Arborist

Arborist

About Dickinson

Dickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, named a “most livable city” by Forbes and is minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is connected to a vibrant downtown that offers eclectic dining, shopping and entertainment options. Within a two-hour drive are Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; New York City is three hours away.

Dickinson College offers full-time employees a broad range of benefits, including a comprehensive medical insurance plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependent children under the age of 24. Upon eligibility, the College contributes 8% of an employee’s base salary to a retirement account with an additional .5% matching contribution; all money paid by the college into the employee’s retirement plan is immediately and fully vested in the employee.

Below you will find the details for the position, including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Position Department

Facilities Management - Grounds and Landscaping

Position Details

The Arborist is responsible for health and care of trees on the Dickinson College campus. This position ensures aesthetics of campus trees while allowing for the safety of campus community. The assistant arborist will also function as a member of the grounds crew when needed, performing any and all grounds maintenances tasks as per groundskeeper job description.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for all tasks associated with proper tree care including planting, pruning, injecting, cabling, takedowns, installing and maintaining lightning protection systems, stump grinding, root color excavations, root invigoration, fertilizing and insect and disease management. This is a physically demanding position requiring high climbing as well as bucket truck
• Examines campus trees routinely for insect problems, diseases, structural problems, nutrient deficiency, moisture stress, etc. Administers the Integrated Pest Management Program. Maintains pesticide application log. Attends pesticide update meetings to maintain PA applicator's license.
• Assists with maintenance of campus tree inventory. Provides species recommendations for new plantings. Reviews landscape plans for species appropriateness.
• Operates all grounds and tree care equipment in a safe and professional manner. Performs maintenance and minor repairs on tree care equipment.
• Works with other grounds crew members to remove snow from campus sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, and steps. All grounds crew members are considered “essential employees.” As such they are required to report to work even when the college is closed or is operating under a delayed start. Grounds crew members can be called in at any time of day to respond to weather and/or other types of emergencies as needed. It is expected that the employee has reliable transportation adequate to transport them to work even under adverse weather conditions.
• Assists with tree removal and replacement decisions. Performs tree risk assessments to provide data for determining tree removals.

Required

Associate's Degree - Horticulture, forestry, landscape contracting, entomology, plant pathology

Minimum 2 years’ experience in the field of arboriculture AND be an ISA Certified Arborist or obtain certification within 12 months of hire. Must be an experienced tree climber capable of performing aerial rescue. Must possess PA Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License in category 23 Park/School Pest Control or obtain same within six months of hire. PA Class B Commercial Driver’s License required.

Preferred:

Bachelor's Degree - Horticulture, forestry, landscape contracting, entomology, plant pathology

EEO/Diversity Statement The College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage applications from all qualified persons.