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Posted: April 14, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Tree Climber

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Location

Worcester, Massachusetts

Salary

$26 - $36.02

per hour

Type

Closes

April 20, 2026More USDA jobs →

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves climbing tall trees to inspect for the Asian Longhorned Beetle, a pest that harms forests and agriculture, while helping protect natural resources in Massachusetts.

You'll survey trees from the ground and air, identify pests and tree species, and ensure the work of other team members meets quality standards.

It's ideal for someone physically fit with hands-on experience in tree climbing and outdoor fieldwork who enjoys conservation efforts.

Key Requirements

  • Experience climbing trees over 100 feet using ropes, harnesses, and saddles
  • Ability to inspect trees for pests, injury, or infestation from ground and aerial positions
  • Knowledge of tree identification by genus and species, especially potential host trees for Asian Longhorned Beetle
  • Proficiency in operating and maintaining tools like hand saws, chainsaws, and knives
  • Comfort working at heights near power lines and performing limb walks over 20 feet
  • Skills in providing quality assurance for survey activities by staff and contractors
  • Physical fitness for demanding outdoor work in various conditions

Full Job Description

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 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.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/14/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/14/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DE-12931966-26-PQ