Experienced Tree Climber Wanted | $30-$38/hr + Full Benefits

Job Description

Job Description

1. Job Title 

Tree Climber / Lead Arborist 
Client: John Shorb Landscaping, Inc. 

Type: Full-Time, Year-Round Position 

2. Client Overview 

John Shorb Landscaping, Inc. 

John Shorb Landscaping is a full-service landscaping and property maintenance company serving residential, commercial, HOA, and government clients throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia. Founded in 1994, the company provides landscape maintenance, tree care, landscape construction, irrigation, drainage solutions, and other outdoor property services. The organization has built a strong reputation in the Washington, DC metro area and emphasizes safety, training, and career development for its employees. [shorblandscaping.com],  [shorblandscaping.com]  

3. Similar Job Titles 

• Tree Climber 
• Lead Tree Climber 
• Climbing Arborist 
• Arborist 
• Arborist Technician 
• Tree Care Specialist 
• Tree Trimmer 
• Tree Pruning Specialist 
• Tree Removal Specialist 
• Utility Arborist 
• Tree Crew Leader 
• Certified Arborist 
• Tree Service Technician 
• Forestry Technician 

4. Location 

Primary Location 

Kensington, MD 20895 

Nearby Areas (Within Approximately 45 Minutes) 

Maryland 

• Rockville 
• Bethesda 
• Silver Spring 
• Wheaton 
• Potomac 
• Gaithersburg 
• Germantown 
• North Bethesda 
• Olney 
• Takoma Park 
• College Park 

Washington, DC 

• Northwest DC 
• Northeast DC 
• Georgetown 
• Capitol Hill 

Northern Virginia 

• Arlington 
• Alexandria 
• Fairfax 
• Falls Church 
• McLean 
• Tysons 

Recruiting Recommendation 

Target candidates currently working for: 

• Bartlett Tree Experts 
• Davey Tree Expert Company 
• SavATree 
• BrightView 
• Ruppert Landscape 
• Local tree service companies 
• Municipal forestry departments 
• Utility vegetation management contractors 

5. Salary 

Compensation 

$30.00 - $38.00 per hour 

Estimated annual earnings based on a 40-hour workweek: 

• Additional earning potential through overtime and emergency storm response work 

Schedule 

• Monday-Friday 
• 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM 
• Hours may vary due to weather and seasonal demands 

6. Required Experience 

Experience Requirements 

• Minimum 3 years of professional tree climbing experience 
• Experience performing: 
• • Tree pruning 
  • Tree removal 
  • Tree planting 
  • Tree health assessments 
  • Aerial lift operations 

Industry Experience 

• Arboriculture 
• Tree Care Services 
• Forestry 
• Landscaping 
• Vegetation Management 

Additional Experience 

• Chainsaw operation 
• Chipper operation 
• Rigging and removal techniques 
• Safety-focused field operations 
• Customer-facing work environments 

7. Requirements (Must-Haves) 

Tree Care Expertise 

• Minimum 3 years of professional tree climbing experience 
• Tree species identification 
• Tree assessment skills 
• Tree pruning knowledge 
• Tree removal experience 

Equipment Experience 

• Chainsaws 
• Chippers 
• Aerial lifts 
• Hand tools 
• Tree care equipment 

Licensing 

• Valid driver's license 
• Good driving record 
• Ability to obtain DOT Medical Card 

Physical Requirements 

• Ability to lift and carry 50+ pounds 
• Ability to work outdoors year-round 
• Comfortable working at heights 
• Ability to perform physically demanding work 

Safety & Teamwork 

• Strong commitment to safety 
• Ability to work collaboratively with crews 
• Attention to detail 
• Ability to follow procedures and instructions 

Customer Service 

• Strong communication skills 
• Professional customer interaction 
• Client-focused approach 

8. Nice-to-Haves 

Certifications 

• ISA Certified Arborist 
• LTE License 
• Pesticide Applicator License 
• DOT Card already obtained 

Education 

• Forestry degree or coursework 
• Horticulture background 
• Landscaping education 

Leadership Skills 

• Crew leadership experience 
• Organizational skills 
• Potential for management advancement 

Additional Experience 

• Storm damage response 
• Emergency tree removal 
• Utility clearance work 
• Advanced rigging techniques 

9. Benefits 

Comprehensive Benefits Package 

✅ Paid Time Off 

✅ Unpaid Time Off Options 

✅ Medical Insurance 

✅ Dental Insurance 

✅ Vision Insurance 

✅ Life Insurance 

✅ Short-Term Disability Coverage 

✅ Health Savings Account (HSA) 

✅ Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 

✅ Dependent Care Spending Accounts 

✅ Company-Paid Life Insurance 

✅ Employee Referral Bonus Program 

✅ Retirement Savings Plan 

✅ Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities 

✅ Certification Support & Professional Development 

✅ ISA Arborist Certification Assistance 

✅ Pesticide License Training Support 

Career Growth Opportunities 

The company actively supports employees pursuing: 

• ISA Arborist Certification 
• Pesticide Licensing 
• Professional Tree Care Training 
• Leadership Development 
• Future Management Opportunities 

10. Boolean Search 

Full Boolean Search String 

Plain Text 

1 

("Tree Climber" OR 

2 

"Lead Tree Climber" OR 

3 

"Climbing Arborist" OR 

4 

Arborist OR 

5 

"Certified Arborist" OR 

6 

"Tree Care Specialist" OR 

7 

"Tree Trimmer" OR 

8 

"Tree Removal Specialist" OR 

9 

"Arborist Technician" OR 

10 

"Tree Crew Leader") 

11 

12 

AND 

13 

14 

("Tree Climbing" OR 

15 

Pruning OR 

16 

"Tree Removal" OR 

17 

Arboriculture OR 

18 

"Tree Care" OR 

19 

Forestry) 

20 

21 

AND 

22 

23 

(Chainsaw OR 

24 

Chipper OR 

25 

"Aerial Lift" OR 

26 

Rigging) 

27 

28 

AND 

29 

30 

(Kensington OR 

31 

Rockville OR 

32 

Bethesda OR 

33 

"Silver Spring" OR 

34 

Wheaton OR 

35 

Potomac OR 

36 

Gaithersburg OR 

37 

Germantown OR 

38 

"North Bethesda" OR 

39 

Olney OR 

40 

Arlington OR 

41 

Alexandria OR 

42 

Fairfax OR 

43 

McLean OR 

44 

Tysons OR 

45 

"Falls Church") 

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LinkedIn Recruiter Boolean 

Plain Text 

1 

("Tree Climber" OR 

2 

Arborist OR 

3 

"Climbing Arborist" OR 

4 

"Lead Arborist" OR 

5 

"Tree Care Specialist") 

6 

7 

AND 

8 

9 

("Tree Care" OR 

10 

Arboriculture OR 

11 

Pruning OR 

12 

"Tree Removal") 

13 

14 

AND 

15 

16 

(Maryland OR 

17 

Washington OR DC OR 

18 

Virginia) 

Show more lines 

11. Interview Questions 

1. 

"Tell me about your background in tree care. What types of pruning and removal projects have you been involved with over the past few years?" 

2. 

"This role requires professional climbing experience. Can you walk me through a particularly challenging tree removal or pruning project you've completed?" 

3. 

"What equipment do you feel most comfortable operating, such as chainsaws, chippers, aerial lifts, or rigging systems?" 

4. 

"Safety is critical in tree care. Can you share an example of a situation where you identified a hazard and how you handled it?" 

5. 

"Have you worked directly with customers before? How do you balance delivering quality work while maintaining a positive client experience?" 

6. 

"Storm response can occasionally be part of this role. Have you participated in emergency tree removal or storm cleanup work, and what was that experience like?" 

7. 

"The company supports certifications and career growth. Are there any arborist certifications or leadership goals you're currently working toward?" 

Recruiter Snapshot 

Ideal Candidate 

✅ 3+ years of professional tree climbing experience 

✅ Strong pruning and removal experience 

✅ Valid driver's license with clean driving record 

✅ Able to obtain DOT Medical Card 

✅ Experience operating chainsaws, chippers, and aerial lifts 

✅ Comfortable working at heights and outdoors year-round 

✅ Strong safety mindset 

✅ Customer service oriented 

✅ ISA Arborist Certification preferred but not required 

✅ Leadership potential for future advancement 

Target Companies 

• Bartlett Tree Experts 
• Davey Tree Expert Company 
• SavATree 
• Monster Tree Service 
• BrightView Tree Care 
• Ruppert Landscape 
• Local Arborist and Tree Service Companies 
• Municipal Forestry Departments 

Quick Facts 

• Client: John Shorb Landscaping, Inc. 
• Location: Kensington, MD 
• Pay: $30-$38/hour 
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM 
• Industry: Arboriculture / Tree Care 
• Experience Required: 3+ Years Professional Tree Climbing 
• License: Valid Driver's License Required 
• Certification Support: ISA Arborist & Pesticide Licenses Available 
• Growth Opportunity: Management Track Potential