Arborist Technician – Department Of Transportation

Arborist Technician – Department of Transportation - (2100038)About the Department

The Department of Transportation (DOT) plans, develops, operates, and maintains transportation facilities, services, and related systems which contribute to the livability and economic health of the City. We comprise a team of more than 500 people ready to serve the needs of our customers to improve the efficiency and safety of San José streets. For more information about DOT, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/transportation.

Positions & Duties

Arborist Technicians ensure a healthy and thriving community forest. They perform field work of considerable complexity in urban forestry management, as well as various administrative tasks. Employees in this classification learn to apply general principles of professional tree management in performing assignments in the areas of tree inspection, data collection, communication with residents and service delivery partners, and related tasks. Arborist Technicians also work closely with other maintenance and inspection teams in DOT to address residents’ needs and contribute to the livability of our neighborhoods. Strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as enthusiasm for trees, are critical for success in these positions.

The Department currently has two (2) openings in our Infrastructure Maintenance division- one serving Special Districts and the other located in our Trees & Walkways Inspection Group. These positions work directly with the City Arborist and Assistant Arborists.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Qualifications

1. Education: High School Diploma or equivalent (General Educational Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate).

2. Experience: Three (3) years of hands-on experience in a planting and maintenance activity related to municipal street tree and landscape maintenance programs.

3. Acceptable Substitution: Up to two (2) years (equivalent to 60 semester units or 90 quarter units) of undergraduate course work in landscape architecture, horticulture, forestry, or related fields, from an accredited college or university, may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis

4. Licenses or Certificates: Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license.

5. Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Flexibility - Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

1) Please describe your specific training, experience, and knowledge of: Urban Forestry Inspection, Best Management Practices, Tree Risk Evaluation and Data Collection.

2) Please provide a specific example of when you were required to deal with an irate customer. In particular, describe the issue, if you were able to resolve it, and what method(s) or skills you used to de-escalate the situation. If you were not able to de-escalate or otherwise reach an acceptable solution, what did you learn from the experience?

3) Describe a time when you were working as a part of a larger team and experienced challenges related to priority conflicts. Were you able to successfully resolve the conflicts and meet projects goals and deadlines? Describe your role amongst the team.

4) Please detail your proficiency with Office365 suite by describing the various tasks you have performed with each of the following programs:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

5) Do you currently possess an ISA Certified Arborist credential? Yes/No 6) Do you currently possess a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification? Yes/No

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Katherine Estrada at Katherine.Estrada@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information

For information on Benefits click here

The application deadline is 11:59 PM on the final filing date Monday, February 1, 2021. Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285, or Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.

Job: Parks Maintenance & Related Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular Job Type: Standard Job Posting: Jan 13, 2021, 7:29:46 PM Minimum Salary: 59,280.00 Maximum Salary: 71,988.80 Bargaining Unit 1: Municipal Employees' Federation