Provisional to Permanent - Arborist Technician (3434) - Citywide (168851)

About the role

Under general supervision, as an Arborist Technician, you will perform various urban forestry maintenance tasks and duties which include the removal of trees and other vegetation while performing related duties as needed.

Important and Essential Duties

As an Arborist Technician, your duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Identify, assess, and evaluate conditions of trees and other vegetation.
• Climb trees with rope and saddle or access with an aerial lift truck to remove dead, diseased, damaged, or unwanted limbs.
• Remove trees and grind stumps.
• Perform various types of technical rigging, including using the use of blocks, ropes, and lowering devices.
• Tying various industry-specific arborist knots and hitches for both climbing and rigging systems.
• Operate Chainsaws, Handsaws, Pruners, Hedge Trimmers, and other arborist and horticultural hand tools and power equipment.
• Operate arborist vehicles, Brush Chippers, Stump Grinders, and other towable equipment.

Working Conditions

The nature of the work involves exposure to a high risk of physical injury to the employee and constant vigilance to public safety. Positions in this job code require considerable physical demands, and manual dexterity with frequent exposure to arduous and disagreeable working conditions, including inclement weather.

Qualifications & Requirements

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: Must be a Current Provisional Employee in Class 3434 Arborist Technician who has worked at least 2,080 hours in Class 3434 with no break in service.
• AND

Education

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED or High School Proficiency Examination).

Experience

• Three (3) years of verified journey-level experience as a tree work professional.
• Duties must have included climbing trees of considerable height for the purpose of removing tree limbs, treetops or entire tree in accordance with safety standards.
• Experience in pruning trees from a ladder is not qualifying experience.

License and Certification

• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license at the time of application.
• AND
• Possession of a valid California Class B driver's license with no air brakes restriction is required upon completion of the probationary period.

Substitution

Successful completion of an Arborist Technician Apprenticeship Program approved and registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Note: One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Condition of Employment

Valid Driver's License: Applicants must possess a valid State of California driver's license with no restrictions that would prohibit them from legally performing the essential functions and duties of the role.

Verification of Experience And/or Education

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job ad. Please review the information on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience/Education | City and County of San Francisco for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

• Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.
• Failure to provide the required verification may result in rejection of application and/or removal from eligibility for referral and appointment in this class.
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
• Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to a lower score.
• Note: Any misrepresentation or falsification of one's education, training, or work experience, or attempted deception on the application, may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures/Examination Requirements

• Job Application: Application must fully complete the job application for this recruitment on the City and County of San Francisco's website. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the application or preliminary questionnaire.
• Questionnaire - Training and Experience Assessment (Weight 100%):

Additional information

During the application process, applicants will be prompted to complete a questionnaire as part of the online employment process.

It will serve as the Training and Experience Assessment for this recruitment and will be used to determine your eligibility for this recruitment as well as your score and rank on the eligible list.

Important: Please answer the questionnaire thoroughly, even if the information is already included in your application or resume.

Ranking Based on Verified Provisional In-Class Service Duration

Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their Provisional City service in the 3434 - Arborist Technician class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.

Note

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all the steps in the selection process. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make the final hiring decision.

Eligible List/Score Report

A confidential eligible list of qualifying candidates will be created and used for certification purposes only. A score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law.

However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection upon request once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this selection process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., because of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

Duration of Eligible List

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be six (6) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification

The certification rule for this selection process will be "Rule of the List".

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement.

Application Opening: Friday, November 6, 2026

Application Deadline: Application filing will be open at least through Friday, November 13, 2026, at 11:59PM, (P.S.T.), and will close anytime thereafter.

Salary Range

• $109,538 - $123,448 annually
• Recruitment ID: PTP-3434-164851 / RTF0168850-00603918
• Appointment Type: Permanent Civil Service

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, at the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heightening the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area.

Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco. The City and County of San Francisco employs more than 28,000 individuals in various professional jobs in a diverse array of services such as maintaining City streets & parks, driving buses and cable cars, providing public health services, keeping the streets safe, and firefighting.

Additional Information

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Analyst, Tara Stevens at.