Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance

Description

Senior Park Utility Worker
Tree Maintenance Division
Regular, Full-Time Employment Opportunity

The position opens Wednesday, December 11, 2024, and the final filing date is Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 5:00 pm or after receiving 100 qualified and complete applications, whichever is first.

The City of Sunnyvale is recruiting for one Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance in the Department of Public Works. This position will lead a small crew (2-to-4-person crew), where the incumbent performs the work duties assigned as well as directs and oversees the work of the crew members.

This person is driven to continuously make a positive impact on the organization and believes that as a team we accomplish more. As an organization, we are motivated to produce the highest level of service possible. We provide maintenance services for about 40,000 street trees.

Working in the Public Works Department for the City of Sunnyvale as a Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance provides an opportunity to improve the landscape in the community and see the results of your work. All of this, plus a generous benefits package which includes: a competitive salary, career development, and training opportunities, make the City of Sunnyvale a great place to work.

Under general supervision, leads and performs journey-level landscape maintenance tasks and does related work, as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Senior Park Utility Worker leads small crews and performs skilled tree maintenance tasks at various locations throughout the city. The Senior Park Utility Worker will have a working knowledge of the methods, tools and equipment used in tree maintenance.

Essential Job Functions

• Operates motor vehicles such as chipper trucks, aerial lifts, water tanker trucks and/or dump trucks and tractors.
• Operates truck mounted cranes, chain saws, brush chippers, power pruners and leaf blowers.
• Leads and oversees a small crew performing tree maintenance activities at various locations throughout the city.
• Inspects, prunes and removes trees due to deficient and unsafe conditions.
• Climbs and prunes trees using rope and saddle and/or aerial lift equipment.
• Maintains equipment used in the maintenance of trees.
• Ensures that safety rules and regulations are followed and trains crews in safe work practices.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Updates electronic street tree database site and work records with a high degree of accuracy and clarity.
• Completes forms including written work orders.
• Performs other duties, as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties. The position also requires both near and far vision when operating assigned equipment. Acute hearing is required in both the field and the office. The ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and push tools, equipment and supplies weighing up to 100 pounds. Additionally, the incumbent may be exposed to fumes, dust, chemicals, biohazard materials and air contaminants. The nature of the work may also require the incumbent to climb ladders and trees, use power and noise producing tools and equipment, drive motorized vehicles, work in confined spaces and work in heavy traffic conditions and inclement weather conditions, such as wet, heat and cold. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

The base salary for this classification includes pay for potentially hazardous duties as listed in the essential job functions.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:

High school diploma or GED equivalent, AND

Four years of related tree maintenance experience, some of which shall have been at a level equivalent to Utility Worker or Maintenance Worker II with the City of Sunnyvale.

Knowledge of:

• Safety practices and procedures used in tree maintenance activities, including delineated traffic control for safe operation and work in traffic.
• Knots for rigging, and tree climbing skills using rope and saddle.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) tree pruning standards and Best Practice Work methods in tree maintenance.
• Occupational hazards and job safety precautions for type of work performed.

Skill in:

• Performing ISA "best practices" standards for tree climbing and pruning using appropriate climbing gear.
• Operating and maintaining tools and equipment used in tree maintenance work.
• Inspecting, servicing, maintaining and/or operating machinery and power equipment;
• Following complex instructions; and
• Providing service to the public and other City employees.

Ability to:

• Understand and follow complex written or verbal instructions and procedures.
• Make mathematical calculations in estimating load of natural wood weight for rigging and necessary equipment adjustments.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and act in a courteous manner with members of the public, contractors and city staff; work independently or as part of a team.
• Maintain accurate records and logs.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Lead the work of others.
• Operate small power tools, as necessary;
• Work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions;
• Travel to various sites within the City;
• Work with and in moving vehicles;
• Work in, with and around chemicals, solvents, grease, oil pesticides, water and/or hazardous substances;
• Work in dry, dusty, smoky or humid atmospheric conditions;
• Work in a cold, wet or damp environment;
• Work on ladders, scaffolds and aerial lifts;
• Reach above shoulder height and use both hands;
• Lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds, push tools, equipment and supplies weighing up to 100 pounds;
• Walk, stand, sit, kneel, crawl, bend and climb repetitively or over a long period of time;
• Work in noisy environment;
• Oversee the work of a helper; and
• Perform the essential functions of this classification.

Licenses
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class B California driver's license and a safe driving record is required.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Tree Worker or Certified Arborist. Tanker endorsement desirable.

Application and Selection Process

APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 5:00 pm or after receiving 100 qualified and completed applications, whichever is first. Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position; resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Thursday, January 30, 2025. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in aselection interview with the department tentatively scheduled on the week of February 10, 2025 .

Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION/LICENSES
Please note: Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search ‘education equivalency verification' or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service. A conditional job offer cannot be made until the education has been evaluated and submitted to the Department of Human Resources.

A valid California Class B driver's license and a safe driving record is required for this position at the time of appointment. Should you move forward to be hired for this position, you will be required to turn in a current copy of your DMV driving record.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA) .

For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:

• How to Apply for a City of Sunnyvale Job - YouTube (5:13)

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding), gender identity and/or gender expression, sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, family relationship, age, cancer or HIV/AIDS related medical condition, genetic characteristics and/or genetic information, and physical or mental disability. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to the Department of Human Resources at time of application.

Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association SEA

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 1/8/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• City of Sunnyvale

• 408-730-3017

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