Landscape Maintenance Worker (Arborist Assistant)

Minimum Qualifications

This position works within the Alachua County Tree Planting Program, planting and maintain high-value shade trees in locations that provide shade and beautify recreational facilities and transportation pathways for the public.

 

Completion of the eighth grade and six months experience in laboring work; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience.

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment.   If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

Must obtain and maintain a State of Florida Class "B" Commercial driver's license with a tanker endorsement within 9 months of employment in this classification for Tree Mitigation.
Successful completion of a preemployment drug screen & physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Position Summary

This is semi-skilled manual work in the maintenance and upkeep of County trees.

An employee assigned to this classification performs a variety of tasks including the care and maintenance of grounds, the operation of vegetation maintenance equipment, care of plants, trees, and other landscaping materials in the county rights of way, roadway medians and/or storm water basins or facilities.
Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Promotes long term health and growth of the landscape trees, shrubs or vines by selectively applying corrective, or adaptive action for results. 

Cleans, plants, fertilizes, sprinkles, edges, applies herbicide and otherwise maintains County-owned managed trees, as assigned.

Cuts, trims, prunes, clears, stakes, and irrigates trees and shrubbery as necessary for proper growth, health, density and appearance.

Plants, transplants and removes trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.

Performs routine and preventive maintenance service on equipment.

Picks up debris and disposes at appropriate sites.

Performs repair work on tree nursery facilities and/or accessories.

Monitors assigned projects and advises supervisor when non-routine tasks are needed.

Operates truck and trailer combinations hauling equipment, materials, debris and supplies.

Loads and unloads materials from trucks.

Assists other crew members in varied work assignments.

May lead and/or participate in training interns and/or volunteers in tree planting and maintenance.

Operates a Straight truck and trailer combination with tanker endorsement.  Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) combination vehicle with air brake endorsement and tanker endorsement is required to drive the 3,000- gallon tanker truck pulling a 16' trailer.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of general gardening, grounds keeping, nursery practices, and tree maintenance.

Knowledge of methods and tools used in grounds keeping, nursery, landscaping and tree maintenance work.

Knowledge of trades methods and practices for safely operating equipment and performing tasks.

Skill in the use and care of gardening and/or nursery tools and equipment.

Skill in identifying and diagnosing tree mitigation and documentation

Ability to perform manual labor out of doors under sometimes adverse weather conditions.

Ability to differentiate environmental stresses or conditions contributing to various tree maintenance requirements.

Ability to operate tools and equipment used in the maintenance and care of trees and shrubs. 

Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

Ability to work effectively, and efficiently, under limited, indirect supervision.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and  in writing. 

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move in excess of 100 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts, and is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$38,584.00 Annually