Public Works Crew Leader, Urban Forestry

Job Description:

Public Works Crew Leader, Urban Forestry

Description

Description

PUBLIC WORKS CREW LEADER, URBAN FORESTRY
Regular, Full-Time Employment Opportunity

The City of Sunnyvale is looking to hire a Public Works Crew Leader - Urban Forestry in the Public Works Department, Parks Division.
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, Parks Division for the City of Sunnyvale as a Public Works Crew Leader - Urban Forestry 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 direction, supervises and actively participates in the field, works with and leads field crews and individuals involved in the Urban Forestry program maintenance activities including the care and maintenance of trees; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Public Works Crew Leader: Urban Forestry is a working supervisor responsible for coordinating the work of the Urban Forestry program field crew. Incumbents perform the most complex duties related maintenance and care of city trees primarily street trees including planting, pruning, removal, hazard evaluation and may operate heavy equipment and supervise others in such operation. The work requires the application of specialized knowledge of the tools, equipment and techniques used in the Street Tree Services programs and the ability to coordinate and direct the work of subordinates. This position frequently requires contact and communication with the public as well as staff from other divisions and departments in the city. This classification is distinguished from the higher level classification of Public Works Supervisor in that the latter is the full supervisory level which plans and supervises the work of several crews, and is called upon to exercise greater degrees of responsibility and judgment. It is further distinguished from the next lower level of Senior Park Utility Worker in that the latter leads a single two to three person crew. It is also distinguished from the lower level Utility Worker in that Utility Worker is an individual member of a tree crew.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Coordinates and supervises the activities of a crew engaged in the care and maintenance of trees; trains crew members in all aspects of job performance; assists in the performance evaluations of workers.
• Develops schedules and methods to accomplish assignments ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Receives and distributes daily assignments either through written or verbal communications.
• Effectively resolves on-the-job problems as they occur; troubleshoots complex maintenance issues and develops solutions or makes recommendations.
• Operates and oversees the operation of equipment used in tree maintenance.
• Monitors and ensures conformance with all Safety Standards.
• Leads and participates in tree maintenance activities using aerial lifts, rope rigging, chippers, pruning equipment, stump grinders, root pruners, sprayers, chain saws, and other such specialized tree maintenance equipment.
• Provides and coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies.
• Provides applicable information and education to the public.
• Responds to public inquiries regarding tree care of public trees.
• Performs a variety of skilled tasks related to Arboriculture.
• Assist in maintaining work records in computerized and/or written format as required by division policy and procedures.
• Participates and contributes to division, departmental and City-wide safety programs; ensures safety rules and regulations are followed by subordinates.

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, carry and push tools, equipment and supplies weighing up to 70 pounds, such as a jackhammer, is also required. Additionally, the incumbent in this outdoor position works in all weather conditions, including wet, heat, and cold. 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, use power and noise producing tools and equipment, drive motorized vehicles, work in confined spaces and work in heavy traffic conditions. 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

Education and Experience:

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

Graduation from high school or tested equivalent; AND

Four years of tree maintenance experience.

Knowledge of:

• Proper use of equipment, ropes, rigging, methods, and materials used in tree maintenance operations.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) tree pruning standards.
• Occupational hazards and job safety precautions as related to tree maintenance operations, including the most current edition of ANSI Z133.1 Arboricultural Operations Safety Requirements and ANSI A300- (All Parts) Tree, Shrub, and other Woody Plant Management - Standard Practices.
• Operating and maintaining tools and equipment used by the City in tree maintenance operations.
• Principles and practices of supervising and training.

Ability to:

• Supervise, coordinate, and direct the work of a field crew.
• Read and interpret engineered plans, sketches, diagrams, and construction markings.
• Identify and prepare sites for the marking of utility locations.
• Safely and effectively operate construction equipment such as backhoes, front-end loaders, trucks, root pruning machines, aerial lifts, and other tree equipment.
• Ability to climb and care for trees using rope and saddle as well as aerial lift devices.
• Resolve technical problems as appropriate for the situation.
• Take accurate measurements and perform mathematical calculations.
• Prepare and maintain accurate paperwork and/or computer files, such as records, logs, orders, surveys, and routine reports.
• Use a computer to perform administrative tasks.
• Safely perform heavy manual labor.
• Safely handle toxic materials.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.
• Establish and maintain and promoted positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties.
• Work independently and as a team member; recognize and set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.

Willingness to:

• Wear a uniform.
• Wear personal protection equipment.
• Travel to various locations with the City.
• Perform on-call duty assignments and call-back work as required.
• Work irregular hours, shifts and weekend.

Licenses/Certificates:

• Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Commercial class B driver's license and a safe driving record.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Certified Tree Climber or Certified Arborist credential within six months of appointment.
• State of California Department of Pesticide Regulations Qualified Applicator Certificate in the Category of Landscape Maintenance or Right-of-Way Pest Control within six months of appointment.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Work experience in a municipal setting.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Certified Arborist.

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 by 5:00 pm on August 5, 2025 (postmarks or faxes are not accepted).

Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line 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 examination process, which may consist of an oral examination scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 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 a selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled on the week of September 2, 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
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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

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 AssociationSEA

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

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

Salary:

$46.03 - $58.75 Hourly