Tree Care Technician

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is hiring 2 Tree Care Technicians for a temporary position in Cleveland, OH, from March to November 2025. The role involves planting and caring for trees in low-canopy neighborhoods, engaging with the community, and supporting tree health. Pay is $17 per hour, with eligibility for overtime and benefits. Applicants should have a passion for trees and conservation.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy, a northeast Ohio non-profit organization, is hiring 2 Tree Care Technicians for its 2025 field season.

This temporary position is for 40 hours per week, starting March 17, 2025 and running until the end of November, 2025. Some flexibility with the end date may be possible, depending on program needs. The pay rate is $17 per hour, and the position is eligible for overtime and certain benefits.

BACKGROUND
The mission of Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Reforest Our City (ROC) Program is to increase Cleveland’s tree canopy by growing trees, advocating for mature trees and empowering residents and volunteers. Since its inception in 2015, Reforest Our City has planted and given away 15,000 trees in the City of Cleveland.

In addition to our ROC work, Western Reserve Land Conservancy provides people with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. Headquartered in Moreland Hills, Ohio, we are the largest land conservancy in Ohio and nationally accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. Serving an area of 29 counties from the Pennsylvania line to the Sandusky Bay, the Land Conservancy has permanently conserved more acreage than Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park combined. We work with private and public landowners, farming families, neighborhood development corporations, corporations, county park systems, local residents and many more to help create communities nourished by vibrant natural lands, working farms and healthy cities. Thriving Communities, our urban revitalization program with its office in downtown Cleveland, is nationally recognized for thought leadership on removing blight; creating land banks statewide to find productive uses for vacant properties; and revitalizing communities through greening strategies. Our mission is funded through a combination of program revenue, government grants, and philanthropic gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Tree Care Technician will report to the Manager of Community Forestry and be supervised by the Tree Care Coordinator. They will be empowered to grow trees in Cleveland’s lowest canopy neighborhoods. An appreciation of trees and a demonstrated commitment to the Land Conservancy’s mission are essential. Crew members will be a part of team that is passionate about trees, conservation, and restorative justice in Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

We will train you to:
• Provide technical support and instruction for tree plantings, including:
• Professionally planting trees.
• Digging holes for trees.
• Moving and staging young trees and tree planting materials.
• Guiding volunteers through the steps of proper tree planting.
• Provide care for newly planted trees, including:
• Watering trees with (3) 5-gallon pails of water per tree per week. Pails are typically filled by firehose or watering trailer and carried to each tree by hand or using a 2-wheel cart.
• Mulching trees, including carrying mulch to each tree in bins.
• Weeding tree beds.
• Replacing stakes, ties, and trunk guards on trees.
• Use landscaping tools and power equipment to maintain vegetation.
• Submit reports on interventions, tree health and greenspace conditions.
• Engage neighbors on a range of topics addressing environmental conditions in their neighborhood.
• Follow and contribute to tree planting plans for sites in our priority communities.

Your impact will be:
• Tree planting sites that are welcoming greenspaces for the community.
• Engaged community members interested in the sites and trees.
• Growing Cleveland’s urban canopy to provide the benefits of trees to neighborhoods that have experienced historic disinvestment.

You will need:
• To welcome working outside every day, sometimes in inclement or uncomfortable weather conditions.
• To enjoy working collaboratively on a team.
• Interest in trees, plants, and/or urban forestry.
• Enthusiasm for bringing environmental justice to Cleveland’s neighborhoods.
• To be comfortable working in Cleveland’s urban neighborhoods.
• To be comfortable driving work vehicles and towing trailers.
• Prior experience working with volunteers is strongly preferred.

Schedule:
April and May, Tuesday – Saturday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
June, July, August, Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
September, October, November, Tuesday – Saturday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Event Dates Vary, 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Additional weekend work may be required with schedule adjustments on weekdays to accommodate.

Essential Functions and Experience:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work outside in all types of weather and lift, push and pull 60 pounds.
• Experience working in a team setting in adverse weather conditions.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to hiring staff members who represent the rich diversity of our community. At the Land Conservancy, all employees and applicants for employment are judged on their merits. The Land Conservancy is committed to providing an environment free of illegal discrimination of any kind, and does not base any employment decisions on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, religion, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected category under federal and state laws.