Tree Climber Position at USDA APHIS

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Tree Climber assigned to the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Emergency Program. Responsibilities include protecting American agriculture and natural resources from endemic and exotic pests in order to enhance the competitiveness of American agricultural exports.

Responsibilities

• Inspect trees through ground and aerial survey for pests or specific indications of pest injury or infestation.
• Provide quality assurance surveillance of the tree survey activities performed by program staff and staff from other organizations such as contractors, federal agencies, and state agencies.
• Climb trees of heights routinely exceeding 100 feet using a rope and harness to inspect for pests, executes limb walks of distances of 20 feet or more.
• As circumstances warrant, uses spikes or spurs; operates and maintains hand saws, chainsaws and knives; and works in trees often near power lines, using climbing ropes and saddles.
• Utilizing reference materials such as tree identification keys to identify every woody tree specific to the area and potential ALB host trees by genus and species.
• Collect tree material samples for use in the environmental monitoring of trees which have been chemically treated, for submission to identifiers or laboratories.
• Conduct tree inventories data such as diameter, property address, or location of trees using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and maps.
• Speak with property owners in order to obtain permission to climb trees on their property; this contact may be made by phone or in person.

For more information about requirements, benefits, and how to apply, click here. 

Applications close Nov. 13th, 2020.