The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Why join the City of Oakland?
Are you interested in being part of an urban forestry program in a diverse and dynamic city? The City of Oakland has an excellent opportunity for individuals who enjoy being outdoors, interacting with the public, and working for the benefit and beauty of the community!
The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill three (3) Tree Trimmer vacancies within the Oakland Public Works Department. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic team player, with exceptional communication skills, capable of following oral and written directions to complete assignments, eager to learn a variety of tree maintenance tasks, and have an interest in long-term professional development. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate a solid work ethic, including a strong commitment to maintaining the City's urban forest.
We are also recruiting to fill our Tree Trimmer Crew Leader position. If you would also like to be considered for this position, you must submit separate applications for each posting. The other postings can be found here: Tree Trimmer Crew Leader
We are looking for someone who is:-
Knowledgeable about climbing safety protocol and tree growth, planting, and trimming.
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Skilled at climbing and operating tree maintenance equipment and trucks.
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Skilled at establishing excellent working relationships with their colleagues.
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Positive and has a can-do attitude.
What you will typically be responsible for:-
Climbing and working up to fifty-five feet to prune, shape, strip, and remove trees over roadways, in parks, and at other City properties.
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Using a variety of tree maintenance equipment such as power saws, chainsaws, and other specialized trimming tools.
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Responding to emergency work orders in all weather conditions.
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Maintaining a variety of tree maintenance equipment, including aerial lifts, knuckle boom cranes, stump grinders, and chippers.
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Supporting team members with maintenance activities.
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Identifying and reporting hazardous tree conditions, safety hazards, and work conditions.
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Planting, staking, watering, and mulching young trees.
Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:-
You will be provided with a stable job with great health and retirement benefits for you and your family
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You will work at a place that prioritizes worker safety and longevity
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You will have an opportunity for career growth within and beyond the Tree Department
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You will be working outdoors in a beautiful city with a moderate climate
A few challenges you might face in this job:-
You will perform physically demanding work in challenging conditions
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You will perform emergency response work during storm events
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You will have to pivot work activities based on changing priorities throughout each work day that may be due to short staffing
Competencies Required:
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Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
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Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
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Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
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Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
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Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
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Environmental Exposure Tolerance: Performing under physically demanding conditions
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General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
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Manual Dexterity: Using senses, hands, and fingers in manipulating objects quickly and efficiently
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Mechanical Insight: Comprehending how mechanical, electrical, and structural systems operate and interact
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Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
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Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
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Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
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Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
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Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
The Recruitment Process:
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the Performance Exam (weighted 100%).
The tentative date of the performance exam is the week of August 31, 2026.
Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it:https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf . Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst: Alanna Butler at
[email protected].
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?-
Work/Life Balance: 40-hour work week
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15 paid holidays
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Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum, with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
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Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
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Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
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Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
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Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
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Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
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Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
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Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.
- Benefits described here do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Alanna Butler, HR Analyst at
[email protected].
