Tree Trimming Crew Leader

Job Description

Job Description

Wright Tree Service provides vegetation management, storm restoration, and work planning services to utility companies and their communities across North America. Our operations are guided by a set of values: safety, integrity, excellence, teamwork, innovation, and family.

Safety is always our highest value. That focus is guided by our “Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper” pledge to keep both ourselves and others safe. We abide by the highest ethical standards, knowing our service is critical to utilities and their customers, and we work as a team to deliver creative solutions to our clients. Finally, we are proud of our family-founded history and have worked to retain those family values in our culture since becoming employee-owned in 2002.

Essential Functions:

• Supervises a line clearance crew and is responsible for planning daily work for crew.
• Assigns work for individual crew members and directs crew in performing work according to accepted line clearance practices. Must be capable of adjusting to field requirements and take independent action without close supervision.
• Recognizes poisonous plants and uses proper safeguard against them.
• Enforces safe work practices, as experience, judgment, company policy, and OSHA specifies and conducts safety training in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Obtains oral or written permission from property owners to trim or remove trees and apply herbicides. Arranges with customer or property owner ability to obtain access, advise them of interruption and explain the work that needs to be done. Repairs minor damages if they occur. Takes complicated situations to General Foreperson’s attention for proper handling.  
• Promotes and maintains good customer and public relations through effective completion of assigned work and the appropriate behavior of employees on the crew.
• Keeps accurate records, timesheets and reports related to the performance of the crew. Furnishes supervisor and Utility representative with reports of orders completed, units of work completed, crew time and distribution, etc.
• Receives and interprets tree trimming, removal and chemical application orders initiated by General Foreperson or Utility, involving an understanding of drawings and symbols, representing types of power lines, voltages, and line equipment.
• Responsible for the conduct of safety training of assigned personnel in accordance with good safety training procedures, in addition to and in coordination with client company policies and procedures.
• Responsible for being mindful of controlling crew costs including effective use of manpower, proper work methods, amount of trimming, and operation of equipment.
• Considers inclement weather conditions and determines when to start or stop work, dependent upon its effect on employees and the nature of the work.
• Safeguards employees and public from hazards in and around work area. Cooperates with customer, police, and fire departments when blocking street or driveways. Sets up barriers, warning signs, flags, etc. to protect employees as well as the public. Trained to perform tree and bucket rescue. Follows and enforces safe work practices, rules and policies.
• Responsible for truck inspection, proper working conditions, as well as necessary repairs to tools, trucks and other work equipment. Requests major repairs or replacements when required. Maintains good housekeeping on truck and at worksite locations.
• In emergency situations, determines proper action to be taken to eliminate hazards to life and property and the trimming/removal of trees, if necessary, to expedite the restoration of service by calling out crew personnel and performing other activities connected with emergency work.
• Trims and/or removes trees by climbing with the aid of a ladder, safety belt, climbing line, powered trimmer lift truck, or works from the ground using saws/pruners. Will cut branches or trunk sections and drops or lowers them to the ground with lines.
• Uses appropriate tools, will fell trees or trimmed trunks and split them into manageable pieces.
• Sprays stumps and brush with hand-spraying equipment to prevent further growth.
• Loads and unloads trucks with logs, stumps, brush, and debris and/or feeds brush into a wood chipper.
• Repairs slight damage to lawns, fences, and walks caused by tree trimming.
• Services gasoline, air, and hand-powered tools and other equipment.
• Relays hand-signals, directs traffic, drives and operates trucks and equipment as assigned, and keeps trucks and work area clear and orderly.
• Trains new employees on proper procedures.
• Works around hazardous equipment and in close proximity to energized power lines.
• Works around excessive noise from machines, chainsaws, wood chipper and must wear proper personal protective equipment.
• Is exposed to all temperatures and weather; will be exposed to nature, i.e., irritating plants, biting or stinging insects, dust, etc.
• May work on rough terrain.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Requirements :

• Has a minimum of 3 years’ experience working on tree trimming or clearing crews and/or has successfully completed applicable performance reviews.
• Possess excellent leadership skills and be able to handle stressful situations along with being able to multi-task.
• Has a basic knowledge of trees, including identification, growth habits and correct arboricultural techniques for the trimming, pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing, as applies to working in close proximity to energized conductors.
• Knows and understands the American National Standards for Tree Care Operations (ANSI Z133.1-2000).
• Has a basic knowledge of electrical circuit and must be skilled in the reading and understanding of circuit maps.
• Ability to communicate professionally, both verbal and in writing, with the general public, customers, and fellow employees.
• Enforces on-the-job safety practices.
• Must be able to wear necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
• Needs to be able to enter and exit a vehicle numerous times per day.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to all kinds of weather while completing work tasks such as rain, heat, sun, cold, snow.
• Must be able to write, read, and comprehend written and verbal job instructions/information.
• Must be able to communicate with others and represent Wright Tree Service in a professional manner.
• Possesses the ability to lift, move, and maneuver up to 50 pounds on an infrequent basis and up to 30 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Ability to work long hours and overtime during emergencies (including holidays, weekends, storm work) and will be subject to call-out work.
• Ability to operate and service all required tools and equipment.
• Must have valid commercial driver’s license (dependent on Division and utility/contract requirements) and be able to pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Possesses a valid medical card to drive company vehicles 10,0001 lb. GVWR or GVW and greater.
• Must have valid driver’s license (CDL), medical card and be able to pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Maintains a herbicide applicator or operators certification and license as required by Wright Tree Service and local, state, and federal law.
• Must have valid First-Aid and CPR cards.