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.

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.

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.

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.

Knowledge, skills 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.

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.

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.

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.