Have two years of experience as a tree climber or production arborist, working full-time to trim, clear, and remove trees.
Have reliable transportation to travel to job sites throughout the greater Bay Area.
Hold a clean and current California driver's license.
Be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Be physically fit, able to lift approximately 50 pounds, and comfortable working at heights for much of the workday.
Be proficient with a double- or single-rope technique roping system.
Have a proven record of safely using chainsaws, harnesses, and ropes.
Communicate accurately in writing and verbally, manage time, solve problems, take notes on a phone, and work an eight-hour shift without using a phone for non-work purposes except during lunch, breaks, or emergencies.
Lead by example, work diligently, and demonstrate emotional intelligence, including the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions and those of others.
Responsibilities
Safely perform all aspects of arboriculture, including daily climbing to heights of 10 to 150 feet using a variety of climbing systems, including SRT, DRT, and DdRT.
Manage a team of groundspeople and climbing apprentices by confirming their timecards are correct and informing them of the daily work needed to complete jobs on time and within budget.
Identify and perform tree inventories.
Perform tree risk assessments.
Install bracing, cabling, and lightning protection systems.
Work in tree canopies to prune, thin, and remove dead wood.
Remove dangerous or hazardous trees.
Ensure the health, safety, and beauty of trees.
Provide routine tree maintenance and insect and disease management.
Perform emergency tree services, including removing fallen trees from driveways and structures.
Learn, understand, and adhere to all safety rules and company safety policies.
Ensure work sites are clean and free of hazards.
Serve as part of a multi-person crew typically including a climber/foreman and ground crew.
Meet bid targets, including the number of hours allotted to each job each day.
Properly operate and maintain hand tools, chainsaws, chippers, and aerial lifts once trained.
Safely operate trucks and equipment.
Oversee grinding material, raking, blowing and collecting leaves, and disposing of debris.
Participate in routine safety meetings.
Assist with developing processes to increase efficiency.
Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
Desired Qualifications
Tree certifications or coursework related to tree trimming, maintenance, or arboriculture.
Previous experience in a supervisory position.
A Class A driver's license in good standing.
Ownership of a wide variety of sturdy climbing gear.
Spanish proficiency, including enough industry-specific Spanish to lead a crew.
Do you have at least TWO YEARS of EXPERIENCE as a TREE CLIMBER?
Do you own a climbing gear?
Can you get to Hayward, CA by 6:15 a.m.?
If so, please keep reading….
NOTE: Please apply for our Grounds-to-Climber Apprenticeship role if you have not yet worked as a PROFESSIONAL TREE CLIMBER.
Compensation and Benefits
This Climber position is a full-time, year-round opportunity with a starting hourly rate of between $32.00 and $36.00 or more…………...depending on your relevant work experience, gear, fit to the role, and fit to our company culture. The position comes with competitive benefits including:
Full-time, year-round work at a stable company that’s 45 years old.
Paid vacation (earned/accrued as you work/accumulate hours)
50% contribution toward medical, dental, and optical insurance for employees
5 paid holidays
Paid sick leave
Access to a 401(k) account immediately
Company-issued safety equipment, gear, and clothing
Employee referral program
Training and development resources, plus opportunities for advancement
Tree industry certification and license reimbursement for those who qualify
About the opportunity In this position, you’ll join a highly experienced team of certified professionals who are known for their ability to remove enormous trees using large cranes and equipment, and excellent customer service.
The person who fills this position must be an experienced professional tree Climber who seeks to lead her/his own crew. They will be comfortable working at heights most of the day, physically fit, and eager to demonstrate their knowledge to be promoted.
The right person for this job will be a natural leader; someone who enjoys directing and coaching their crew while also working safely and efficiently. She/he/they have enough Climbing knowledge to be able to lead her/his/their own team without much training. The person we hire will be the type who reports to work early to be on time; someone who takes pride in completing their projects on budget, and LOVES working in the trees.
About us Since 1980, The Professional Tree Care Company has been trusted for tree services throughout Northern California. Based in Berkeley, CA, we service commercial, residential, and public works projects from Mendocino to Monterey, and from San Francisco to Sacramento.
What makes us unique? We recycle 100% of material removed from job sites at our own Green Waste Recycle Yard, custom mill logs, and create organic mulch - and (soon) electricity - from the wood chips. We also have the staff, equipment, resources, and experience to perform tree services at any scale.
Our company culture is often referred to as being family-like. We are optimistic, hardworking, and dedicated to arboricultural science. Most of our managers have been with us 10+ years; many over 20. We like to hire folks who seek a work home; people eager to work hard, learn, and make friends along the way.
Your Responsibilities Include - Safely performing all aspects of arboriculture, including:
Daily climbing to heights of between 10-to-150 feet using a variety of climbing systems including a combination of SRT, DRT, and DdRT
Managing a team of Grounds-people and Climbers Apprentices: Confirming their timecards are correct, letting them know what work needs to be done each day to complete the job on time/on budget
Identifying and performing tree inventories
Doing tree risk assessments
Installing bracing, cabling, and lightning protection systems
Working in the tree canopy to prune, thin, and remove dead wood
Removing dangerous and/or hazardous trees
Ensuring the health, safety and beauty of trees
Providing routine tree maintenance, plus insect and disease management
Performing emergency tree services: removing fallen trees from driveways, structures, etc.
Learning, understanding, and adhering to all safety rules and company safety policies
Ensuring all work sites are kept clean and free of hazards
- General Duties will vary but include:
Serving as part of a multi-person crew that typically includes a Climber/Foreman and Ground Crew
Hitting bid targets; the number of hours allotted to each job each day
Properlyoperating and maintaining tools and equipment (hand tools, chainsaws, chippers, and aerial lifts) once trained
Operatingour trucks and equipment in a safe manner
Overseeing the grinding of material, raking, blowing and collecting leaves; disposing of debris
Participating and/or in routine safety meetings
Assistingwith developing processes to increase efficiency
Understanding and carrying out verbal and written instructions
Requirements, Experience, Skills, and Abilities
TWO YEARS experience as a TREE CLIMBER or production Arborists; a professional who works full-time to trim, clear, and remove trees
Having reliable transportation to drive to job sites throughout the greater Bay Area.
Clean and current California Driver's License (ABSOLUTELY CLEAN CA DL!)
Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Physically fit, able to lift +/-50 pounds, and work comfortably at heights for much of the workday
Proficiency with a roping system (Double or Single Rope Technique)
A proven record of using chainsaws, harnesses, ropes, safely
The standard stuff: Communication (accurate written, and verbal), time management, problem solving, being able to take notes on your phone, and being able to work an 8-hour shift without using your phone for non-work purposes (except at lunch, break or for an emergency)
Soft skills: The ability to lead by example, being extremely hardworking, being emotionally intelligent (having the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.)
Bonus points for:
Tree certifications or coursework related to tree trimming, maintenance, and/or arboriculture
Having served in a supervisory position
Having a Class-A driver’s license in good standing
Owning a wide variety of sturdy climbing gear
Speaking Spanish or enough industry Spanish to lead a crew
Who Should Apply
Experienced climbers seeking to move up in their industry.
Climbers who are ready to move into office-based roles in the next 5 years to become Certified Arborists/Estimators, Sales Team Members, or Project Managers.
Those who lead by example
Folks who already hold tree-related certification and licenses such as ISA, TRAQ, CPR, First Aid, etc.
Those within an easy commute to Hayward, CA
Egalitarians
Work Environment As our newest Climber, you’ll work full-time, year-round, Monday through Friday, on a variety of job sites throughout Northern California with an arrival time of 6:15 a.m. and a start time of 6:30 a.m.
What next? If you’re asked to take an online survey, please do so within three business days.Only folks who complete the survey and confirm they live within (or are moving within) a 45-minute commute of our Hayward location will be considered. (NOTE: If you are moving to within this area please note it on your resume.)