URBAN FORESTRY SPECIALIST TRAINEE

What Milwaukee can offer YOU

Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is an urban hub bursting with energy. Milwaukee provides a casual sophistication – big city appeal without the big-city hassles. We are accessible and affordable, and our residents are welcoming. Milwaukee has evolved through the years, bringing together its unsurpassed old world charm with a breathtaking Art Museum, top-flight arts and cultural attractions, professional sports, lakefront festivals, recreational opportunities and great restaurants.  

The City of Milwaukee offers a collaborative, positive work environment where each employee contributes to making the city the best place possible to live and work.  The City offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a top rated pension plan, health and dental benefits, paid time off including vacation, 11 holidays and sick leave accrual, and much more.  

Urban Forestry Specialist Trainees perform various tasks that are closely associated with the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees, landscaping, and turf growing on the City of Milwaukee’s boulevards and green spaces. Incumbents are also expected to serve in an emergency capacity, removing broken branches and fallen trees.

• Prune trees by means of climbing and using a rope and saddle while working at heights of 60 feet and higher.        
• Plant, maintain, and remove trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf on City boulevards and green spaces.         
• Operate large vehicles such as high-lifts and 2½ ton dump trucks.       
• Operate specialized power equipment and hand equipment, such as mowers, stumpers, chainsaws, chippers, trenchers, backhoes, pipe pullers, sprayers, and other hand and motorized equipment.        
• Construct, repair, and maintain concealed irrigation systems.        
• Participate in snow and ice control operations, including plowing snow and salting city streets.        
• Participate in the removal of downed trees and limbs and in the abatement of hazardous conditions caused by wind, snow, and ice storms.         
• Maintain records and daily activity reports.  

Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Urban Forestry Specialist Trainees must be willing to work outdoors in variable weather conditions (e.g., heat, cold, and wind); tolerate conditions such as noise, dirt, and pollen; and work beyond assigned shifts to respond to various emergencies.

1. At least 18 years of age at time of application.

2. Valid driver's license at time of application. NOTE: Driver’s license number must be listed on application.

3. Good driving record. NOTE: Driving records will be checked during the selection process and prior to job offer.

4. Class B or higher Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) without Air Brakes Restriction within six months of appointment and throughout employment.  

NOTE: By law, persons in these positions are required to pass pre-employment drug tests and are subject to random drug and alcohol testing during the course of employment. Candidates must sign a release authorizing the City to receive the results of any drug and alcohol tests conducted by previous employers during the past two years if those tests were required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  

• Ability to learn to climb trees using rope and other tree-climbing equipment.         
• Ability to learn to work at heights of 60 feet or more while utilizing the proper safety equipment.       
• Ability to learn to assess and perform pruning on young, juvenile, mature, and over-mature trees.       
• Ability to learn to perform a climbing aerial rescue.        
• Ability to learn to plan and set up rigging and felling practices for topping and removing urban trees.        
• Ability to learn to use a chainsaw safely.        
• Ability to learn ANSI and OSHA safety regulations applicable to the arboricultural and landscape industry and to exercise care and good judgment regarding safety at all times.       
• Ability to drive a car and to learn to safely operate an aerial lift truck.         
• Ability to learn to plant, maintain, and remove trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf.       
• Ability to learn to identify common tree and landscape plant species and signs and symptoms of insects and diseases.       
• Ability to learn to operate and drive vehicles such as a high-lift and 2½ ton dump truck.       
• Ability to learn to operate job-related power equipment and hand-held equipment.         
• Ability to learn to construct, repair, and maintain irrigation systems.         
• Ability to learn to safely drive and operate snow plows and salt trucks on city streets.    
• Ability to climb a ladder to heights of 35 feet and higher.        
• Ability and strength to properly lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds alone. 
• Ability to read and understand documents such as work rules, policies, and operating manuals.         
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.        
• Ability to accurately complete activity reports.         
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.        
• Ability to interact with the public courteously.

SALARY (7AN) for City of Milwaukee residents is $33,401, and the non-resident starting salary is $32,582.  

NOTE: The Urban Forestry Specialist Trainee Program is a training program that will last a minimum of six months. Urban Forestry Specialist Trainees may be promoted to the Urban Forestry Specialist position after successful completion of the Urban Forestry Specialist Trainee Program. The current annual salary (7EN) for the Urban Forestry Specialist position is $42,188 for City of Milwaukee residents and $41,153 for non-residents.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of written and performance examinations. The performance exam may include the following major components:

• Climbing up a ladder to a height of 35 feet into a tree and climbing 10 or more feet wearing safety equipment.
• Climbing up a rope to a height of 12 feet or more wearing safety equipment.

The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to the performance examination. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE - The examination will be held as soon as practical after January 11, 2016. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice.  However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.  

NOTE: The City’s residency requirement set forth in City Charter 5-02 is under litigation. Even though the City is legally able to enforce the current residency requirements based on a recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision, the City has agreed to continue to suspend enforcement of the ordinance until the Wisconsin Supreme Court issues a final decision.  If the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirms the Court of Appeals decision, the City intends to fully enforce the residency requirement for all employees. Consequently, employees who disregard the requirements of the ordinance do so at their own risk. Applicants for City of Milwaukee positions should understand the City’s commitment to its residency requirement. During this period of uncertainty it is important to take that into account when submitting an application and more importantly when deciding to accept an employment offer.  Please contact (414) 286–3751 if you have questions regarding your individual circumstances as part of the application and/or selection process.

Application Instructions

• Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobaps.com/MIL.
• Applications and transcripts should be submitted no later than the deadline listed above.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at 414.286.3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Benefits

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 11 Paid Holidays Paid
• Sick Leave and other paid leaves  

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit www.city.milwaukee.gov/Benefits2016.