climbing, topping and
sawing limbs off trees, felling trees, lowering limbs and operating motorized
hand equipment such as chain saws, chippers, stump grinders and/or other
types of related equipment.
Knowledge of current NJDOT guidelines for traffic control when working
in public rights- of-way.
Knowledge of established industry standards for forestry methods and
tree care.
Knowledge of the methods, practices, tools and materials used in the care
and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions involved
in tree maintenance work.
Knowledge of the common varieties of trees and their structure.
Knowledge of knots, hitches and rigging used to lower limbs and
tree tops.
Knowledge of the safety precautions used when working around high
and low energized electric power lines when assigned to an electric
utility unit.
Knowledge of the techniques used to distinguish exposed live parts
from other parts of electric equipment and determine the nominal voltage
of exposed live parts when assigned to an electric utility unit.
Knowledge of the safe clearance distances and the corresponding
voltages when working near unguarded, energized overhead lines
when assigned to an electric utility unit.
Ability to climb trees using a ladder, climbing hooks and belts,
or other equipment.
Ability to observe proper safety precautions when climbing and working
at various heights around energized electric power lines when assigned
to an electric utility unit.
Ability to use or operate chain saws, stump grinders, chippers,
handsaws, axes, wedges and other power and hand tools used
to perform tree maintenance tasks.
Ability to supervise employees and evaluate the performance of
their work.
Ability to tie various knots used in tree maintenance work.
Ability to perform mechanical and manual operations.
Ability to lift, push, and pull heavy objects for short distances.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports
containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Ability to conduct and supervise the maintenance of essential
records and files.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual
recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or
related units.
Ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English
sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign
Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms
of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without
reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made
because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons
may not be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 06482 | | L | C | | N/A | 09 | | - |
This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
3/14/2018 |
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