What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tree Climber position at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)?
Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
Job Summary
If selected for this position, you will serve as a Tree Climber assigned to the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Emergency Program. Responsibilities include protecting American agriculture and natural resources from endemic and exotic pests in order to enhance the competitiveness of American agricultural exports. This is a TERM appointment not to exceed 13 months. (Appointment may be extended up to 4 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. To qualify, you must show that you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have Tree Climbing experience using a rope and harness, your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties may include, but are not limited to:Inspect trees through ground and aerial survey for pests or specific indications of pest injury or infestation.Provide quality assurance surveillance of the tree survey activities performed by program staff and staff from other organizations such as contractors, federal agencies, and state agencies.Climb trees of heights routinely exceeding 100 feet using a rope and harness to inspect for pests, executes limb walks of distances of 20 feet or more.As circumstances warrant, uses spikes or spurs; operates and maintains hand saws, chainsaws and knives; and works in trees often near power lines, using climbing ropes and saddles.Utilizing reference materials such as tree identification keys to identify every woody tree specific to the area and potential ALB host trees by genus and species.
Position Start Date:
04/14/2026
Position Close Date:
04/20/2026
Salary Offered: 26 - 36.02 USD Per Hour
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!
Job Summary
If selected for this position, you will serve as a Tree Climber assigned to the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Emergency Program. Responsibilities include protecting American agriculture and natural resources from endemic and exotic pests in order to enhance the competitiveness of American agricultural exports. This is a TERM appointment not to exceed 13 months. (Appointment may be extended up to 4 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. To qualify, you must show that you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have Tree Climbing experience using a rope and harness, your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties may include, but are not limited to:Inspect trees through ground and aerial survey for pests or specific indications of pest injury or infestation.Provide quality assurance surveillance of the tree survey activities performed by program staff and staff from other organizations such as contractors, federal agencies, and state agencies.Climb trees of heights routinely exceeding 100 feet using a rope and harness to inspect for pests, executes limb walks of distances of 20 feet or more.As circumstances warrant, uses spikes or spurs; operates and maintains hand saws, chainsaws and knives; and works in trees often near power lines, using climbing ropes and saddles.Utilizing reference materials such as tree identification keys to identify every woody tree specific to the area and potential ALB host trees by genus and species.
Position Start Date:
04/14/2026
Position Close Date:
04/20/2026
Salary Offered: 26 - 36.02 USD Per Hour
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!