Please see the following website for full job posting and application link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bellevuewa/jobs/2152994/arboriculture-streetscape-lead-worker#new_tab

Job Summary

Bellevue is known as “A City in a Park,” with a park system comprised of 2,700 acres of parks and open space.  Bellevue’s Parks and Community Services Department has a unique opportunity for you as Arboriculture & Streetscape Specialist. The Street Tree and Arterial Landscape program manages over 10,000 street trees and 200 acres of formal right of way landscapes. This is a journey-level position that performs a wide variety of landscape maintenance, landscape renovation, young tree pruning and other street tree maintenance duties

You will work with other employees to manage roadside landscaped areas and troubleshoot on-site problems. This includes coordinating with contract administrators to oversee the work of maintenance contractors to plan, schedule, coordinate, and oversee projects related to maintenance, repair, and installation work for the City’s Right-of-Way Street Tree and Arterial Landscape Program. At The City of Bellevue you’ll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and being a part of the community vision. Our people bring unique skills and qualities to the table, embrace the values of honesty, accountability and commitment to service, and take pride in the work they do. You’ll work in an environment where being innovative, collaborative, and future focused are the status quo. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. It’s what makes The City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

As a Lead Worker you will be responsible for supervision of 2 to 3 part-time field staff.  You will be technically savvy and lead by example in developing and maintaining a team atmosphere, which supports and encourages employees to make suggestions and work well with one another. Bring your strong communication skills to mentor, train, support, encourage, develop and advise staff on complex work. Administrative duties include weekly scheduling, workload and organizational planning, record keeping, inventory of equipment and supplies, budgeting, purchasing, documentation, volunteer coordination, contract administrator support, and customer service. You will have considerable contact with the general public in this role.

No day is the same and in this position, you’ll be working outside with your team. You will perform a variety of tasks associated with managing roadside landscapes including: Tree/ Shrub Pruning, Landscape Projects, Hard Surface Maintenance, Integrative Pest Management, In-House Site Maintenance, Equipment Operation/ Maintenance, and Supplemental Watering.
As a Lead Worker you will report project status to superiors, ensure the availability of equipment needed to complete assignments including equipment procurement and rental, complete work in a manner that leads/motivates members of the group, and assures individual, co-worker, and public safety in all weather and working conditions. This work is performed with little supervision.

Other responsibilities include:

• Technical tree and shrub pruning, including training young trees for form, pruning trees that obstruct visibility to street signage or pedestrian/vehicular clearance, etc.
• Manage landscape installation and renovation projects, including developing scope of work, perform site prep, acquisition of materials, plant ordering, oversight of in-house staff or contracted landscape crew, installation, and traffic control.
• Prioritize, schedule, assign, and oversee work for crew on a daily basis based on priorities or urgency of projects or issues on hand.
• Provide training to full-time and supplemental crew members either formally or on the job on maintenance, landscape installation, technical pruning, pesticide application, equipment safety and techniques, traffic control, and irrigation operation.
• Communicate effectively with vendors, contractors, general public, and other city employees to coordinate work activities, review status of work projects, and resolve problems.
• Provide customer service to public, city departments, volunteer organizations and other governmental agencies as needed.
• Identify maintenance, renovation, replacement, or repair requirements through inspections, comments or concerns from supervisors, city employees, crew members, and citizens.
• Perform general site maintenance, including weed control, plant and tree health evaluation, pruning, IPM and supplemental watering to non-irrigated sites.
• Operate and maintain equipment, including power tools, acquisition of rental equipment, tow-behind water tank, and Green Machine sweeper.
• Monitor and interpret the condition of landscape, trees and turf and operate and troubleshoot irrigation system accordingly.
• Troubleshoot issues that arise, and make necessary changes based on priority.
• Coordinate and represent the City on work projects that involve outside contractors and vendors or other departments.
• Manage assigned budget; monitor expenditures and allocate fund usage, including estimating cost for project proposals.
• Make updates to GIS inventory database.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of tree pruning techniques, and specific tree species growth response to pruning.
• Ability to make decisions necessary to plan, organize, and complete work for multiple project sites efficiently and effectively. Ability to perform effectively with little or no supervision.
• Knowledge of landscape construction, irrigation troubleshooting and repair.
• Experience delivering quality customer service to the general public. Proven customer communication skills.
• Basic computer experience in word processing and spreadsheet software required. Database experience preferred.
• Clear and concise oral and written interpersonal communication skills.
• Mechanical problem solving skills as well as the ability to estimate project costs and schedule work
• Knowledge of common street tree species, including growth habits, pruning needs, water and soil needs, and response to urban stressors.
• Knowledge of landscape plant species, proper selection, care, and maintenance as related to Right of Way landscape use, growth habit and vehicular/pedestrian site line requirements, and irrigation needs.
• Knowledge of landscape pesticides/herbicides using Integrated Pest Management methods and best management practices.

Education & Experience Requirement

• One year of experience leading or supervising a work group.
• Experience performing young tree training.  Knowledge of ISA and ANSI standards, and pruning systems.  Strong understanding of structural pruning.
• Arborists Certification (International Society of Arboriculture), or must be able to obtain within 6 months
• Valid, current Washington State Driver’s license at date of hire. Must have and maintain a good driving record by City Standards (posted on job application).
• Possess a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or have the ability to obtain one within 12 months of hire
• Washington State Pesticide Applicators License or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Washington State flagging certification, or be able to obtain within 6 months. TCS (Traffic Control Supervisor) certification, or must be able to obtain within 12 months.
• Graduation from high school or a GED equivalent.  Graduation from Technical school or other post-secondary education in arboriculture, landscape or natural resources is desirable.
• Three years experience performing landscape maintenance or landscape construction activities.
• Selected candidate must pass a pre-employment flexibility test and physical capacity test.
• Selected candidate must pass a criminal background check

Preferred Experience

• Five years of experience in landscape maintenance or landscape construction activities.
• Three years experience in a municipal setting.
• Familiarity with GIS or other geographical database management software.
• Familiarity with Maxicom or other centrally located irrigation control system.
• First Aid/CPR certification.

Other

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. and engage in considerable pulling, pushing, and climbing.
• Work is done mostly outdoors in all type of weather conditions. Common hazards include traffic, underground lines, chemicals, and equipment.
• Individuals must have adequate hearing and visual acuity to successfully perform the essential job responsibilities and requirements of the position. Individuals must be able to hear and understand verbal communications and other outside sound sources. Vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

For questions regarding this position please contact Tom Kuykendall at 425-452-7924 or tkuykendall@bellevuewa.gov.
The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of  race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance in the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838