Production Arborist

Kramer Tree Specialists is hiring for the Production Arborist position in West Chicago, IL. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Support assigned pruning, tree-care, brush processing, rigging, or ground operations within training and authorization. • Maintain controlled work and drop zones and communicate clearly around climbers, saws, chippers, ropes, and moving material. • Inspect equipment, organize tools and debris flow, and complete a thorough site cleanup. • Ascend, descend, and work aloft using modern climbing systems to complete pruning and other arboricultural assignments to ANSI standards. • Use chainsaws, hand tools, rigging, chippers, and aerial lifts within authorization and maintain work-area protection around hazards and energized lines. • Participate in job briefings and inspections, process brush and logs, and maintain vehicles, tools, equipment, and a professional job site. How the work fits together Tree work begins with a site and hazard assessment, equipment check, work-zone plan, and clear communication method. Every cut or material movement must account for coworkers, customers, buildings, utilities, traffic, and the remaining tree. The crew processes debris, accounts for gear, and inspects the entire site before departure. At Kramer Tree Specialists, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Ascend, descend, and work aloft using modern climbing systems to complete pruning and other arboricultural assignments to ANSI standards. Use chainsaws, hand tools, rigging, chippers, and aerial lifts within authorization and maintain work-area protection around hazards and energized lines. Participate in job briefings and inspections, process brush and logs, and maintain vehicles, tools, equipment, and a professional job site. What the employer is looking for • Valid driver's license and ability to obtain a Class A CDL with air-brake endorsement within 90 days; high school completion is preferred. • Knowledge of modern climbing and rigging is needed; two years of climbing and ISA or CTSP credentials are preferred rather than stated as absolute requirements. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation This is a full-time, nonexempt role at $18–$30 per hour. The employer lists health, dental, vision and supplemental insurance, 401(k), paid vacation, personal days, and holidays; candidates should confirm eligibility. The employer publishes $18–$30 per hour. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person horticulture and outdoor position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Use the Apply Now route on Kramer's Production Arborist page.