Job Description

 

Watering Crew Technician Job Description

Classification and Time: Full-time, Non-exempt

Hourly Rate: $26.40

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday, fluctuating

Reports to: Program Manager, Special Projects

Date Posted: Revised August 2023

About Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF)

Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and neighborhood groups to plant and care for street trees and sidewalk gardens in San Francisco. By making San Francisco greener, FUF supports the health and livability of the urban environment. Since 1981, FUF has planted more than 60,000 trees, totaling almost half of the city's street tree canopy.

Position Summary

Watering Crew Technicians execute field duties necessary to implement FUF’s street tree planting projects. Watering Crew Technicians are responsible for watering FUF trees the day they are planted and once a week for 3 years to ensure that all newly planted trees are fully established. Watering Crew Technicians work with other Watering Team members to operate a low cab forward light duty commercial truck, 750 gallon tank, powered water pump and fire hydrant water meter. Note: this is not a driving position.

Watering Crew Technicians also work closely with the Tree Planting staff, Tree Care staff, Community Engagement staff, community members, community groups, government departments or agencies, outside vendors, and FUF volunteers. Saturday availability is required.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties, or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records.

Duties and Responsibilities

Street Tree Watering Program

• Coordinate with Watering Crew Managers, Planting Managers, Planting Coordinators, and Green Crew to ensure trees are watered on the day they are planted.
• Water newly planted street trees the day they are planted and follow a route to ensure each tree is watered once per week for three years until trees are established.
• Maintain and regularly review watering routes and communicate any issues or updates to supervisor
• Track watering activities and log accurately in the database.
• Provide light maintenance on FUF trees as needed & as time allows, including replacing or repositioning water bags, tree ties, and FUF crossbrace labels.
• Safely operate fire hydrants using the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) provided water meter to fill the water tank.
• Operate the water pump and provide light maintenance including refilling the gas tank, replacing the rip cord, and tightening bolts as needed.
• Monitor condition of all watering-related equipment including hoses, hose reel, water tank, water truck, water meter, and water pump, and relay any maintenance needs to the Program Manager, Special Projects in a timely manner.
• Report on issues with young trees and inform the Program Manager, Special Projects and/or Tree Care Team in a timely manner.
• Work to improve efficiency of the Street Tree Watering Program.
• Fill in as necessary if/when watering team members are absent.
• Track water usage using a PUC water meter, including bringing the water meter to a PUC office on a bimonthly basis for reading & billing.
• Document and report all incidents, accidents, and close calls as necessary.
• Maintain tools, tool shed, and FUF vehicles in clean working order.
• Follow and enforce FUF COVID-19 safety and personal protective equipment procedures.

Other Duties

• Assist with the maintenance of the FUF tree yards, including watering, inspecting irrigation, and repairing as needed.
• Assist with special projects and day-to-day operations.
• Assist in the planning of, attend, and participate in FUF special events.
• Provide support to other FUF teams and staff as needed. Activities may include but are not limited to: planting trees and installing protective hardware surrounding newly-established trees; conducting post-planting surveys; performing necessary tree care including pruning, re-tying, re-staking, and sometimes replanting.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working in the public right-of-way.
• Experience with customer service or conflict resolution with members of the public.
• Experience in the field of arboriculture, landscaping, or irrigation systems.
• Provide a Department of Justice record check and fingerprinting per California Penal Code section 11105.3 to be able to work with minors in the Green Teens Program.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Friends of the Urban Forest is dedicated to gender and race equity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, Friends of the Urban Forest does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of any status or characteristic protected by applicable laws or ordinances. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Work Environment

Friends of the Urban Forest is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all employees. In an effort to avoid serious health and safety risks and significant disruption to our work, we have taken measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 including a mandatory vaccination policy. New hires will be asked to provide proof of vaccination on the first day of employment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather and working conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Office workspace and cubicle assignments change from time-to-time and employees should not have any expectation that any assignment is permanent.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently move in and out of a truck as well as lift and move items over 40 pounds. Additional physical demands may include: loading tools and planting materials, including trees, into and out of vehicles, and ascending/descending a ladder while performing tree care.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Hours

40 hours per week, Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday, fluctuating

How to Apply

If you're interested and qualified, please email a cover letter with your resume to:

resume@fuf.net

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $26.40 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

COVID-19 considerations:
All FUF employees are expected to follow and enforce COVID-19 safety procedures. Personal protective equipment will be provided.

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Multiple Locations

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