Forestry – Seasonal Technician

Tree Trust’s mission is to transform lives and landscapes by engaging people to build skills for meaningful careers, inspiring people to plant trees, and making our community a greener, healthier place to live. 

We are committed to planting trees to grow a vibrant and resilient urban forest.

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Job Summary: The Community Forestry Seasonal Technician is integral to the success of Tree Trust’s community forestry program. This position supports all aspects of Tree Trust’s Community Forestry programming including volunteer tree planting and general care of trees within Tree Trust’s purview with a special emphasis on young tree care.

We are seeking a responsible and passionate person interested in nature and urban forestry. Background knowledge of trees would be preferred but not required. The successful candidate will be adaptable and able to make sound, independent decisions as situations arise. The position is physically demanding and involves early mornings, Saturdays, and some long days of up to 10 hours.  Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 hours per week. 

Essential Functions:

• Assist with planting new trees and site preparation for community forestry projects.
• Water newly planted trees under Tree Trust’s purview across the seven-county metro area.
• Perform additional maintenance on newly planted trees, including mulching, staking, and pruning.
• Drive Tree Trust trucks and pull water tanks to job sites within the seven-county metro area.
• Assist with the maintenance of Tree Trust’s gravel-bed tree nursery. This may include watering, tracking inventory, caring for young trees, overall upkeep, weed control, and mowing.
• Engage with volunteers and residents to educate on work being done in the community and promote tree stewardship.

Required Qualifications/Skills:

• Interest or education in urban forestry, horticulture, biology, water resources, urban planning, or related field.
• Ability to work flexible hours: early mornings, evenings, weekends, and travel as needed.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record as determined by our insurance provider, ability to safely drive and maneuver a large vehicle with a trailer.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check and motor vehicle check as required by our insurer.
• Ability to obtain MNDOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate within 15 days of hire.
• Ability to work independently to complete assigned tasks.
• Working knowledge of tree identification as well as signs and symptoms of common tree issues.
• Exceptional record keeping and organizational skills.
• A working knowledge of common computer software including MS Word, Excel, ArcGIS is preferred but not required.
• Leadership skills and the ability to work both as a team member and independently.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to creatively solve problems.
• Passion for people and trees.

Work Environment: The job will require constantly working outdoors in all types of weather conditions and exposure to elements. This can include heavy to moderate noise, proximity to moving equipment or machinery, exposure to tools and machines used in landscaping industries. We work in parks, schools, boulevards, and private property so each day looks a little different and you get to engage with a variety of people and places. The community forestry department loves to joke around, support each other, and talk trees while making sure the work is done and done correctly.

Physical demands: Physical demands require constantly moving, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. Frequently operates machinery and will use hands/fingers and legs to operate, activate, use, prepare, inspect, place, detect and position materials. Frequently required to stand and walk, lift and/or move up to 60 lbs. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Constantly required to communicate with ability to talk and hear.

Tree Trust seeks to build a staff that reflects the diversity of the population and community it serves, and that’s why we strongly encourage people of color to apply.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer