Field Arborist

Bring your arboriculture expertise to the City of Boise and play a key role in maintaining and protecting our growing urban forest.

The City of Boise is seeking a skilled Field Arborist to help manage and protect Boise’s growing urban forest. This position performs advanced tree care and arboricultural work, including pruning, removal, planting, and hazard mitigation for trees located in public rights-of-way and on City-owned and maintained properties.

The Arborist uses professional arboriculture practices and standards to assess tree health, identify structural defects and risk factors, and address hazardous conditions to protect public safety and infrastructure. This role operates and maintains a variety of specialized tree care equipment, including aerial lift devices, chainsaws, chippers, and other arborist tools.

Arborists in this role also respond to 24-hour emergency callouts, assisting with storm response and urgent tree hazards throughout the community. Working under general supervision, this position requires sound judgment, strong technical tree care skills, and a commitment to maintaining a safe and sustainable urban canopy.

To ensure internal equity and alignment with the approved budget for this position, offers are made within the posted hiring range. Although the hiring range is fixed, employees receive an exceptional benefits and total rewards package that enhances the overall value of employment with the City of Boise.

Why the City of Boise?

The benefits are real and among the best in the Treasure Valley:

• Zero-premium medical coverage for you and your family
• PERSI retirement plus employer-matched 401(k)/457b
• 10 hours vacation/month (grows with tenure), 12 paid holidays, and 8 hours sick leave/month
• 10 weeks paid parental leave
• $500 annual wellbeing incentive
• Tuition reimbursement and free local bus pass
• Basic life and long-term disability insurance at no cost

Disclaimer:This job posting may close earlier than the listed closing date. If this occurs, a minimum of 24 hours’ notice will be provided prior to closing.

• Performs skilled and technical tree maintenance, including pruning, removal and planting of trees in public rights-of-way and on city-maintained properties. Uses arboricultural tools to prune trees for health and public safety according to defined pruning standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Utilizes advanced arboricultural climbing and rigging skills to perform maintenance and tree removals.
• Evaluates and determines the safest methods for removing hanging or downed branches and trees. Performs safety inspections of trees prior to climbing. Implements necessary safety precautions during tree maintenance operations. Coordinates with forestry staff in tree planting duties to ensure trees are professionally planted for health and longevity. Operates and maintains medium- to heavy-duty equipment, such as aerial lift towers, brush chippers, stump cutters and backhoes to perform duties. Prepares and applies pesticides and herbicides according to city procedures.
• Performs routine inspections to identify maintenance needs and safety issues. Examines work orders and maps, and coordinates work based on location. Coordinates with staff to determine which tasks are priorities and adjusts schedules and routes accordingly. Inputs data into work orders and timesheets ensuring a detailed record of work performed.
• Ensures an accurate and detailed record of all pesticide applications is maintained. Attends arboriculture training to maintain certified arborist status on an annual basis. Attends and passes city-sponsored safety and training classes. Maintains an adequate level of chemicals, tools, and related equipment. Tracks and reviews the inventory of equipment and tools to develop projections of future material requirements.
• Directs fieldwork of volunteers and seasonal staff. Provides training and corrective guidance to volunteers and seasonal staff. Ensures compliance with all safety protocols and trains volunteer and seasonal staff on the equipment and tools utilized.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Required Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• High school diploma or equivalent and four years of experience in tree operations or college-level coursework in biology, horticulture, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge of:

• Tree anatomy and biology.
• Landscape plans and map reading.
• Materials, equipment and methods used to plant and maintain trees.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and ANSI safety standards for tree work.
• Computer usage including related software.

Ability to:

• Recognize dangerous/risk trees.
• Safely operate all tools and vehicles.
• Safely climb trees.
• Communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Perform all essential functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor and/or manager with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Individuals must be capable of operating vehicles safely and have an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• Associate's degree in arboriculture, biology, or related field and three years of experience working with plant removal and pruning.
• Idaho Pesticide Operators License issued by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
• Certification from the International Society of Arboriculture in any of the following areas:
  • Certified Arborist; Arborist Utility Specialist.
  • Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist.
  • Certified Tree Worker/Climber Specialist.
  • Certified Tree Worker and Aerial Lift specialist.

Licensing And Other Requirements

• Idaho Class A commercial driver's license.
• Valid state-issued driver's license.
• Ability to obtain within one year of employment:
  • Idaho Pesticide Operators License issued by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
  • International Society of Arboriculture Certification as an Arborist and/or Tree Worker.

Special Requirements
Applicants must be able to pass:

• City of Boise background check processes which includes a criminal history check and reference checks in accordance with the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation
• Driving Record Check
• Drug Free Workplace:
  • In accordance with the City of Boise Drug Free Workplace Regulation, this position is designated as safety sensitive and is subject to testing requirements including Post Offer Applicant Testing, Random Testing, Reasonable Suspicion, Post - Accident, etc. Applicants will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to hire. Appointment to this position is contingent upon a negative pre-employment drug test.
• Persons in this position must have a CDL that can handle a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds inclusive of the towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

The physical effort characteristics and working environment 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.

Physical Efforts
While performing the duties of this job the employee is always lifting/carrying up to 35 pounds, frequently lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds and occasionally lifting/carrying up to 100 pounds. Also, the employee is always pushing/pulling up to 20 pounds, frequently pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds and occasionally pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds. The noise level is always moderate and frequently very loud. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, smell and touch. Work in this position also includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Employees will sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb and balance. Position requires hand/finger dexterity.Additional physical efforts include: twisting, climbing, bending and and carrying hand and power tools up and around trees..

Working Environment

• The work environment will include inside conditions, outdoor weather conditions, extreme temperatures, in wet and humid conditions, areas of dust, odors, mist and gases or other airborne matter. Employees are exposed to mechanical and electrical hazards and work in/at heights. Employees will also drive a vehicle as part of this position. Work includes protected exposure to infectious bacteria, bodily fluids and chemicals. Must navigate and be aware of: falling limbs, trees, high winds, storms, ice, snow, rain stinging insects, poisonous plants, thorns, snakes, and related pests.
• This position works: on call 24/7 for tree related emergencies.