SUMMARY

The Arborist I constructs and maintains Park District grounds and plant material, trees and related facilities. The typical work week is 7:30am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. However, work week hours may vary according to weather or seasonal demand. Some overtime hours during peak seasons is required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 18 years of age with high school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrated competence and at least three (3) years of experience in landscaping, turf, tree care, or horticulture.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a current State of Illinois pesticide operator license.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, and implement projects with multiple deadlines.
• Ability to understand and work from written and oral instructions.
• Ability to operate powered equipment as listed under Essential Functions.
• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment as per established procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Ability to obtain a valid Illinois Class C Driver’s License.

SUPERVISION

The Arborist I is directly responsible to the Grounds Supervisor and may oversee full-time, part-time, or seasonal staff.

Classification

• Non-exempt, hourly
• Full-Time

Training – Can be obtained through Champaign Park District

• First Aid, AED, and CPR Certification
• Heads Up Concussion training
• Mandated reporter training
• Harassment prevention training
• Bloodborne pathogen training
• Recreation software system training
• Drivers training and test
• Facility training

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follow all Champaign Park District safety policies and perform all work in a manner that ensures the safety of oneself, the public, fellow employees.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism and discretion in all interactions, including maintaining strict confidentiality regarding staff information, communications from supervisors, and conversations with parents or patrons. Uphold the Park District’s policies and standards for data privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Attend required training and meetings.
• Operate and maintain all tools, equipment, and vehicles in a safe and efficient manner to ensure safety for staff and patrons.
• Participate in the planting and maintenance of turf, trees, and or shrubs.
• Inspect Park District grounds and reports conditions to the Grounds Supervisor.
• Become familiar with Park District ordinances and inform supervisor of violations witnessed.
• Operate lift truck, chippers, chainsaws, tractors and attachments, mowers, all types of trimmers, edgers, rototillers, and other powered equipment as well as a variety of hand tools.
• Train, supervise and participate in tree pruning, removal, fertilizing cabling/bracing following ANSI standards.
• Climb trees using safety equipment as required.
• Interact with the public in a positive manner.
• Perform tasks in other skill areas according to need and training, as assigned.
• Purchase required materials within departmental policies and maintain records as required.
• Facilitate all aspects of the Park District tree planting program.
• Remove snow in winter months.
• Willing and able to improve skills and skill areas.
• Assess situations and develop solutions to problems.
• Timely and regular attendance is an expectation of performance.
• Work well with other team members.
• Interact with the public in a positive manner even in stressful situations.
• Comply with equal opportunity and harassment laws, policies and procedures.
• Other related duties as assigned.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The activities required to fulfill the duties of this position are significantly physical in nature. These activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Kneeling
  • To plant, weed, and do general maintenance.
• Lifting
  • Up to 50 lbs alone and over 50 lbs with assistance, if needed, to fill spreader with fertilizer, salt or seed, install timbers, manipulate lumber, attach equipment, transport bags. Many other duties
• Handwork
  • Shovel work and use of a wide range of hand tools all requiring gripping and controlling motions that are often repetitious
• Twisting
  • Examples listed above
• Climbing
  • Tree pruning, operation of chainsaws and power pruners while in tree, mount/dismount equipment (aerial truck, backhoe, tractors, dump trucks), ladder work, many other duties
• Push/Pull
  • Raking, moving equipment, rope starting small engines, installing implements to tractors and other duties
• Laying
  • May be required to lay on the ground
• Standing
  • May be required to stand for long periods of time
• Sitting
  • While operating equipment and vehicles over rough terrain for extended periods of time
• Equipment Operation
  • May be required to operate various types of equipment or tools

The above examples of activities and work are not all inclusive but are intended as an indication of the level and type of endeavors necessary to fulfill the duties of this position.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Work activities, including the physiological considerations, may occur in outside weather conditions including extremes of heat, cold, wet, and dry and may also occur on rough or inclined terrain. Exposure is likely to airborne pollens, dusts, or molds. Any one of these endeavors may occur for an entire workday or for several workdays in a row.

The Champaign Park District is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employees are required to comply with our equal opportunity and harassment laws, policies, and procedures.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance:
  • Provider: Health Alliance
    • 2 options: HMO or 3Tier Point of Service (POS)
  • The Park District pays 100% of full-time employee-only health insurance of the 3 Tier POS plan and 40% of dependent care
• Dental:
  • Provider: Kansas City Life
  • The District pays 100% of full-time employee-only standard dental insurance
  • There is a second option to buy up for more coverage in with the employee will contribute to
• Vision
  • Available to staff, paid by the employee
• Basic Term Life and AD&D
  • 1.5 times annual wages
  • $0.00 paid by the employee, voluntary additional life insurance for employee, spouse and children are available, paid for by the employee
• Flexible Spending Account
  • Medical Plan
  • Dependent Care Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
  • 100% pay the Park District
• Disability Policy
  • IMRF disability is available after 30 days at 50% of salary. The employee must be employed 1 year before being eligible
• Retirement options:
  • IMRF Pension (employer contributes)
  • ICMA 457 Plan
  • ICMA Roth IRA
• Expense Reimbursement
  • $100 annually for garments, steel toe boots, fitness, etc.
• Vacation Time
  • Years 1-3: 12 days
  • Years 4 - 6: 15 days
  • Years 7 - 10: 18 days
  • Years 11 and on: 21 days
  • Up to 240 hours (30 days) can be rolled over from year to year)
• Sick Leave
  • One sick day per month accrued provided to employees
  • Sick days roll over from year to year
  • No cap on how many sick days can rollover from year to year.
• Holidays
  • Ten (10) holidays per year provided to employees
• Personal Days
  • Two (2) personal days per year are provided to employees. Must be used in the fiscal year
• Free Membership
  • The Park District pays for employee only membership to the following places, upon request.
  • Leonhard Recreation Cener, Sholem Aquatics Center, Martens Center, Bark District