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's Public Works Department?
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 one (1) Tree Worker vacancy 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 interested 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 Tree Trimmer and Tree Trimmer Crew Leader positions. If you would like to be considered for any other positions, you must submit separate applications for each posting. The other postings can be found here:
Tree Trimmer
Tree Trimmer Crew Leader
We are looking for someone who:-
Is committed to job site safety.
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Takes initiative and works well as part of a team.
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Interacts and communicates well with the public.
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Is eager to learn and develop new skills.
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Can perform physically demanding outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
What you will typically be responsible for:-
Performing tree maintenance and assisting Tree Trimmers and Crew Leaders.
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Operating brush, aerial lift, crane, and wood chipper trucks.
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Following safe work practices and helping maintain a safe job site.
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Cleaning up job sites by removing brush, limbs, and debris.
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Gathering, inspecting, and preparing equipment for daily use.
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Lowering limbs safely using ropes and other rigging equipment.
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Fueling and maintaining chainsaws and other equipment as directed.
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Operating or assisting with the operation of a wood chipper.
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Supporting the crew with general tree work and other assigned tasks.
Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:-
You will have opportunities to learn new skills and advance to higher-level positions.
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You will work outdoors in parks, neighborhoods, and other natural settings.
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You will be part of a team that helps keep Oakland's trees healthy, safe, and beautiful.
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You will make a positive impact in the community.
A few challenges you might face in this job:-
You will perform strenuous physical work, including lifting, carrying, and pulling, as well as working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
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You will work with hazardous equipment and tools, and be expected to maintain safe work practices and stay focused at all times.
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You will be expected to interact with members of the public and respond professionally to questions and concerns at the job site.
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You will need to adapt to changing work locations, weather conditions, and daily work assignments.
Competencies Required:-
Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
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Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
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Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
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Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
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Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
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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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Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
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Manual Dexterity: Using senses, hands, and fingers in manipulating objects quickly and efficiently
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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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Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
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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
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Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:
Education:
Successful completion of the eighth grade.
Experience:
One (1) year of work experience including heavy manual labor.
License or Certificate / Other Requirements:
Possession of a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate (CPR) by the end of the probationary period.
Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License, Class C, throughout the tenure of employment with the City of Oakland. License requirements are subject to changes in State and Federal law, and the City of Oakland must comply with mandated changes at all times.
Desirable Qualifications:
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Tree maintenance experience operating a chainsaw, wood chippers, stump grinder, and/or other machinery.
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Completed courses in arboriculture or horticulture.
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 job simulation exercise (sometimes referred to as a 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?
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Work/Life Balance: 40-hour work weeks
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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
- 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 Healthcare, and other HMO and PPO plans
- Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- 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 at [email protected].
