Tree Climber Apprenticeship: Grounds-person-to-Climber
Job Description
Job Description
- Are you seeking a career as a professional Tree Climber?
- Are you PHYSICALLY FIT and able to hoist your body weight up a tree?
- Will you work as a Grounds-person for whatever time it takes to learn to become a Climber*?
- Do you live WITHIN A 45-MINUTE COMMUTE of Richmond, CA?
- If so, please keep reading....
Professional Tree Care is hiring Grounds-people to train as our future professional Tree Climbers. This is a great job for anyone who enjoys working outdoors in all types of weather, is technical enough to memorize knots, and seeks to learn a trade while on the job. Anyone hired must meet the following minimum requirements:
1) Physically fit: All candidates MUST be able to hoist their full body weight up a tree using ropes and pulleys. (If you haven't done this before, try doing 10 full-weight pull-ups.) The candidate we hire will be able to work outdoors in inclement weather year-round, meaning hot in summer and cold in winter. The person we hire will be able to work extremely hard for up to 8 hours per day.
2) NOT afraid of heights. Yes, there will be a test. In your on-site interview, you'll pull yourself (in a safety seat and with support around you) to a height of +/- 30 feet so you can imagine climbing even higher once you learn how.
3) You’re seeking a career, not a job. (Yes, there's a difference!) To become a good climber quickly, one must study on their own time. If you have free time in the morning or evenings, this might be a great career for you. Check out ( https://www.isa-arbor.com/) for details on getting your ISA Tree Climber certifications. You’ll need to memorize a long list of knots, learn to identify trees, and work extremely hard as a Grounds-person until you learn how to direct other folks on the ground once you move up into the tree canopy.
4) Speaks/read/writes in English well but is willing and able to learn TCS (Tree Care Spanish) If you are already bilingual, please indicate so on your resume or write a cover letter. If you don’t speak a word of Spanish yet, consider downloading a free app like Duolingo since you will need it. BTW, this is true of most outdoor trades-related jobs in California.
5) You must have reliable transportation to the job site, which cannot be reached by public transportation, Uber, or bike. We work from north of Napa to south of Monterey and from Sacramento to the Bay. You may need to get to the job sites on your own, depending on the specific project.
6) A current and clean* CA Driver's license is required. *Clean = no points or recent tickets. This is important since Climbers are typically offered their own company trucks.
7) You absolutely MUST live within a 45 minute commute of Richmond, CA. If you live outside this area and DO NOT plan to move, please do not apply. Please calculate your morning commute using Google maps with an arrival time of 6:15 a.m. If live outside of 45 minutes from Richmond, CA an DO PLAN TO MOVE, please indicate this on your resume or add a cover letter so you can be considered.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- $20.00 to $21.00 per hour to start.
- NOTE: This is training position; a self-paced Apprenticeship that allows you to “learn while you earn.”
- If you have experience doing Grounds-person work, landscape work, or are already a Climber, please let us know by adding this information to your resume or cover letter. Folks with tree care experience will be placed at the front of the interview line.
- 401(k) program. Register immediately on onboarding your first day so please plan to put an amount away.
- Worker's Compensation kicks in on your first day of work.
- Safety gear as needed
- Training materials: videos, books, ropes, and mentorship
- After 90 days of employment, full-time employees are eligible for:
- Medical, dental, and optical insurance with a 50% contribution from the company
- 5 paid holidays
- 5 paid sick days
- 3 bereavement days (for immediate family)
- PTO (paid time off) earned as you go
HOW TO APPLY
- Watch this video to be certain this career is for you, “Basic Training for Ground Operations in Tree Care”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WAH2kljDE
- Watch this video to see the physical shape that is common to tree climbers: “How to Climb Trees with the Basics” by Bartlett Arborist Supply. Most climbers a good amount of upper body strength in order to pull themselves into the trees.
- If you receive a survey from Predictive Index (dot com), please take it in the language in which you have the strongest vocabulary. For example, if you were raised speaking French, take it in French. The results will be sent back in English.
- Submit a resume or a list of ALL OF THE JOBS you've held since High School/GED. Include your education/graduation year and any other coursework or certificates you've received. Include the beginning month/year and ending month/year plus company name, location, and your job title for each position.
Best of luck!!
The Recruiting Team at Professional Tree Care dot com
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